Serious Problem (help ASAP)

Richard Crowley said:
It also is not even clear to me that the Pearstone people know what "transformer" means. It seems likely that their copy-writers grew up thinking that "transformers" were some magical mechanical creations that could turn a semi-truck into a 100 foot tall robot monster. Or maybe they think that "transformer" means some cable that "transforms" one connector type into a different one (i.e. what we used to call "adapters")
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I thought a transformer was the thing in my neighborhood that explodes every time a squirrel jumps on it...

Honestly, though, I'm with Richard in that the cable is the likely culprit... but I would love to know if the mic sounds better through an XLR-capable device.

If you don't trust your own skills to examine and rewire the XLR connector as Richard suggests, you might call a company like Markertek that is staffed with folks who make custom cables and know what they're doing when they do. Otherwise, get a box. It's going to cost more than the cable, but it's going to save you some headaches.
 
If it were me, I'd return the H1 and all the adapter cables and get a recorder with an XLR input with that money. I don't know of any audio shops in your area, otherwise I'd recommend you go into a pro audio dealer to get help.
 
The other option is to return the cable and the Azden mic and get a RØDE VideoMic Pro. At least that one's wired for 1/8" TRS output to devices like the H1. It's going to sound better than the Azden, and it will play nice with the H1.
 
yeah but im afraid I cant do that since I blew the buget on an XLR cable, Zoom h1 and this mic. Im gonna have to make due with what I got. Sad part is i cant afford anything else. I may just have to use the other cable I have and do what he told me to do with it. Hopefully I do this right. BTW it was a review on B&H about this cable. A guy says it worked great with his zoom h1 SMH (shake my head). Thanks for all the help guys. I knew I should have got the freakin rode...


Alex H. said:
The other option is to return the cable and the Azden mic and get a RØDE VideoMic Pro. At least that one's wired for 1/8" TRS output to devices like the H1. It's going to sound better than the Azden, and it will play nice with the H1.
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one more thing. The mic does work without AGC being on. Guess why i didnt think it was working. Because I had to yell in the freakin thing for the audio levels to move -_-. So yes i believe it is the cable.
 
kenazure24 said:
one more thing. The mic does work without AGC being on. Guess why i didnt think it was working. Because I had to yell in the freakin thing for the audio levels to move -_-. So yes i believe it is the cable.
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Well, skepticism of Pearstone's wiring scheme notwithstanding, and considering that there are other reviews of using this cable with a shotgun mic and an H1, it's also possible that you got a defective cable... in which case there should be some sort of warranty coverage to have it replaced.
 
Ha ha 2 defective cables in a row? neither of the cables I have work right. The first one sounds terrible....the second one sounds better but still is not up to par with what I hear from other peoples videos. But Specifically this video in the link below. This guy seems to have the same problem, but I guess he didnt care. He actually made a short with this crappy sound. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpzt-_WaYN8

Alex H. said:
Well, skepticism of Pearstone's wiring scheme notwithstanding, and considering that there are other reviews of using this cable with a shotgun mic and an H1, it's also possible that you got a defective cable... in which case there should be some sort of warranty coverage to have it replaced.
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Well, if worse comes to worse, Although I'm not a huge fan of them, there are three Guitar Centers in Detroit, one of which I'm sure could get you up and running properly with the right cable for $10-$15 bucks. Just take your stuff in there and tell them you want to hear it working before you buy their cable. That way, you're not throwing good money after bad and hopefully you can get your problem fixed on the spot, and before Saturday. Good luck dude.
 
Dude i think I found a solution lol. I just thought about guitar center too....I found a cable made by Shure thats 60 bucks -_-. This could be it! ill give u guys an update when it comes in the mail tomorrow.



Kit Hannah said:
Well, if worse comes to worse, Although I'm not a huge fan of them, there are three Guitar Centers in Detroit, one of which I'm sure could get you up and running properly with the right cable for $10-$15 bucks. Just take your stuff in there and tell them you want to hear it working before you buy their cable. That way, you're not throwing good money after bad and hopefully you can get your problem fixed on the spot, and before Saturday. Good luck dude.
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kenazure24 said:
Dude i think I found a solution lol. I just thought about guitar center too....I found a cable made by Shure thats 60 bucks -_-. This could be it! ill give u guys an update when it comes in the mail tomorrow.
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Are you being serious or mocking me? Because I don't think Shure makes any cables that are $60 unless it's for their high end wireless stuff....
 
