lav mic cable SEVERED- fixable? at DVinfo.net

Benjamin Hill · September 5th, 2010, 12:15 PM

Stuff happens; in this case, my cat chewed through the cable of my Tram TR50 lav mic in several different places. Both an electrician and an experienced audio engineer I showed this to said 'not fixable'.

So I've pretty accepted this unit is toast, but before I throw in the towel I thought I'd just ask here: has anyone ever attempted such a repair? With success or failure?

thanks!

Steve House · September 5th, 2010, 02:00 PM

You can send it to Tram and they can attach a new end connector at the point of the break. The cable going into the capsule end is not replacable so you'll end up with a mic with a shorter than normal cable So the big question becomes how much cable is left between the break and the mic - is it enough for the mic to be usable? From your pics it doesn't look like there's a lot of cable between the last chew point and the capsule.

Richard Crowley · September 5th, 2010, 02:34 PM

If you're going to toss it, I'll give you $20 for it. It's worth trying to fix, at least.

Tom Majeski · September 5th, 2010, 04:59 PM

Anyone worth their salt with a soldering iron and heat shrink tubing can fix that in 5 minutes. Even if the entire cable was hamburger, as long as there are both connectors with a good 2 inches of cable on each end, a length of new one can be spliced in.

If your options fail, contact me for a fix. 10 years on the road as a tv uplink engineer teaches you that there are NO cables that can't be fixed.

Richard Crowley · September 5th, 2010, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom Majeski

there are NO cables that can't be fixed.

I absolutely agree. But if you have to pay someone else to do it, it changes the economics of repair vs. replace.

Tom Majeski · September 5th, 2010, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard Crowley

I absolutely agree. But if you have to pay someone else to do it, it changes the economics of repair vs. replace.

Very true. Only thinking in cases where a replacement cable is unavailable - either a time constraint, or where the mfg says..."I'm sorry, we don't sell just the cable seperately".

Benjamin Hill · September 5th, 2010, 08:16 PM

Thanks for the replies gentlemen, will follow up via PM

Steve House · September 5th, 2010, 08:18 PM

Just happened to be looking at the repair service information on the Tram site just the other day and they claim there's no way to attach a new cable at the mic capsule end, that its strain relief is integral to the capsule body and must be attached as part of the capsule manufacturing process. They're happy to replace the connector or swap it for a different type but if the damage is too close to the capsule they say nothing can be done.

Benjamin Hill · September 5th, 2010, 08:26 PM

Yeah, I saw that too Steve. Pardon my ignorance, is the capsule the microphone part?

Jeffery Magat · September 5th, 2010, 09:05 PM

Not sure if you'd want to do this, but you could put a connector on the end that's 4" from the mic head and create a jumper cable. Pretty ultra-low budget fix, but it'd work.

Steve Oakley · September 5th, 2010, 11:58 PM

just splice it together. I've done this in the field 1" from a mic capsule with a sony ECM 44. the wire is a PITA to solder, but doable. send it to TREW audio in nashville if you can't do it - they can make up a new connecter end, mic wire, and splice it close....

Steve House · September 6th, 2010, 06:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Benjamin Hill

Yeah, I saw that too Steve. Pardon my ignorance, is the capsule the microphone part?

Yep, the end you talk into <grin>

Steve House · September 6th, 2010, 06:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Oakley

just splice it together. I've done this in the field 1" from a mic capsule with a sony ECM 44. the wire is a PITA to solder, but doable. send it to TREW audio in nashville if you can't do it - they can make up a new connecter end, mic wire, and splice it close....

What about if there's a shield braid that is completely severed? That would be difficult to splice.

Richard Crowley · September 6th, 2010, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve House

What about if there's a shield braid that is completely severed? That would be difficult to splice.

Yes, difficult, but not impossible. It still comes down to how much $$ is it worth to fix vs. toss and replace. I have "rewoven" braid shields in cases where there was no viable alternative. But, as you imply, perhaps not worth the effort in this case(?)

