Can I use the transformer from a direct box to go the other way?
I want to connect a good microphone to an unbalanced hi-Z mic input.

Thanks,
Tony

In article writes:

Can I use the transformer from a direct box to go the other way?
I want to connect a good microphone to an unbalanced hi-Z mic input.

Sure. But what's worth using a good microphone with that has a hi-Z
input? And since most mics that people call "good" today (most ribbon
mics and good dynamics excepted) require phantom power, where
will you get that? Or isn't the good mic THAT good? g

--
I'm really Mike Rivers )
However, until the spam goes away or Hell freezes over,
lots of IP addresses are blocked from this system. If
you e-mail me and it bounces, use your secret decoder ring
and reach me he double-m-eleven-double-zero at yahoo

In article writes:

Can I use the transformer from a direct box to go the other way?
I want to connect a good microphone to an unbalanced hi-Z mic input.

Sure. But what's worth using a good microphone with that has a hi-Z
input? And since most mics that people call "good" today (most ribbon
mics and good dynamics excepted) require phantom power, where
will you get that? Or isn't the good mic THAT good? g

--
I'm really Mike Rivers )
However, until the spam goes away or Hell freezes over,
lots of IP addresses are blocked from this system. If
you e-mail me and it bounces, use your secret decoder ring
and reach me he double-m-eleven-double-zero at yahoo

(Mike Rivers) said:


In article writes:

Can I use the transformer from a direct box to go the other way?
I want to connect a good microphone to an unbalanced hi-Z mic input.

Sure. But what's worth using a good microphone with that has a hi-Z
input?

MiniDV Camera.

And since most mics that people call "good" today (most ribbon
mics and good dynamics excepted) require phantom power, where
will you get that?

I can build a supply for phantom power. I am just an audio novice.

Or isn't the good mic THAT good? g

Well, it isn't *that* good... An Oktava MC012 for use on a boom.
The cable run will be not more than 20'. Do you think I will get
satisfactory results by just taking half of the balanced signal and
forgettting about the impedance difference?

I am trying to avoid carrying a Mackie 1202 with me everywhere. I have
this pile of Rapco DBs and started thinking I could work over the guts
and swap the XLR to make a reverse DB.

Yes, I am nuts...

Tony

(Mike Rivers) said:


In article writes:

Can I use the transformer from a direct box to go the other way?
I want to connect a good microphone to an unbalanced hi-Z mic input.

Sure. But what's worth using a good microphone with that has a hi-Z
input?

MiniDV Camera.

And since most mics that people call "good" today (most ribbon
mics and good dynamics excepted) require phantom power, where
will you get that?

I can build a supply for phantom power. I am just an audio novice.

Or isn't the good mic THAT good? g

Well, it isn't *that* good... An Oktava MC012 for use on a boom.
The cable run will be not more than 20'. Do you think I will get
satisfactory results by just taking half of the balanced signal and
forgettting about the impedance difference?

I am trying to avoid carrying a Mackie 1202 with me everywhere. I have
this pile of Rapco DBs and started thinking I could work over the guts
and swap the XLR to make a reverse DB.

Yes, I am nuts...

Tony

"Tony Caprilie" wrote
Can I use the transformer from a direct box to go
the other way? I want to connect a good microphone
to an unbalanced hi-Z mic input.

Mike Rivers said:
Sure. But what's worth using a good microphone with
that has a hi-Z input?

"Tony Caprilie" wrote
MiniDV Camera.

MiniDV cameras do NOT have "Hi-Z" inputs in the
traditional (10-50K) sense of the word. Virtually all
modern Lo-Z mics work fine with camcorder inputs.
As far as impedance is concerned. They are designed
that way, imgine that! Powering, balancing (for noise
reduction, etc) are separate matters.

It feels like this discussion already happened over on
news:rec.video.production last week. Do you know
"Poet Fury"?

I can build a supply for phantom power. I am just
an audio novice.

Impedance is not a big concern in your scenario.

Well, it isn't *that* good... An Oktava MC012 for use
on a boom. The cable run will be not more than 20'.
Do you think I will get satisfactory results by just taking
half of the balanced signal and forgetting about the
impedance difference?

1) There is no impedance difference that will matter
in your situation.
2) You don't take "half of the balanced signal", you
unbalance the signal by (generally speaking) connecting
the "-" side to ground. See the diagrams on my web page...
http://www.rcrowley.com/CamAdapt.htm (Note that
the 48V phantom power required for the Oktava 012
is *NOT* comprehended in these diagrams.
3) You may or may not be able to get away with a
20-ft unbalanced mic cable depending on your shooting
environment (RFI, etc.)
4) Note that the Oktava 012 *in particular* has a weird,
asymmetrical output circuit. Providing phantom power
and unbalancing it may be different than for more
conventional mics. Scott Dorsey (who appears in this
newsgroup regularly) published a magazine article in
"Recording" recently that discusses the internals of
the Oktava 012. Recommend you pick up a back-issue
if you will be hacking a circuit for an 012.

I am trying to avoid carrying a Mackie 1202 with me
everywhere. I have this pile of Rapco DBs and started
thinking I could work over the guts and swap the XLR
to make a reverse DB.

