I have read that there are resistors in the Rode NT4 microphone cable with the
minijack, and that it's best to take these out. I bought my NT4 used on ebay,
and I unscrewed the minijack to look for the resistors but couldn't find any.
I'm wondering if the previous owner already removed them or if they are
somewhere else in the cable I didn't look (such as in the XLR plug part?). Can
anyone who knows about these tell me where they're supposed to be, as well as
what they're supposed to look like (what I read described them as 'pad
resistors', and I don't know if that means they look any different from a
regular resistor or not)... Thanks in advance!

In article om,
says...


Chevdo wrote:
I have read that there are resistors in the Rode NT4 microphone cable with
the
minijack, and that it's best to take these out. I bought my NT4 used on
ebay,
and I unscrewed the minijack to look for the resistors but couldn't find
any.
I'm wondering if the previous owner already removed them or if they are
somewhere else in the cable I didn't look (such as in the XLR plug part?).
Can
anyone who knows about these tell me where they're supposed to be, as well
as
what they're supposed to look like (what I read described them as 'pad
resistors', and I don't know if that means they look any different from a
regular resistor or not)... Thanks in advance!


I have an NT4 and have never heard of this. What is the supposed
purpose of these resistors?


Well according to someone posting to the forum at minidisc.org:

"The resistors in the minijack housing seem unlikely to be attenuators although
I cannot confirm or deny that at this stage. They are more likely some kind of
load resistors that are an attempt to provide good conditions for the
microphone output stage. This microphone has a solid state output stage (not a
transformer) and it's not ideal to just short one of the phases to ground.
Thus, the unused phase might be tied to ground via some load resistance. As I
said, awaiting information from Rode on this one."

- http://forums.minidisc.org/lofiversi...hp/t15724.html

and here's something else I just found in the same thread:

"Took the earlier advice and got the side cutters out and redid the 5 pin
connector to remove the pad. Ran off the mic internal 9V and straight into line
in."

That sounds like the resistors are in the XLR plug, not the minijack.

ahh here we go, I found the goods. Here's the instructions to remove the
pads:

http://www.uwm.edu/~type/audio-repor...CableMod-index.
htm

Haighton of the Hi-MD Forum noticed a -12dB "pad" built into the XL5F -3.5mm
stereo plug cable that came with his recent model Rode NT-4 mic, With help from
the micbulders list and eventual confirmation from Rode, we determined it was
safe to by-pass the pad to enable the specified 12mV/Pa sensitivity.

You can either remove the entire pcb inside the XLR5 connector (and resolder
the cable leads) or the much easier method pictured on the left: Heat and
remove the four black rectangular resistors from the pcb and jump the red and
clear leads to pins 4 and 2 of the XLR5 respectively. We modified 30 NT-4's
this simple way without repercussion. We never found out why or when Rode
starting adding this pad. Older units may not have it.

Hear comparison.

-Rob Danielson

Well I just opened the XLR plug on mine, and it doesnt have any resistors in
it, and it looks like it hasn't been modified so I guess it's an older unit
from before they started adding them.

In article fR4hg.14701$S61.9668@edtnps90, says...

In article om,
says...


Chevdo wrote:
I have read that there are resistors in the Rode NT4 microphone cable with
the
minijack, and that it's best to take these out. I bought my NT4 used on
ebay,
and I unscrewed the minijack to look for the resistors but couldn't find
any.
I'm wondering if the previous owner already removed them or if they are
somewhere else in the cable I didn't look (such as in the XLR plug part?).

Can
anyone who knows about these tell me where they're supposed to be, as well
as
what they're supposed to look like (what I read described them as 'pad
resistors', and I don't know if that means they look any different from a
regular resistor or not)... Thanks in advance!


I have an NT4 and have never heard of this. What is the supposed
purpose of these resistors?