Rick Reineke · September 6th, 2010, 11:23 AM

I have read there's a repair service somewhere in the UK that can repair Tram cable/head issues. Can't recall much more than that it wasn't cheap or I would have sent them a few with the usual intermittent cable/head connections.

September 5th, 2010, 12:15 PM	#1
Benjamin Hill Major Player Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Iowa City, Iowa Posts: 670	lav mic cable SEVERED- fixable? Stuff happens; in this case, my cat chewed through the cable of my Tram TR50 lav mic in several different places. Both an electrician and an experienced audio engineer I showed this to said 'not fixable'. So I've pretty accepted this unit is toast, but before I throw in the towel I thought I'd just ask here: has anyone ever attempted such a repair? With success or failure? thanks! Attached Images __________________ youtube.com/benhillmedia linkedin.com/in/benhillmedia

September 5th, 2010, 02:00 PM	#2
Steve House Inner Circle Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada Posts: 5,742	You can send it to Tram and they can attach a new end connector at the point of the break. The cable going into the capsule end is not replacable so you'll end up with a mic with a shorter than normal cable So the big question becomes how much cable is left between the break and the mic - is it enough for the mic to be usable? From your pics it doesn't look like there's a lot of cable between the last chew point and the capsule. __________________ Good news, Cousins! This week's chocolate ration is 15 grams!

September 5th, 2010, 08:16 PM	#7
Benjamin Hill Major Player Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Iowa City, Iowa Posts: 670	Thanks for the replies gentlemen, will follow up via PM __________________ youtube.com/benhillmedia linkedin.com/in/benhillmedia

September 5th, 2010, 08:18 PM	#8
Steve House Inner Circle Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada Posts: 5,742	Just happened to be looking at the repair service information on the Tram site just the other day and they claim there's no way to attach a new cable at the mic capsule end, that its strain relief is integral to the capsule body and must be attached as part of the capsule manufacturing process. They're happy to replace the connector or swap it for a different type but if the damage is too close to the capsule they say nothing can be done. __________________ Good news, Cousins! This week's chocolate ration is 15 grams!

September 5th, 2010, 08:26 PM	#9
Benjamin Hill Major Player Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Iowa City, Iowa Posts: 670	Yeah, I saw that too Steve. Pardon my ignorance, is the capsule the microphone part? __________________ youtube.com/benhillmedia linkedin.com/in/benhillmedia

September 5th, 2010, 02:34 PM	#3
Richard Crowley Trustee Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 1,238	If you're going to toss it, I'll give you $20 for it. It's worth trying to fix, at least.

September 5th, 2010, 04:59 PM	#4
Tom Majeski Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: State College PA Posts: 45	Anyone worth their salt with a soldering iron and heat shrink tubing can fix that in 5 minutes. Even if the entire cable was hamburger, as long as there are both connectors with a good 2 inches of cable on each end, a length of new one can be spliced in. If your options fail, contact me for a fix. 10 years on the road as a tv uplink engineer teaches you that there are NO cables that can't be fixed.

September 5th, 2010, 09:05 PM	#10
Jeffery Magat Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Toronto, ON Posts: 186	Not sure if you'd want to do this, but you could put a connector on the end that's 4" from the mic head and create a jumper cable. Pretty ultra-low budget fix, but it'd work.

September 5th, 2010, 11:58 PM	#11
Steve Oakley Trustee Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: United States Posts: 1,158	just splice it together. I've done this in the field 1" from a mic capsule with a sony ECM 44. the wire is a PITA to solder, but doable. send it to TREW audio in nashville if you can't do it - they can make up a new connecter end, mic wire, and splice it close.... __________________ Steve Oakley DP • Audio Mixer • Editor • Colorist http://stevenoakley.com

September 6th, 2010, 11:23 AM	#15
Rick Reineke Inner Circle Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: New York Posts: 2,039	I have read there's a repair service somewhere in the UK that can repair Tram cable/head issues. Can't recall much more than that it wasn't cheap or I would have sent them a few with the usual intermittent cable/head connections.