Your biggest issue is providing the 48V phantom power,
NOT impedance. If you really want to build something,
there are several applicable circuits on the
www.jensentransformers.com website. (Even if you
don't want to use a transformer.) The Hi-Z side of the
transformer in a typical DB is *WAY* (10x) too high
for use with modern camcorders. The only value in your
pile of DBs (at least for this application) is likely
limitged to the enclosures.

"Tony Caprilie" wrote
Can I use the transformer from a direct box to go
the other way? I want to connect a good microphone
to an unbalanced hi-Z mic input.

Mike Rivers said:
Sure. But what's worth using a good microphone with
that has a hi-Z input?

"Tony Caprilie" wrote
MiniDV Camera.

MiniDV cameras do NOT have "Hi-Z" inputs in the
traditional (10-50K) sense of the word. Virtually all
modern Lo-Z mics work fine with camcorder inputs.
As far as impedance is concerned. They are designed
that way, imgine that! Powering, balancing (for noise
reduction, etc) are separate matters.

It feels like this discussion already happened over on
news:rec.video.production last week. Do you know
"Poet Fury"?

I can build a supply for phantom power. I am just
an audio novice.

Impedance is not a big concern in your scenario.

Well, it isn't *that* good... An Oktava MC012 for use
on a boom. The cable run will be not more than 20'.
Do you think I will get satisfactory results by just taking
half of the balanced signal and forgetting about the
impedance difference?

1) There is no impedance difference that will matter
in your situation.
2) You don't take "half of the balanced signal", you
unbalance the signal by (generally speaking) connecting
the "-" side to ground. See the diagrams on my web page...
http://www.rcrowley.com/CamAdapt.htm (Note that
the 48V phantom power required for the Oktava 012
is *NOT* comprehended in these diagrams.
3) You may or may not be able to get away with a
20-ft unbalanced mic cable depending on your shooting
environment (RFI, etc.)
4) Note that the Oktava 012 *in particular* has a weird,
asymmetrical output circuit. Providing phantom power
and unbalancing it may be different than for more
conventional mics. Scott Dorsey (who appears in this
newsgroup regularly) published a magazine article in
"Recording" recently that discusses the internals of
the Oktava 012. Recommend you pick up a back-issue
if you will be hacking a circuit for an 012.

I am trying to avoid carrying a Mackie 1202 with me
everywhere. I have this pile of Rapco DBs and started
thinking I could work over the guts and swap the XLR
to make a reverse DB.

Your biggest issue is providing the 48V phantom power,
NOT impedance. If you really want to build something,
there are several applicable circuits on the
www.jensentransformers.com website. (Even if you
don't want to use a transformer.) The Hi-Z side of the
transformer in a typical DB is *WAY* (10x) too high
for use with modern camcorders. The only value in your
pile of DBs (at least for this application) is likely
limitged to the enclosures.

On Thu, 24 Jun 2004 07:23:37 -0700, "Richard Crowley"
wrote:


MiniDV cameras do NOT have "Hi-Z" inputs in the
traditional (10-50K) sense of the word.

Ok, I was mis-reading my GL2 manual. I thought
it indicated an input impedence 47K. It does, but that is
on the audio line-in, not the mic-in.

Virtually all modern Lo-Z mics work fine with camcorder
inputs. As far as impedance is concerned. They are designed
that way, imgine that!

Take it easy now, no reason to drive it in and break it off.

It feels like this discussion already happened over on
news:rec.video.production last week. Do you know
"Poet Fury"?

No, I just now read the thread in Google.


1) There is no impedance difference that will matter
in your situation.

Excellent.

2) You don't take "half of the balanced signal", you

Bad choice of words.

Your biggest issue is providing the 48V phantom power,
NOT impedance.

Understood. I swore off building hardware years ago but I have
a relapse every so often. I will probably just buy a phantom PS
or a small mixer.

Thanks,
Tony

On Thu, 24 Jun 2004 07:23:37 -0700, "Richard Crowley"
wrote:


MiniDV cameras do NOT have "Hi-Z" inputs in the
traditional (10-50K) sense of the word.

Ok, I was mis-reading my GL2 manual. I thought
it indicated an input impedence 47K. It does, but that is
on the audio line-in, not the mic-in.

Virtually all modern Lo-Z mics work fine with camcorder
inputs. As far as impedance is concerned. They are designed
that way, imgine that!

Take it easy now, no reason to drive it in and break it off.

It feels like this discussion already happened over on
news:rec.video.production last week. Do you know
"Poet Fury"?

No, I just now read the thread in Google.


1) There is no impedance difference that will matter
in your situation.

Excellent.

2) You don't take "half of the balanced signal", you

Bad choice of words.

Your biggest issue is providing the 48V phantom power,
NOT impedance.

Understood. I swore off building hardware years ago but I have
a relapse every so often. I will probably just buy a phantom PS
or a small mixer.

Thanks,
Tony

In article writes:

Sure. But what's worth using a good microphone with that has a hi-Z
input?

MiniDV Camera.

It probably donesn't have a hi-Z input, it just has a miniature
unbalanced connector. I'll bet that all you really need is a physical
adapter.