Nope im not mocking you.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0006NMUH2/ref=oh_o00_s00_i00_details
Heres a video of the demonstration


The cable just came in the mail 30 mins ago and to my surprise it works. That freaking 60 dollar cable worked for me!!! YAY!!!!! I got it one day before the actual shoot. Thank god! But yeah....IT says something about it blocking some voltage and boosting the audio levels :D. Thanks to all the people who tried to help me... If anybody else has a cable issue and has a zoom h1. Zome H1 + Shure works!


Kit Hannah said:
Are you being serious or mocking me? Because I don't think Shure makes any cables that are $60 unless it's for their high end wireless stuff....
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1) The ATR55 is NOT a "shotgun mic" (and it is discontinued, anyway). The ATR55 is a cardioid (or hyper-cardioid in "tele" mode)
2) No apparent attempt was made to set levels for the test, rendering them mostly meaningless.
3) Worse, anyone who has studied comparison tests KNOWS that anything set at a higher level is perceived as "better" whether it is or not.
4) REPEATING MYSELF!!! None of these microphones or cameras needs a low/high impedance transformer! NONE! Whether from Shure or from Pearstone.
5) It is true that using the low-to-high impedance transformer also served the function of increasing the audio level. But note what happened when the transformer was used with the subject closer to the mic. Is that what you think good sound is? I doubt that anyone here would tolerate that kind of gross distortion.

Since we were NOT comparing apples to apples, this video "test" is meaningless.
No, it is worse than meaningless because people will watch it and get the wrong impression (as kenazure24 demonstrates).
 
you didnt watch the whole video. At the end he retested the azden because it was messed up. Btw rather you are right or wrong... The fact of the matter is... those last 2 cables I had didnt work and sounded like clock radios. The moment I used the Shure cable the audio was clear and was getting great sound. The guy in the videos audio was connected str8 to the camera. Mine was in the zoom H!. Trust me... The audio is high quality with bass like I like it :D



Richard Crowley said:
1) The ATR55 is NOT a "shotgun mic" (and it is discontinued, anyway). The ATR55 is a cardioid (or hyper-cardioid in "tele" mode)
2) No apparent attempt was made to set levels for the test, rendering them mostly meaningless.
3) Worse, anyone who has studied comparison tests KNOWS that anything set at a higher level is perceived as "better" whether it is or not.
4) REPEATING MYSELF!!! None of these microphones or cameras needs a low/high impedance transformer! NONE! Whether from Shure or from Pearstone.
5) It is true that using the low-to-high impedance transformer also served the function of increasing the audio level. But note what happened when the transformer was used with the subject closer to the mic. Is that what you think good sound is? I doubt that anyone here would tolerate that kind of gross distortion.

Since we were NOT comparing apples to apples, this video "test" is meaningless.
No, it is worse than meaningless because people will watch it and get the wrong impression (as kenazure24 demonstrates).
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You are correct. The video was so stupid, I could not endure watching it to the bitter end. It begs the question. If he knew it was wrong, why did he post it? Its not like he was doing it live online. He clearly had the opportunity to edit out the incorrect stuff, but he left it in anyway. REALLY STUPID and INEXCUSABLE.:thumbdown

The facts remain:
1) Connecting a modern low-impedance microphone output to a modern, low-impedance microphone input DOES NOT require any sort of impedance-changing transformer.
2) Misusing a high-impedance transformer in a low-impedance circuit brings along its own problems, only SOME of which were demonstrated in the video. There are many others, perhaps too subtle for low-end amateur video applications.
3) Using an expensive transformer for this solution is a GROSS OVERKILL, OVERSPENDING and MISAPPLICATION of the technology. kenazure24 and everyone else would be much better off spending the extra $50 on a better mic vs. a completely inappropriate impedance matching transformer.
4) The lack of properly-wired, and properly-marketed, simple, inexpensive adapter cables is APPALLING. It doesn't take $5 worth of parts to make a nice adapter cable that would directly connect an XLR microphone to a typical 3.5mm mic input on a consumer device (camcorder, DSLR, etc.)

Years ago, I posted a page describing how to DIY these simple adapter cables:
http://www.rcrowley.com/CamAdapt.htm
It is one of the more popular pages on my website and many people have successfully made their own.
 
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