Re: [Harp-L] Wiring a mic

["G." <gigs@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Date: Wed, 25 Aug 2004 11:44:25 -0700 (PDT)
From: Robb Bingham <robbingham@xxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [Harp-L] Wiring a mic

Can someone please tell me the PROPER way to attach a
cable to a microphone??? Many times [I've ruled out
the too long cable working as an antenna] I've tried
to attach my newist favorite shell to my newest
favorite element and ended up with everything GREAT- -
-untill, with certain [most] amps they'll take on a
huge HUM. Here is my question: I have an element with
2 leads. I have a cable with 2 wires. How do I connect
them? If I'm suppossed to solder one of the cable
wires to the shell; how do I decide which wire, and
does it get connected to anything besides the shell??

Sorry to you anti-tech/gear guys, but this is driving
me nuts. Many thanks,
Robb
--------

Its not grounded.  With a bullet shell, you need to attach the black/earth
lead to the shell.  With the JT30 & Green Bullet shells theres a couple of
places where you can drill a hole, then either tap for a screw, or use a
self tapping screw - find a metal tab to screw down to the shell using the
screw, and solder your black lead to that, then on from there to the cable.
Thats one way to skin the grounded cat - other ways depend on how you attach
your mic to a cable - if its hard wired and has a spring around the cable
entering the shell like the the GB, then you can solder the ground wire to
the spring (and to the cable's shield) - as the spring contacts the shell,
it'll ground it.
If you use an amphenol screw on or 1/4" jack, then make sure theres
something grounding the earth/sheild of the connector to the shell.
If you are using an XLR 3 pin connector for a hot element, generally pin 1
AND pin 3 are earthed, and most XLR jacks have an additional earth/shield
tab which you should see to as well.   With an XLR jack for your mic, make
sure the XLR to 1/4" cable has a earthed shield (eg Coax cable) and the
shield  its wired to ground/earth at both ends of the cable
(shield/pin1/pin3 at XLR end - shield at 1/4" jack end).

One thing that this won't solve is if you're using a shitty lead - some
guitar leads, shielded or not, are "microphonic" - even if the mic is turned
off, if you tap the cable, you can hear the taps through the amp - in this
case replace the cable, and throw it in the rubbish.
My Shure 520DX came with a cable like this!

-- G.