Hi

I have Sennheiser's EW 112p kit and to video a wedding am wanting to feed the SK100 transmitter from the church PA system. According to the SK100 manual, the pin connection for the input jack is Tip - Mic level +ve, Ring - Line level +ve, Shield - -ve. I am not sure how the mic/line level selection via the input jack interacts with the AF sensitivity menu setting, and remember (but cannot find) a post here some time back saying that Sennheiser's pin diagram was misleading.

I also have Sennheiser's female XLR to jack lead for connecting a mic to the SK100, which is wired:

XLR1 (ground) > Tip & Shield
XLR2 (hot) > Ring
XLR3 (cold) > Tip & Shield

This does not make a whole lot of sense given Sennheiser's description of the pins!

Does anyone know whether there is a better description of the SK100 jack pin-in, or how I should connect a line level input?

Many thanks,

Nick

That looks right to me. The cable is to connect a line level XLR output to the line level input on the transmitter. XLR hot to 1/8 ring for line level. XLR cold and ground both to the 1/8 sleeve, 1/8 tip grounded for line level.

I might add that Senn has two different XLR->1/8 cables for the G2 series. One is wired as above and is used with line level sources only. The other is wired with the XLR hot (pin2) going to the 1/8 and the 1/8 ring is grounded and is used only when sending mic level sources to the transmitter.

Use the line-level config when feeding the transmitter from a PA/mixer line-out. (1/8"; ring = hot) I have not tried feeding a +4dB operating level to the transmitter, which may very-well overload the input stage of the transmitter, regardless of the sensitivity setting so a attenuation pad may be required, Alternately you could feed mic-level with an in-line line-to-mic attenuation pad using the tip-hot config., or, select mic-level out on the mixer, if that's an option. (some of the Mackie's have a line/mic switch)
I feed a G2 transmitter all the time with a Sound Devices mixer tape-output (rated @ -15dB as I recall.

I feed a G2 transmitter all the time with a Sound Devices mixer tape-output (rated @ -15dB as I recall.
Would that require a custom made cable? I'm trying to do the same thing but can't find the right cable.
Maybe this cable will work. But it does not have a locking 1/8'' plug for the G2 Transmitter.
Remote Audio | Unbalanced Line Level 3-pin Mini XLR | CASDT (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/287409-REG/Remote_Audio_CASDT_Unbalanced_Line_Level_3_pin.html)

Or this Sound Devices Cable, but it would still require a second cable to connect it to the transmitter.
Sound Devices | XL7 TA3-F to Mini Female Connector Cable | XL7 (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/293008-REG/Sound_Devices_XL7_XL7_TA3_F_to_Mini.html)

These cables seem to made more to connect the sound Devices mixer tape out to a recorder, but not to a G2 transmitter. Are there any other options?

You would need a custom cable, neither cable you pointed out would work correctly for the G2 application. Trew Audio, Location Sound, or Markertek can make custom cables, or make it yourself if your experienced.

Basically it should be wired (when using a SD mixer's tape-out TA3 connection to a 1/8" TRS)
Pin-1: Ground/shield
Pin-2, 3 or both: Ring (your preference, left, right or L & R)*
Float or tie the 1/8" plug tip to ground.
Set the G2-SK100 transmitter's sensitivity to -20 and your good to go.

* Note: if you want to send L & R separately to two transmitters, you would need to "Y" out from the TA3 to two 1/8" plugs.
SD has some tape-out wiring schematics which may be of interest.

Markertek sells locking 1/8" TRS plugs (#30-296-BK) for around $5 usd.
SD and some of their dealers (like B&H) have a 4-pack of TA3s for around $21 as I recall. Cheaper than buying singles if you need a few.

Addendum: Wiring an -10db Unbalanced 1/4" out to 1/8" TRS plug for SK100.
- Ground/shield to Ground/shield
- Tip to ring
- Float or tie the 1/8" plug tip to ground.

Wiring a +4dB Balanced 1/4" out to 1/8" TRS plug for the SK100.
- Ground/shield to Ground/shield
- Tip to ring
- Float or tie the 1/8" plug tip to ground.
- Tie the 1/4" plug's ring to Ground/shield.

In this +4dB configurtion the signal must be attenuated by about -10dB or more. Either with an in-line or built in pad or via a mixer's master volume controls.

Would that require a custom made cable? I'm trying to do the same thing but can't find the right cable.
Maybe this cable will work. But it does not have a locking 1/8'' plug for the G2 Transmitter.
Remote Audio | Unbalanced Line Level 3-pin Mini XLR | CASDT (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/287409-REG/Remote_Audio_CASDT_Unbalanced_Line_Level_3_pin.html)

Or this Sound Devices Cable, but it would still require a second cable to connect it to the transmitter.
Sound Devices | XL7 TA3-F to Mini Female Connector Cable | XL7 (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/293008-REG/Sound_Devices_XL7_XL7_TA3_F_to_Mini.html)

These cables seem to made more to connect the sound Devices mixer tape out to a recorder, but not to a G2 transmitter. Are there any other options?