... An Oktava MC012 for use on a boom.
The cable run will be not more than 20'. Do you think I will get
satisfactory results by just taking half of the balanced signal and
forgettting about the impedance difference?

You need to phantom power the MC012, and that means it needs to go
into a balanced input in order for the powering to work. In your
situation, I'd strongly suggest that you simply buy an inexpensive mic
preamp that provides phantom power, and connect its output to the
camera's line input, or to the mic input with some attenuation in
line if that's its only input. The mic must go into a balanced input.
The preamp output doesn't care.

I am trying to avoid carrying a Mackie 1202 with me everywhere. I have
this pile of Rapco DBs and started thinking I could work over the guts
and swap the XLR to make a reverse DB.

Yes, I am nuts...

No question about it. You could build a decent transformer and phantom
power supply into a box smaller than the Mackie mixer, but not much
smaller.

--
I'm really Mike Rivers )
However, until the spam goes away or Hell freezes over,
lots of IP addresses are blocked from this system. If
you e-mail me and it bounces, use your secret decoder ring
and reach me he double-m-eleven-double-zero at yahoo

In article writes:

Sure. But what's worth using a good microphone with that has a hi-Z
input?

MiniDV Camera.

It probably donesn't have a hi-Z input, it just has a miniature
unbalanced connector. I'll bet that all you really need is a physical
adapter.

... An Oktava MC012 for use on a boom.
The cable run will be not more than 20'. Do you think I will get
satisfactory results by just taking half of the balanced signal and
forgettting about the impedance difference?

You need to phantom power the MC012, and that means it needs to go
into a balanced input in order for the powering to work. In your
situation, I'd strongly suggest that you simply buy an inexpensive mic
preamp that provides phantom power, and connect its output to the
camera's line input, or to the mic input with some attenuation in
line if that's its only input. The mic must go into a balanced input.
The preamp output doesn't care.

I am trying to avoid carrying a Mackie 1202 with me everywhere. I have
this pile of Rapco DBs and started thinking I could work over the guts
and swap the XLR to make a reverse DB.

Yes, I am nuts...

No question about it. You could build a decent transformer and phantom
power supply into a box smaller than the Mackie mixer, but not much
smaller.

--
I'm really Mike Rivers )
However, until the spam goes away or Hell freezes over,
lots of IP addresses are blocked from this system. If
you e-mail me and it bounces, use your secret decoder ring
and reach me he double-m-eleven-double-zero at yahoo

"Mike Rivers" wrote ...
No question about it. You could build a decent transformer
and phantom power supply into a box smaller than the Mackie
mixer, but not much smaller.

BeachTek make a rather nice one in a remarkably small package...
http://www.beachtek.com/dxa6.html

"Mike Rivers" wrote ...
No question about it. You could build a decent transformer
and phantom power supply into a box smaller than the Mackie
mixer, but not much smaller.

BeachTek make a rather nice one in a remarkably small package...
http://www.beachtek.com/dxa6.html

"Tony Caprilie" wrote ...
Take it easy now, no reason to drive it in and break it off.

Sorry, I started to project "Poet Fury" onto your thread.

.....
Understood. I swore off building hardware years ago but I have
a relapse every so often. I will probably just buy a phantom PS
or a small mixer.

Don't apologise. Some of us find it just as rewarding to make
a good piece of home-made equipment as to use it.

Check this out...
http://www.beachtek.com/dxa6.html

"Tony Caprilie" wrote ...
Take it easy now, no reason to drive it in and break it off.

Sorry, I started to project "Poet Fury" onto your thread.

.....
Understood. I swore off building hardware years ago but I have
a relapse every so often. I will probably just buy a phantom PS
or a small mixer.

Don't apologise. Some of us find it just as rewarding to make
a good piece of home-made equipment as to use it.

Check this out...
http://www.beachtek.com/dxa6.html

In article writes:

No question about it. You could build a decent transformer
and phantom power supply into a box smaller than the Mackie
mixer, but not much smaller.

BeachTek make a rather nice one in a remarkably small package...
http://www.beachtek.com/dxa6.html

It was reviewed in Pro Audio Review April 2004. There are some
curious quirks and as I recall it cost $300. My sense was that the
original poster was hoping to build something for about $20.



--
I'm really Mike Rivers )
However, until the spam goes away or Hell freezes over,
lots of IP addresses are blocked from this system. If
you e-mail me and it bounces, use your secret decoder ring
and reach me he double-m-eleven-double-zero at yahoo

In article writes:

No question about it. You could build a decent transformer
and phantom power supply into a box smaller than the Mackie
mixer, but not much smaller.

BeachTek make a rather nice one in a remarkably small package...
http://www.beachtek.com/dxa6.html

It was reviewed in Pro Audio Review April 2004. There are some
curious quirks and as I recall it cost $300. My sense was that the
original poster was hoping to build something for about $20.



--
I'm really Mike Rivers )
However, until the spam goes away or Hell freezes over,
lots of IP addresses are blocked from this system. If
you e-mail me and it bounces, use your secret decoder ring
and reach me he double-m-eleven-double-zero at yahoo