RE: Subject: [Harp-L] Microphone Cable

["steve" <mudharp@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Absolutely, Greg!

I fix alot of those Torpedo mics and normally put pin 3 as hot so they can run JT30's etc with XLR's, but one time a customer actually had a HiZ XLR cable that was running pin 1 as hot and 2 and 3 as ground.  Since I soldered 1 and 2 together for ground the guy had a dead short.  Sometimes it's a crap shoot.

Heck, if the customer wants to stay XLR then that's what they get as many do not like 1/4" jacks or screw ons.   When I make a mic from scratch it will always get a screw on connector because it's so much easier when they're on the road and can use any guitar cable.

Regarding the XLR balanced LowZ cables, I run a Monster Cable 500 and swapped out the balanced low Z lead to make dual nuetrals for HiZ operation.  Very warm and quiet cable, especially with higher pitched elements.


steve
www.thunderharpmics.com 

 --- On Thu 01/11, Greg Heumann < greg@xxxxxxxxxxx > wrote:
From: Greg Heumann [mailto: greg@xxxxxxxxxxx]
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Date: Thu, 11 Jan 2007 16:49:15 -0800
Subject: Subject: [Harp-L] Microphone Cable

><br>Not quite that simple. Since you say "used with 1/4" jacks" I'll  <br>assume you KNOW you're talking about Hi-Z application, but let's be  <br>clear that XLR is primarily used for Lo-Z applications such as vocal  <br>mics into PA systems. In the Lo-Z system the XLR cables are wired  <br>"balanced" - that is, the signal travels on 2 wires, connected to  <br>pins 2 and 3, and NEITHER is connected to ground. The Shield is  <br>connected to pin 1 AND ground - ground is actually a separate 4th  <br>conductor in an XLR system which is the metal case surrounding the 3  <br>pins.<br><br>Now with Hi-Z, you have to be careful because some Hi-Z/XLR mics  <br>(JT30, Blues Blaster come to mind) are wired "Pin 3 hot" - that is  <br>Pin 3 goes to your 1/4" jack tip, and Ground/Pin 1 goes to the 1/4"  <br>jack ring. There is no connection to pin 2. But some other Hi-Z mics  <br>use Pin 2 instead of Pin 3. And the old Shure 545's with XLR  <br>connectors were wired different again. So 
you need to know what your  <br>mic wants and wire everything properly. There is no advantage to  <br>using both center wires of an XLR cable in a Hi-Z system, and you  <br>absolutely SHOULD have the cable shield connected to amp and mic  <br>ground to avoid hum.<br><br>Personally I won't use Hi-Z mics with XLR connectors - I change 'em  <br>out to switchcraft screw-ons or 1/4" jacks to avoid confusion. If you  <br>find a cable in my bag with an XLR connector at one end, you can be  <br>sure it will have an XLR connector at the other, and will be for use  <br>with my low impedance mics only. I can't tell you however how many  <br>people mistakenly use a Hi-Z-wired cable (with 1/4" at the amp end)  <br>with a Lo-Z mic, straight into their Hi-Z amp. It works, but poorly.<br><br>/Greg<br>http://www.BlowsMeAway.com<br><br><br>><br>> Hi All<br>>      In a normal cable used with 1/4" jacks do I have to use the usual<br>> cable that is used for this? Or can I use the sort of cable 
used with<br>> XLR connectors?<br>> XLR has two wires down the centre, if I attach one to the tip  <br>> connector<br>> and the other to the barrel connector, do the copper sheild wires need<br>> to be grounded?<br>> Would there be any advantage to this? Better shielding maybe?<br>><br>> Have a Nice Life<br>>   Christopher<br>_______________________________________________<br>Harp-L is sponsored by SPAH, http://www.spah.org<br>Harp-L@xxxxxxxxxx<br>http://harp-l.org/mailman/listinfo/harp-l<br>

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