wWill I interference issues ith 15 ft. Mini to XLR?

[Whipsmack]

Or does anyone have a better solution for me? I'm using a portable sound recorder as my main microphone (PCM-D50) It's audio quality beats my cheap azden boom mic by far.

Well I'm going to link the output of the portable recorder mic to the camera which is a Canon XL2.

Since the output on the recorder is only mini (3.5mm) should I run a 15-20 ft mini cable that connects to the camera?

Or should I get 1 ft XLR adapters for both ends so that the 20 ft of cable is XLR instead of an unshielded mini stereo cord?

One last dumb question, XLR is stereo right?

Thanks!

 

[unclebob6958]

Well I'm going to link the output of the portable recorder mic to the camera which is a Canon XL2.

Why do you want to do that?

Since the output on the recorder is only mini (3.5mm) should I run a 15-20 ft mini cable that connects to the camera?

Since the output is not low Z you may get audio degradation, buzz/hums and/or RF interference with long (more than 10 feet) cable runs.

Or should I get 1 ft XLR adapters for both ends so that the 20 ft of cable is XLR instead of an unshielded mini stereo cord?

Using adapters won't make much of a difference.

One last dumb question, XLR is stereo right?

XLR is NOT stereo, it's a three pin low Z connector.

 

[Whipsmack]

Thanks for the reply. The reason I want to do this is because my portable recorders microphone is better than any other mic I have. And i'm tired of not having it linked directly to my footage.

So a stereo XLR mic would have 2 plugs?


Wow major typos on my title and it won't let me edit it. I don't know how that happened. Half asleep...

 

[Alex H.]

Thanks for the reply. The reason I want to do this is because my portable recorders microphone is better than any other mic I have. And i'm tired of not having it linked directly to my footage.

But then you are recording your dialog in stereo, if you are using the mics built-in to the PCM-D50. That will cause you more headaches in post. Also, these little recorders can be pretty unwieldy when it comes to placing them for good audio pickup in most situations. You are better off springing for even a basic shotgun kit based around a mic like the Rode NTG-2.

Dialog, as a rule, is recorded in mono and mixed to the center in post.

So a stereo XLR mic would have 2 plugs?

Let's clarify a few things about cables and connectors. XLR is typically used to carry mono signals, but that doesn't mean that it can't be stereo. Cable and connectors simply amount to plumbing... it's the signal that's passed through it that matters.

So you need to understand the difference between balanced and unbalanced.

Balanced audio (mono) is carried down three-conductor cables and connectors. The three conductors individually carry the positive signal, the negative signal, and the common/ground. Balanced signals may be carried across XLR, or 1/4" TRS (tip-ring-sleeve), or even 1/8" TRS (though that's much less common).

Unbalanced audio takes two conductors: positive, and negative/ground. Typical connectors are 1/4" TS (tip-sleeve), RCA, or 1/8" TS.

Side note: How do you know you're looking at TRS or TS connectors (1/4" and 1/8")? Look at the black bands. Do they divide the connector into two or three segments? Two segments: tip and sleeve. Three segments: tip, ring, and sleeve.

So when you talk about stereo audio, you have to think about the signal and the cable. XLR can be wired to carry stereo audio, but it will be stereo unbalanced. This is the same principle as other three-conductor connectors wired to connect to stereo audio, such as headphones with a TRS connector. One pin carries left positive, one pin carries right positive, and the third pin carries the negative and ground of both left and right.

XLR is mostly used for balanced, mono mic- and line-level signals. For stereo, it takes two XLR runs (though there is a 5-pin XLR that can carry balanced stereo). Your PCM-D50's 1/8" line-level out is unbalanced stereo TRS.

One other thing to keep in mind: because unbalanced wiring combines the negative and the ground, it is less stable over longer lengths. Generally, if you get past bout 10', you'll introduce noise and interference. Balanced signals can run much, much farther.

 

[unclebob6958]

...my portable recorders microphone is better than any other mic I have.

I understand that, but why hook it up to the camera when you can just sync it all up in post? From my point of view you are just adding a potential problem to your audio signal chain.

 

[Whipsmack]

I understand that, but why hook it up to the camera when you can just sync it all up in post? From my point of view you are just adding a potential problem to your audio signal chain.

Tired of the syncing in post. And thanks for the info guys. I didn't realize that dialogue is usually mono.

I've got an Azden SGM-2X and it's just muffled sounding and very quiet.

 

[unclebob6958]

Okay, in my experience Azdens tend to eat batteries, so a new battery every day - maybe twice a day - may help.

Are you aiming the mic directly at the mouths of the talent? Keep in mind that shotgun mics are highly directional and being off just a bit can greatly reduce the pick-up of the sound you wish to capture. Think of it like a "long" lens (telephoto, zoom); being off of your subject just an inch or two means that you will capture the tree over their shoulder instead of their face - the same principle applies.

You may want to try the Omni setting if you are using it camera mounted rather than on a boom (as you should be).

Tired of synching? So in other words you are willing to sacrifice audio quality for the sake of convenience?

 

[Whipsmack]

Okay, in my experience Azdens tend to eat batteries, so a new battery every day - maybe twice a day - may help.

Are you aiming the mic directly at the mouths of the talent? Keep in mind that shotgun mics are highly directional and being off just a bit can greatly reduce the pick-up of the sound you wish to capture. Think of it like a "long" lens (telephoto, zoom); being off of your subject just an inch or two means that you will capture the tree over their shoulder instead of their face - the same principle applies.

You may want to try the Omni setting if you are using it camera mounted rather than on a boom (as you should be).

Tired of synching? So in other words you are willing to sacrifice audio quality for the sake of convenience?

the sound recorder audio quality is amazing and I had no sound interference with a 6 ft mini cord.