Well according to someone posting to the forum at minidisc.org:

"The resistors in the minijack housing seem unlikely to be attenuators
although
I cannot confirm or deny that at this stage. They are more likely some kind of
load resistors that are an attempt to provide good conditions for the
microphone output stage. This microphone has a solid state output stage (not a
transformer) and it's not ideal to just short one of the phases to ground.
Thus, the unused phase might be tied to ground via some load resistance. As I
said, awaiting information from Rode on this one."

- http://forums.minidisc.org/lofiversi...hp/t15724.html

and here's something else I just found in the same thread:

"Took the earlier advice and got the side cutters out and redid the 5 pin
connector to remove the pad. Ran off the mic internal 9V and straight into
line
in."

That sounds like the resistors are in the XLR plug, not the minijack.

ahh here we go, I found the goods. Here's the instructions to remove the
pads:

http://www.uwm.edu/~type/audio-repor...CableMod-index
..
htm

Haighton of the Hi-MD Forum noticed a -12dB "pad" built into the XL5F -3.5mm
stereo plug cable that came with his recent model Rode NT-4 mic, With help
from
the micbulders list and eventual confirmation from Rode, we determined it was
safe to by-pass the pad to enable the specified 12mV/Pa sensitivity.

You can either remove the entire pcb inside the XLR5 connector (and resolder
the cable leads) or the much easier method pictured on the left: Heat and
remove the four black rectangular resistors from the pcb and jump the red and
clear leads to pins 4 and 2 of the XLR5 respectively. We modified 30 NT-4's
this simple way without repercussion. We never found out why or when Rode
starting adding this pad. Older units may not have it.

Hear comparison.

-Rob Danielson

Chevdo wrote:

Haighton of the Hi-MD Forum noticed a -12dB "pad" built into the XL5F -3.5mm
stereo plug cable that came with his recent model Rode NT-4 mic, With help from
the micbulders list and eventual confirmation from Rode, we determined it was
safe to by-pass the pad to enable the specified 12mV/Pa sensitivity.

Minidisk recorders tend to have quite a lot of gain on their mic inputs
because of the applications they tend to get used for. They also,
typically, don't have an attenuator ahead of that front end gain stage
(the record level control is digital, after the analog input and A/D
converter) so it's possible that a hot signal from the mic would
overload the input stage. Turning down the record level would make the
meters read lower, but you'd still be recording a clipped signal.
Because of this, Rode, in their wisdom, built a pad in to the cable so
that even a pretty high SPL wouldn't cause the front end of a typical
"mini jack" recorder to clip.

By removing the pad, you boost the output level from the mic so that,
at least with the sources that it's being used on, there's enough level
so that the line input (with lower gain than the mic input) can be
used, resulting in less electronics in the signal path, and hence a
cleaner recording (in theory, anyway, which is enough for some people).
This is probalby fine for recording a rock concert from a dozen rows
back from the stage, but if you record acoustic guitars in a coffee
house you might not have enough poop to get a good level from the line
input.

Take your pick, or make up another cable to use when you need the gain
of the mic input.

Chevdo wrote:
I have read that there are resistors in the Rode NT4 microphone cable
with the minijack, and that it's best to take these out. I bought my
NT4 used on ebay, and I unscrewed the minijack to look for the
resistors but couldn't find any. I'm wondering if the previous owner
already removed them or if they are somewhere else in the cable I
didn't look (such as in the XLR plug part?). Can anyone who knows
about these tell me where they're supposed to be, as well as what
they're supposed to look like (what I read described them as 'pad
resistors', and I don't know if that means they look any different
from a regular resistor or not)... Thanks in advance!

Sounds like a crock of ****. Why would there be a pad in the output of a
mic when a great deal of effort is made to maximise the mics output level ?

Maybe somebody put a pad in a particular NT4 for a particular reason,
decided it was a dumb thing to do , and removed them ! Then half-posted
somethingt o that effect that was then read and semi-passed to to whoever
may next be fooled.

Just goes to show that everything you read isn't necessarily true,
especially on the internet, and especially especially amateur user forums.

geoff

Chevdo wrote:
I have read that there are resistors in the Rode NT4
microphone cable with the minijack,

Source? Sounds implausible.

