thin XLR cable with less vibration transmission

[Gints Klimanis]

I'm looking for a short (12-18") XLR cable to be used on my camcorder that is thin and doesn't transmit vibrations to the on-camera external microphone mounted on Rycote Lyre shock mount. Trew Audio made a custom ($$) thin XLR cable for me without the rubber shield, but I'm looking for something even more flexible. What is the thin cable found in boom microphone kits, such as that pictured here :

http://www.trewaudio.com/i/store/d_740.jpg

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/421933-REG/Sennheiser_ME66BK_ME66_K6_Shotgun_Microphone.html
The Rycote site lists a thin Mogami cable, but the picture doesn't show a very thin cable :

Softie Cable - 3-pin XLR Gold plated, Mogami, 400 mm - Ultra Soft 5.0 mm cable (017018)

[Allan Black]

Rode used a quality thin Mogami mic cable on the first production run of their Videomic Pros.

You can check specs on their site .. and they have an online help desk ..

http://www.mogamicable.com/additional/contact.php

Cheers.

[Richard Crowley]

Sounds like you want a coiled cable (like a telephone handset). There seem to be several available with different combinations of XLR and 3.5mm connectors for whatever you need.

The cable in that boom pole isn't all THAT thin. If you want THIN then look at the kind of cable used for lav mics. Of course, the downside of thin is fragile.

[Brian P. Reynolds]

Canare do a nice thin cable...
Canare Corp.: Twisted Pair Seiries: Twisted Pair Microphone cable(L-2E5)
I have made up 4x 5m ultra thin cables with the light plastic XLR connectors, not my daily use cables but an extra 20m of cable in the bottom of my location kit, with minimal weight has saved me on several occasions.

[Mike Beckett]

Rycote do one of these:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/706559-REG/Rycote_017018_Mic_Tail_Short_XLR.html
As usual, not the cheapest, but you get what you pay for. You can probably make one yourself if you have the parts.

[Rick Reineke]

Same as Brian. I made some short link cables with the Canare L-2E5 and Neutrik XLRs.
The cable cost .44 a foot and the XLRs about $5 from Markertek.
I also use the telephone style coiled cable from my mixer-to-boom. I bought those pre made though..
If they were going to be long, I would have used the L-4E5C (Mini Star Quad)
Brian, what 'light plastic XLR connectors' did you use?

[Gints Klimanis]

Thanks for the fine suggestions, everyone.

[Brian P. Reynolds]

Originally Posted by Rick Reineke

Brian, what 'light plastic XLR connectors' did you use?

Here is a link to the connectors that I have used, yes I know they are thermoplastic and not as robust as metal shells and possibly don't have the same level of RF rejection.... BUT if you do a tally up of your location kit its quite surprising how much weight you can save, and with the price airlines are charging now for excess baggage its a viable option.
If you do rough work like Rock & Roll etc then the plastic connectors wouldn't suit your needs.

Amphenol, XLR, Connector, Audio

[John Willett]

Originally Posted by Gints Klimanis

I'm looking for a short (12-18") XLR cable to be used on my camcorder that is thin and doesn't transmit vibrations to the on-camera external microphone mounted on Rycote Lyre shock mount. Trew Audio made a custom ($$) thin XLR cable for me without the rubber shield, but I'm looking for something even more flexible. What is the thin cable found in boom microphone kits, such as that pictured here :

http://www.trewaudio.com/i/store/d_740.jpg

Sennheiser ME66/K6 - Shotgun Microphone Basic Kit ME66BK B&H

The Rycote site lists a thin Mogami cable, but the picture doesn't show a very thin cable :

Softie Cable - 3-pin XLR Gold plated, Mogami, 400 mm - Ultra Soft 5.0 mm cable (017018)

You need the Rycote S-series cable - this is what I use - It is thin and flexible and does not transmit noise.

You can see it here:-
http://www.reddingaudio.com/images/r...ifications.png

It's much thinner than the Softie cable.

[Gints Klimanis]

Thanks, John. That's just the cable I was looking for , but I didn't know how to describe it well enough in a Search.

Rycote S-Series Microphone Tail
$34
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/576636-REG/Rycote_017013_S_Series_Microphone_Tail.html

[Paul R Johnson]

I have had great success using one of the cores of an audio multicore. I had an old off cut of a 16 pair cable, and pulled out one, stuck XLRs on each end and used it inside my Sennheiser zeppelin windshield. It works very well, and is quite tough for it's size. It's foil screened with a drain wire and is easy to solder.

[John Willett]

Originally Posted by Paul R Johnson

I have had great success using one of the cores of an audio multicore. I had an old off cut of a 16 pair cable, and pulled out one, stuck XLRs on each end and used it inside my Sennheiser zeppelin windshield. It works very well, and is quite tough for it's size. It's foil screened with a drain wire and is easy to solder.

Foil screen would make the cable too stiff and not flexible enough, I'm afraid.

In the UK, the Rycote S-series XLR tail is just £15 +VAT.

[Tom Morrow]

I like the Rycote S series short cable; it doesn't transmit vibrations. But the sheath doesn't look durable; it already looks beat up after a few month's use. If it goes bad it's easy to replace.

[John Willett]

Originally Posted by Tom Morrow

I like the Rycote S series short cable; it doesn't transmit vibrations. But the sheath doesn't look durable; it already looks beat up after a few month's use. If it goes bad it's easy to replace.

That's why the S-series cable is a 50/50 mix - the bottom half is covered by heat-shrink to make it more durable - and it's the sheathed bit that is clipped into the cable clip.