Tascam dr 100 has more noise then the audio from my a7s! What's wrong?

[krizard]

Hi guys, I have this really nice Tram lav Microphone, but when i connect it to my Tascam dr100mk xlr (using a Rode adapter 3.5mm to XLR-3) and use phantom power 48v with the gain set to high I get a LOT of noise! The problem is when I set the gain to medium the problem persists and in Low i can hear my voice nor the noise! BUT when I connect the mic to my A7s I get a really good sound, the audio is perfect!
Anyone know why might be causing this problem on my tascam?

 

[dmitrizigany]

Maybe the Røde XLR adapter is made specifically for their SmartLavs and the pins are then wrong if connected to a standard stereo 3.5mm connector?

 

[DPStewart]

Maybe the Røde XLR adapter is made specifically for their SmartLavs and the pins are then wrong if connected to a standard stereo 3.5mm connector?

This would be my guess too. Tascam stuff generally sounds pretty good. Or some part of the device is damaged.

 

[TheDingo]

LAV mics ( like your TRAM mic ) need 5 volt "plug-in" power NOT 48 volt phantom. I hope you have not burnt out your TRAM LAV mic.

The RODE XLR adapter is designed ONLY for self-powered microphones ( microphones with their own battery power ) with a 3.5mm plug, like the RODE VideoMic Pro. This adapter is NOT meant for un-powered LAV mics.

To use your TRAM LAV mic with your Tascam DR-100 recorder you will need an voltage transformer adapter like this one or this one, which connects your 3.5mm plug to an XLR MIC input and it converts 48 volt phantom power down to 5 volt "plug-in" power.

Given how expensive these transformer adapters are, you might want to consider buying a Tascam DR-05 recorder which has it's own 3.5mm MIC plug-in socket and it can supply 5 volt "plug-in" power through this socket if you turn it on via the recorder's menu. The audio quality of this little recorder is very good ( I measure a noise-floor of -80 dB RMS, the same as your DR-100 recorder ), but it's ONLY for 3.5mm MICs. ( no XLR mics )

 

[Bruce Watson]

LAV mics ( like your TRAM mic ) need 5 volt "plug-in" power NOT 48 volt phantom. I hope you have not burnt out your TRAM LAV mic.

The RODE XLR adapter is designed ONLY for self-powered microphones ( microphones with their own battery power ) with a 3.5mm plug, like the RODE VideoMic Pro. This adapter is NOT meant for un-powered LAV mics.

What TheDingo said. Always read the manuals! I wouldn't be surprised if your Tram mic is toast after that much overvoltage.

 

[Throwback]

And, of course, Rode's lav mic (http://www.rode.com/microphones/lavalier - not to be confused with their cheaper Smart lav) is useful if you want a lav that is able to swap from 3.5mm plug-in power to P48 xlr (and different wireless systems), using the appropriate micon connectors.

Cheers,

Roland

 

[Rick R]

Every electret lav microphone element I've ever encountered, ran on bias current (typically 3-5 volts), if the connection (XLR) required Phantom Power, there would be a transformer. Feeding it 48 volts (or ever 12 or 24) through a simple low cost adapter could very well fry it. Most transformer/adapters cost at least $50. (As I recall, the Tram TR-79 XLR Phantom Power module goes for around $180). In addition, another factor is the TR-50 was available in both negative and positive bias models (there would be a very faint/small + sign if positive). If the OP's adapter was designed for another electret lav, it was likely just wired differently and no damage occurred. For instance, both the low cost Sony and Sennheiser transmitters use the same basic 3.5 TRS plug, but they are wired differently and not interchangeable.
PS, I was acquainted Tram designer Ted Rapp (RIP) when he was based in Nyack NY.

 

[krizard]

LAV mics ( like your TRAM mic ) need 5 volt "plug-in" power NOT 48 volt phantom. I hope you have not burnt out your TRAM LAV mic.

The RODE XLR adapter is designed ONLY for self-powered microphones ( microphones with their own battery power ) with a 3.5mm plug, like the RODE VideoMic Pro. This adapter is NOT meant for un-powered LAV mics.

To use your TRAM LAV mic with your Tascam DR-100 recorder you will need an voltage transformer adapter like this one or this one, which connects your 3.5mm plug to an XLR MIC input and it converts 48 volt phantom power down to 5 volt "plug-in" power.

Given how expensive these transformer adapters are, you might want to consider buying a Tascam DR-05 recorder which has it's own 3.5mm MIC plug-in socket and it can supply 5 volt "plug-in" power through this socket if you turn it on via the recorder's menu. The audio quality of this little recorder is very good ( I measure a noise-floor of -80 dB RMS, the same as your DR-100 recorder ), but it's ONLY for 3.5mm MICs. ( no XLR mics )

Thank you for the support, I didn't know that! It didn't burn the Tram lav. It still works fine, and i've used many lav mics like this with this adaptor and didn't burn any of them. luck maybe
The thing is the tascam puts up a signal with a lot of noise even if I don't plug the mic! The levels stay around -26db!!!!!

 

[Throwback]

Of course, it doesn't need to be a transformer design. The (v. small) Rode micon-5 adapter that I mentioned has active electronics that lower the 48v phantom power sans transformer (and is around $18 in the US or £23 in the UK), although, of course, is specific to the Rode lav system. Naiant produce a whole range of inline adapters for this purpose, and I think what is needed here (if the lav isn't already fried) is $35: http://naiant.com/studio-electronics-products/inline-devices/pfa-phantom-power-adaptor/: can't claim to have used them, but Naiant kit is usually pretty good and, I am sure, fine given the (high) self-noise of a any lav. In the UK Canford do some connectors, which are around £50.

Cheers,

Roland

 

[TheDingo]

The thing is the tascam puts up a signal with a lot of noise even if I don't plug the mic! The levels stay around -26db!!!!!

This does not look right. I owned a Tascam DR-100 Mk2 for about 2 years ( I sold it because my DR-40 was equivalent for my work ) and it should not be showing -26 dB with nothing connected to it. ( it should be around -80 dB when set correctly )

It looks like something is screwy with your DR-100 recorder.

 

[krizard]

This does not look right. I owned a Tascam DR-100 Mk2 for about 2 years ( I sold it because my DR-40 was equivalent for my work ) and it should not be showing -26 dB with nothing connected to it. ( it should be around -80 dB when set correctly )

It looks like something is screwy with your DR-100 recorder.

yeah, But that only happens when i connect the xlr cable or the adaptor to 3.5 mm and set the Gain to high on the back of Tascam! if I remove the cable the levels go down to -80dB.