VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

[D Voice]

I have a good quality 3' XLR cable that will work fine with dynamic mics, but NOT with phantom power.

Any ideas of what the problem is and how to fix it?

[Bailey]

I've always used XLR cables with phantom power, and no problem. I'll mention two obvious fixes that may be too obvious. Make sure phantom power switch is on, and make sure mic switch is on (if equiped). If it still doesn't work it may be a problem in the mixer.
_________________
"Bailey"
a.k.a. Jim Sutton
Retired... Every day is Saturday, except Sunday.
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AOVA Graduate 02/2004 ;
"Be a Voice, not an Echo."

[roger]

Another simplistic check. Make sure all three conductors are solidly soldered at
both connectors and the polarity is correct...shield to pin one, red to two and black to three, etc.
Conductor insulation may vary in color, just make sure the same color is to the same pin at both connectors.
Good luck.
_________________
Roger Tremaine
www.MyFavoriteVoice.com
http://rogertremaine.voices.com/
No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted. AESOP (The Lion and the Mouse)

[D Voice]

OK, maybe it's something else- literally.

There are no red wires or blue wires- just twisted wires connected to #1 and #2. There seems to be a small, single wire between #1 and #3 on the male end, and on the female from #1 to #2 wrapped around #3.

[Ed Gambill]

The following, are my personal thoughts and opinion on this topic, always consult with your professional equipment advisor before investing in anything.

Your problem is you have the wrong cable, read, learn and heed if you will.

“Once up on a time” (not a fairy tale), I dissembled a XLR cable to see that there was a small wire from one pin to the grounding pin. Looking further I noticed that the cable was not a “Balanced” cable. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balanced_audio

The take away from this is you can’t tell what a cable truly is by looking at the connector.

I recommend that you go ahead and buy a well made cable that uses “Carne Cable or Mogami Cable” at the least a “STAR QUAD TYPE cable. IMO avoid the monsters in the business http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monster

Get a good “Star Quad” cable and you will have the best noise rejection and the least “microphonics” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microphonics and finally Phantom Power will work.

Lastly dispose of the current cable you have it is possible that it could inadvertently send phantom power into a Dynamic Microphone and harm it.

The Preceding is given freely with out obligation as with any freely given advice can not be relied upon

As-Salamu Alaykum
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Esse quam videri "To be rather than to seem"
www.SaVoa.org No. 07000 Member AES

[D Voice]

Thanks Ed for the caveat.

But this is "OFC High Grade Cable 1014 Hisago", "Made in Japan" with really quality connectors.

Just wondering..is there any chance it was designed to work with AES/EBU ?

Or with monitors?

[Ed Gambill]

I can't tell you without seeing it.

Like I said you can take it or leave it.

XLR for audio with phantom power will never work with one pin shorted to ground or any other pin. Look at this site http://www.soundlease.com/cable_wiring.htm the first diagram upper right shows a balanced cable.


Let me mention just a few things;
I was trained by the best military electronic school US Navy, I am a Broadcast Engineer, I taught production sound for film and video. I wrote and produce a train video for getting quality sound for film and video. I sold many copies to colleges and too many notable institutions. The list is longer but you should get the drift.

Buy yourself a cable that is Balanced. (one wire to each of the three pins on the XLR and not one bit of bridging (short between pins)

If all else is correct you should have phantom to power your mic. Provided you turn it on.

Nuff said!
_________________
Esse quam videri "To be rather than to seem"
www.SaVoa.org No. 07000 Member AES

[roger]

D Voice,
Save your XLR connectors, get some truly balanced raw mic cable (3 conductors)
or what Ed rcommended, the Star Quad cable (shield plus twisted pairs) for better RF/EMI rejection.
You may make it any length you desire.
You'll learn a lot soldering your own cable and feel a bit of pride in the bargain.
_________________
Roger Tremaine
www.MyFavoriteVoice.com
http://rogertremaine.voices.com/
No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted. AESOP (The Lion and the Mouse)

[Bailey]

Ed... Thanks for the diagram.
Takes me way back.

_________________
"Bailey"
a.k.a. Jim Sutton
Retired... Every day is Saturday, except Sunday.
VO-BB Member #00044 .gif" alt="W00T" border="0" />
AOVA Graduate 02/2004 ;
"Be a Voice, not an Echo."