If you read that there were DC blocking capacitors, I
would find that much more believable. Stereo mini-
phone jacks frequently have "plug-in power" imposed
which the NT4 does not need nor use.

wrote:

I have an NT4 and have never heard of this. What is the supposed
purpose of these resistors?

In case you decide to use the same cable for an SM57?

"Agent 86" wrote ...
wrote:

I have an NT4 and have never heard of this. What is the supposed
purpose of these resistors?

In case you decide to use the same cable for an SM57?

You have apparently never seen a an NT4 or you would know
that (like most stereo mics) it uses a 5-pin XLR connector and
would never fit an SM57 or any other mono mic.

Chevdo wrote:

I have read that there are resistors in the Rode NT4 microphone cable with the
minijack, and that it's best to take these out. I bought my NT4 used on ebay,
and I unscrewed the minijack to look for the resistors but couldn't find any.
I'm wondering if the previous owner already removed them or if they are
somewhere else in the cable I didn't look (such as in the XLR plug part?).

Well why not ? Are you expecting us to be psychic as to whether they're there ? Get
off your lazy ass and look !

Graham

Chevdo wrote:

In article om,
says...

I have an NT4 and have never heard of this. What is the supposed
purpose of these resistors?

Well according to someone posting to the forum at minidisc.org:

"The resistors in the minijack housing seem unlikely to be attenuators

I disagree. In fact it's highly *likely* they are given the restricted inout
voltage handling capabilities of a minidisc recorder.

snip

and here's something else I just found in the same thread:

"Took the earlier advice and got the side cutters out and redid the 5 pin
connector to remove the pad. Ran off the mic internal 9V and straight into line
in."

That sounds like the resistors are in the XLR plug, not the minijack.

Well fancy that. They're where you didn't look !

ahh here we go, I found the goods. Here's the instructions to remove the
pads:

http://www.uwm.edu/~type/audio-repor...CableMod-index.
htm

Haighton of the Hi-MD Forum noticed a -12dB "pad" built into the XL5F -3.5mm
stereo plug cable that came with his recent model Rode NT-4 mic,

Well fancy that, they're a pad after all. Just as I'd expect.

Graham

Agent 86 wrote:

wrote:

I have an NT4 and have never heard of this. What is the supposed
purpose of these resistors?

In case you decide to use the same cable for an SM57?

LMAO ! Very droll.

Graham

ahh here we go, I found the goods. Here's the instructions to remove the
pads:

http://www.uwm.edu/~type/audio-repor...CableMod-index.
htm



Link didn't work for me. Came back 404 page not found.

Chevdo wrote:
Well I just opened the XLR plug on mine, and it doesnt have any resistors in
it, and it looks like it hasn't been modified so I guess it's an older unit
from before they started adding them.

In article fR4hg.14701$S61.9668@edtnps90, says...

In article om,

What did you have to do to get the XLR plug open?

wrote in message
ups.com...

ahh here we go, I found the goods. Here's the instructions to remove
the
pads:

http://www.uwm.edu/~type/audio-repor...CableMod-index.
htm



Link didn't work for me. Came back 404 page not found.

Works fine for me. Of course, you remembered the "htm"
bit at the end, right?

Oh, yeah, adding the .htm did the trick.

What do the Rode resistors look like?
Like this?:

http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...tP age=search

I ask because I want to look and see if my NT4 has this.

pandorapayne wrote
Chevdo wrote:
Well I just opened the XLR plug on mine, and it doesnt have any resistors
in
it, and it looks like it hasn't been modified so I guess it's an older
unit
from before they started adding them.


What did you have to do to get the XLR plug open?

It is just a conventional Neutrik, isn't it? The black plastic
"nut" on the cable-end un-screws and the whole thing pulls
out. No tools required, etc.

Richard Crowley wrote:


"Agent 86" wrote ...
wrote:

I have an NT4 and have never heard of this. What is the supposed
purpose of these resistors?

