Audio Crackling

[jeremycohn]

I'm in the process of putting together a prosumer kit in my car, just in case I come across something while I'm not at work. I'm using a consumer MiniDV, with a bunch of pro accessories. My mic is a PG58, and I've got a cable that goes XLR to 1/4 inch, then an adapter to go from 1/4 inch to 1/8 inch (to go into the camera). For some reason, the audio is crackly when I move the cable. It's like there's a mic built into the cable, lol. When I played around with it today, I ended up building a whole string of adapters to it, and the cracking stopped, but only the right side was working. Clearly, I probably have something wrong with the 1/4 to 1/8 inch adapter; so I thought. I tried a different brand, same issue. The crackling is not audible, as long as you don't move the cable. It's also not the cable, because I plugged the mic and same cord into my mixer at work, clear as a bell. It's not so bad to the point that you couldn't do a quick interview with a cop on the side of the road after an accident, but bad enough to bother me! Your thoughts? I may only suspect that it may be a bad combination of mono/stereo cables/jacks/adapters. :)

What do you think?

[cameragod]

You are going from a balanced mic to an unbalanced camera. That can cause no end of crackle. You need a purpose made cable to kill it.

[jeremycohn]

Yep, just thought of that too - in thinking about my setup at work. Is there any easy way to correct this?

[jeremycohn]

A friend of mine told me it may be as simple as soldering a couple of the wires together, but couldn't help any farther than that. I picked up a gadget at RadioShack yesterday, but put it back down. The packaging was very confusing - with ramblings about both balanced and unbalanced on it. RadioShack is also a rip off... :)

[Todio]

Could also be that the connector is loose... Many 1/8" jacks aren't EXACTLY the same size so it may not be making a positive connection. Try wiring directly from XLR to 1/8" rather tha going through the 1/4" adapter. More things in the chain mean more things to go wrong.

I'd suspect the 1/8" end first.

[The Daywood]

What camera are you using? That will make a big difference...

If you can find a XLR to mini(1/8") cable (balanced, meaning a stereo 1/8") you are going to be much better off...And that will be your cheapest option...

For some of the cameras we use for students, the external mic jack will only accept an unbalanced (mono) mini cable...There are some capacitors and other electronics which make it hard to put a balanced signal into a consumer camera...

We also have some cameras outfitted with a XLR Audio Interface by Beachtek...It is a little more expensive (like say $150, so maybe little is the wrong word) but gives you direct audio control without having to get into the menus or fiddle with a little wheel on the back of the camera...Check one out at: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=335809&is=REG&addedTroughType=search

I'm not a huge fan of B&H (you can usually find it cheaper elsewhere) but they do have one of the most easy to understand and informative storefronts on the web...

[jeremycohn]

Thanks for the replies...

I thought that the connector was loose too, until I tried a different adapter (made by a different brand). I found a cable at work yesterday that was XLR female to 1/8", but it was threaded at the end, so that was no good.

The camera is a Canon ZR60. I plan to upgrade that very soon, but I need something reliable in the mean time in case I come across a story.

[2000lux]

I'd either get a Beachtek which will let you use all kinds of XLR mics, or a Sennheiser MKE 300 which is a small shotgun with an 1/8" plug on a short coily cable. It attaches to a hotshoe. Both options will cost you about $150.

[jeremycohn]

Here's a bit of an update...

I spoke to another guy at work the other day. He brought up the whole mono stereo situation. Turns out that the mic cable and adapter are all stereo. This is apparantly what I want the case to be. However, he says that the camera might be mono. Any thoughts? This is what the Canon site said:

Input level: -10 dBV/40 kohm, unbalanced

[pre-set]

BeachTek. I love mine. No issues whatsoever.

[The Daywood]

Unbalanced would tend to imply a "mono" type connector...You can get XLR to unbalanced adapters, and that sounds like what you need if you are going the cheap route.
BeachTek type boxes are still going to be your best bet...Some of them come as an unbalanced or "mono" out, just make sure that you read the specs on what ever you decide...

[overscan]

A couple of things you could try. Assuming your cables are in good shape, try spraying the jacks with WD40 and push them in and out a couple of times. Failing this, try switching the jacks to gold tipped ones.