MAJOR hissing from short DIY XLR cables with shotgun mic at DVinfo.net

Sam Young · June 23rd, 2011, 03:53 AM

Hello folks,

I am trying to hook up an AT875R shotgun mic to my new Canon XF 100.

I first tried using my 6 inch DIY Canare XLR cable (the cable worked flawlessly with my old JVC HM100) to hook up both the shotgun mic and the XF100, and got MAJOR hiss. I then soldered other short cables (using various neutrik XLRs, Canare/Audio Technica mic cable) and still getting the same hiss.

I then used a long store-bought 10 foot XLR cable with the XF100 and shotgun mic, and there was no hiss, worked very well.

Keep in mind that the first 6 inch DIY Canare XLR cable worked fine on the JVC HM100, but not the XF100. I've tried playing with all the audio settings on the XF 100, but no luck.

Have you guys had this problem?

I've done quiet a bit of soldering, including surface mount soldering, but I do not believe I am that rusty, making cold joints :) The wires are at the right pin locations, the cable shielding is soldered to pin 1 on all cables.

Any suggestions would be great! Thank you.

Sam

Richard Crowley · June 23rd, 2011, 08:34 AM

I have been making my own cables (and using them) for almost 50 years. This scenario sounds very unlikely. I cannot see how a cable can be implicated in any case involving "hiss". That is assuming that we are talking about what is commonly refereed to as "hiss". Now if you were using the word "hum", that might be a different story.

Sam Young · June 23rd, 2011, 03:24 PM

It is a very loud static noise, it is a best way I can describe it. I've never heard of such noise either, and do not know why it is happening, especially since I've successfully built various headphone cables, headphone amps, other xlr cables and such. Very weird... and very discouraging..

Rick Reineke · June 23rd, 2011, 03:45 PM

After I make a cable, I carefully inspect the connections with a magnifying glass or lupe .. (my eyes ain't what they used to be) and check the connections with an ohm meter for pin-to-pin continuity, resistance and cross-check for shorts in a RX100 ohm mode. For instance, a stray strand of the shield touching a hot or cold conductor, which could go undetected in a standard cable/continuity tester.

Sam Young · June 23rd, 2011, 05:35 PM

Okie doke, I will check for stray strands. Though I twist all the strands together tightly, and then tin it full of solder to prevent stray strands, perhaps I am getting cold solder. I think I will buy another set of neutriks and try again.. Thanks guys!

Any other suggestions are very, very welcomed.

Graham Bernard · June 23rd, 2011, 10:20 PM

Odd.

How were you monitoring? Headphones? Try another set. Can't explain why the 10 foot cable working. Was the mic in the same position for all lengths?

Bizarre!

Grazie

Sam Young · June 24th, 2011, 04:36 AM

I've tried my custom molder In Ear Monitors, as well as the cheapo Apple earbuds, both with same results.

All cables were tested close to the camcorder, 3 inches from the camcorder XLR jack.

This really is bizarre, I will buy all new parts and build another cable when I come back from a trip, though I have lost all hope... Either I am hitting a dry spell with my soldering, or there is some voodoo magic going on with my xf 100.

Thanks guys.

Rick Reineke · June 24th, 2011, 09:30 AM

In my experience with Canon's, they have the weakest and noisiest HP amps I have ever encountered, as bad, if not worse than the RED's. The BG noise you are hearing could be the HP amp. The Canon's mic/line gain is rather weak as well..