In case you decide to use the same cable for an SM57?

You have apparently never seen a an NT4 or you would know
that (like most stereo mics) it uses a 5-pin XLR connector and
would never fit an SM57 or any other mono mic.

It was a joke! Guess you missed Paul's article. It's been all the buzz.

What did you have to do to get the XLR plug open?

It is just a conventional Neutrik, isn't it? The black plastic
"nut" on the cable-end un-screws and the whole thing pulls
out. No tools required, etc.


Thanks. Yes, it was Neutrik, but I had never taken one
apart ... until now. Took me a minute to figure how that
all went but ... NO RESISTORS!

On Tue, 06 Jun 2006 00:47:48 GMT, (Chevdo) wrote:


I have read that there are resistors in the Rode NT4 microphone cable with the
minijack, and that it's best to take these out. I bought my NT4 used on ebay,
and I unscrewed the minijack to look for the resistors but couldn't find any.
I'm wondering if the previous owner already removed them or if they are
somewhere else in the cable I didn't look (such as in the XLR plug part?). Can
anyone who knows about these tell me where they're supposed to be, as well as
what they're supposed to look like (what I read described them as 'pad
resistors', and I don't know if that means they look any different from a
regular resistor or not)... Thanks in advance!

IS your NT4 too low-level into a mini-jack device? If not, leave it
alone.

In article ,
says...

Richard Crowley wrote:


"Agent 86" wrote ...
wrote:

I have an NT4 and have never heard of this. What is the supposed
purpose of these resistors?

In case you decide to use the same cable for an SM57?

You have apparently never seen a an NT4 or you would know
that (like most stereo mics) it uses a 5-pin XLR connector and
would never fit an SM57 or any other mono mic.

It was a joke! Guess you missed Paul's article. It's been all the buzz.


No, it was an insult, and a stupid pathetic one, too.

In article ,
lpayne1NOSPAM@dslDOTpipexDOTcom says...

On Tue, 06 Jun 2006 00:47:48 GMT, (Chevdo) wrote:


I have read that there are resistors in the Rode NT4 microphone cable with
the
minijack, and that it's best to take these out. I bought my NT4 used on ebay,
and I unscrewed the minijack to look for the resistors but couldn't find any.

I'm wondering if the previous owner already removed them or if they are
somewhere else in the cable I didn't look (such as in the XLR plug part?).
Can
anyone who knows about these tell me where they're supposed to be, as well as
what they're supposed to look like (what I read described them as 'pad
resistors', and I don't know if that means they look any different from a
regular resistor or not)... Thanks in advance!

IS your NT4 too low-level into a mini-jack device? If not, leave it
alone.

Is that what I asked? no. So shut the f up.

In article ,
says...



Chevdo wrote:

I have read that there are resistors in the Rode NT4 microphone cable with
the
minijack, and that it's best to take these out. I bought my NT4 used on
ebay,
and I unscrewed the minijack to look for the resistors but couldn't find
any.
I'm wondering if the previous owner already removed them or if they are
somewhere else in the cable I didn't look (such as in the XLR plug part?).

Well why not ? Are you expecting us to be psychic as to whether they're there
? Get
off your lazy ass and look !


No, apparently you're too lazy to read an entire thread before posting your
obsolete stupidity. I find it particularly amusing that this thread revealled
the immense stupidity of several major trolls.. Pooh Bear, Geoff, Richard
Crowley, and Lawrence Payne really made fools of themselves, especially Geoff.

Tip: read an entire thread before replying to old posts, you end up looking
redundant at best and idiotic at worst.

Chevdo wrote:


No, apparently you're too lazy to read an entire thread before
posting your obsolete stupidity. I find it particularly amusing that
this thread revealled the immense stupidity of several major trolls..
Pooh Bear, Geoff, Richard Crowley, and Lawrence Payne really made
fools of themselves, especially Geoff.


I'm stupid and an especial troll because the NT4 cable I looked at had no
attentuator or resistor built in. Ok...

geoff