June 23rd, 2011, 03:53 AM	#1
Sam Young Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Dallas, Texas/Hong Kong Posts: 154	MAJOR hissing from short DIY XLR cables with shotgun mic Hello folks, I am trying to hook up an AT875R shotgun mic to my new Canon XF 100. I first tried using my 6 inch DIY Canare XLR cable (the cable worked flawlessly with my old JVC HM100) to hook up both the shotgun mic and the XF100, and got MAJOR hiss. I then soldered other short cables (using various neutrik XLRs, Canare/Audio Technica mic cable) and still getting the same hiss. I then used a long store-bought 10 foot XLR cable with the XF100 and shotgun mic, and there was no hiss, worked very well. Keep in mind that the first 6 inch DIY Canare XLR cable worked fine on the JVC HM100, but not the XF100. I've tried playing with all the audio settings on the XF 100, but no luck. Have you guys had this problem? I've done quiet a bit of soldering, including surface mount soldering, but I do not believe I am that rusty, making cold joints :) The wires are at the right pin locations, the cable shielding is soldered to pin 1 on all cables. Any suggestions would be great! Thank you. Sam Last edited by Sam Young; June 23rd, 2011 at 06:06 AM.

June 23rd, 2011, 08:34 AM	#2
Richard Crowley Trustee Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 1,238	Re: MAJOR hissing from short DIY XLR cables with shotgun mic I have been making my own cables (and using them) for almost 50 years. This scenario sounds very unlikely. I cannot see how a cable can be implicated in any case involving "hiss". That is assuming that we are talking about what is commonly refereed to as "hiss". Now if you were using the word "hum", that might be a different story.

June 23rd, 2011, 03:24 PM	#3
Sam Young Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Dallas, Texas/Hong Kong Posts: 154	Re: MAJOR hissing from short DIY XLR cables with shotgun mic It is a very loud static noise, it is a best way I can describe it. I've never heard of such noise either, and do not know why it is happening, especially since I've successfully built various headphone cables, headphone amps, other xlr cables and such. Very weird... and very discouraging..

June 23rd, 2011, 03:45 PM	#4
Rick Reineke Inner Circle Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: New York Posts: 2,038	Re: MAJOR hissing from short DIY XLR cables with shotgun mic After I make a cable, I carefully inspect the connections with a magnifying glass or lupe .. (my eyes ain't what they used to be) and check the connections with an ohm meter for pin-to-pin continuity, resistance and cross-check for shorts in a RX100 ohm mode. For instance, a stray strand of the shield touching a hot or cold conductor, which could go undetected in a standard cable/continuity tester.

June 23rd, 2011, 05:35 PM	#5
Sam Young Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Dallas, Texas/Hong Kong Posts: 154	Re: MAJOR hissing from short DIY XLR cables with shotgun mic Okie doke, I will check for stray strands. Though I twist all the strands together tightly, and then tin it full of solder to prevent stray strands, perhaps I am getting cold solder. I think I will buy another set of neutriks and try again.. Thanks guys! Any other suggestions are very, very welcomed.

June 23rd, 2011, 10:20 PM	#6
Graham Bernard Old Boot Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: London UK Posts: 3,633	Re: MAJOR hissing from short DIY XLR cables with shotgun mic Odd. How were you monitoring? Headphones? Try another set. Can't explain why the 10 foot cable working. Was the mic in the same position for all lengths? Bizarre! Grazie

June 24th, 2011, 04:36 AM	#7
Sam Young Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Dallas, Texas/Hong Kong Posts: 154	Re: MAJOR hissing from short DIY XLR cables with shotgun mic I've tried my custom molder In Ear Monitors, as well as the cheapo Apple earbuds, both with same results. All cables were tested close to the camcorder, 3 inches from the camcorder XLR jack. This really is bizarre, I will buy all new parts and build another cable when I come back from a trip, though I have lost all hope... Either I am hitting a dry spell with my soldering, or there is some voodoo magic going on with my xf 100. Thanks guys.

June 24th, 2011, 09:30 AM	#8
Rick Reineke Inner Circle Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: New York Posts: 2,038	Re: MAJOR hissing from short DIY XLR cables with shotgun mic In my experience with Canon's, they have the weakest and noisiest HP amps I have ever encountered, as bad, if not worse than the RED's. The BG noise you are hearing could be the HP amp. The Canon's mic/line gain is rather weak as well..