The G2 transmitter 1/8 TRS input jack does not follow the standard TRS wiring pattern, at least for not for line level inputs. Line level 'signal hot' must go to the TRS ring terminal. The normal pattern is signal hot goes to the TRS tip connector but the G2 uses that arrangement ONLY for mic level signals. Neither of those two listed cables would be proper.

not to mention if you wire to the tip of the 1/8th" plug you need to block the bias voltage with a capacitor, or risk damage or at least signal degradation...

sennheiser sells cables specifically for the g2 bodypacks. the CM-1 connects an xlr mic level signal to the bodypack. the CL-2 connects an xlr line level signal to the bodypack. if you aren't up to making a custom cable yourself, or if this seems impossibly confusing to you, i highly recommend going with the sennheiser cables. they work.

Markertek sells locking 1/8" TRS plugs (#30-296-BK) for around $5 usd.
SD and some of their dealers (like B&H) have a 4-pack of TA3s for around $21 as I recall. Cheaper than buying singles if you need a few.
I have no experience making my own cables. This seems like a good opportunity to try. thanks guys.

Just out of curiosity I looked up the CM-1 & CL-2 Sennh. cables. Prices ranged from $50-85usd, YOW! The CL1 has a blocking cap, it doesn't state if the CL-2 has any attenuation, which is necessary for +4 outputs.

sorry, forgot to mention the sticker shock. :-) then again, for those who can't do anything else I say that's the cost of making it work, and good audio is ALWAYS worth the money. those prices are list however, and can be had for MUCH cheaper if you shop around.

btw, the CL-2 has no attenuation...but works fine with +4 on 500 series gear (all that i own...)

sorry, forgot to mention the sticker shock. :-) then again, for those who can't do anything else I say that's the cost of making it work, and good audio is ALWAYS worth the money. those prices are list however, and can be had for MUCH cheaper if you shop around.

btw, the CL-2 has no attenuation...but works fine with +4 on 500 series gear (all that i own...)

CL-2 in B&H is $28.95 USD:
Sennheiser | CL-2 Transmitter Line Cable 1/8"-M to | CL2 (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/217589-REG/Sennheiser_CL2_CL_2_Transmitter_Line_Cable.html) - well worth the money, works perfectly well with my G2 100. You can also use a pad for additional attenuation, when needed...

I see on CL-1 cable (the mini plug trs -trs) wired with a tip -to both tip/ring and sleeve to sleeve, why? if it is supposed to be used for line in inputs it should be wired as ring/sleeve to ring/sleeve mode.
does receiver works differently? i mean AF OUT is + 10 dbu and WE have just to set correly levels in menu?

I see on CL-1 cable (the mini plug trs -trs) wired with a tip -to both tip/ring and sleeve to sleeve, why? if it is supposed to be used for line in inputs it should be wired as ring/sleeve to ring/sleeve mode.
does receiver works differently? i mean AF OUT is + 10 dbu and WE have just to set correly levels in menu?

Yes, the receiver is different. With the transmitter you put a mic level signal hot on the tip and a line level signal hot on the ring. But the receiver output jack is unbalanced with signal on the tip only, ring unconnected. If you're going to plug into a camera minijack "mic in" connector, those are usually stereo jacks with left on tip, right on ring. Since most of the time you want a mono wireless to record as dual-mono on both the left and right channels in the camera, shorting tip to ring at the camera end of the cable accomplishes that.

I also have Sennheiser's female XLR to jack lead for connecting a mic to the SK100, which is wired:

XLR1 (ground) > Tip & Shield
XLR2 (hot) > Ring
XLR3 (cold) > Tip & Shield

This does not make a whole lot of sense given Sennheiser's description of the pins!

Does anyone know whether there is a better description of the SK100 jack pin-in, or how I should connect a line level input?


This is *not* a mic. input cable, it's a *line* input cable.

The mic. input cable ie wired:-
XLR1 (ground) > Ring & Shield
XLR2 (hot) > Tip + a blocking capacitor
XLR3 (cold) > Ring & Shield

The mic. cable is not a Sennheiser standard and would be made up by a Sennheiser dealer - it requeres a blocking capacitor inside to stop the plug-in power getting to a dynamic mic.

The 100 series output cable is wired:-
XLR1 (ground) > Shield
XLR2 (hot) > Tip
XLR3 (cold) > Shield

I hope this helps.

This is *not* a mic. input cable, it's a *line* input cable.

The mic. input cable ie wired:-
XLR1 (ground) > Ring & Shield
XLR2 (hot) > Tip + a blocking capacitor
XLR3 (cold) > Ring & Shield

The mic. cable is not a Sennheiser standard and would be made up by a Sennheiser dealer - it requeres a blocking capacitor inside to stop the plug-in power getting to a dynamic mic.


Hi John, I'm want to wire up my own mic cable, what value, rating
and type of capacitor should be used? Thanks, Bill

Hi John, I'm want to wire up my own mic cable, what value, rating
and type of capacitor should be used? Thanks, Bill

Mini jack:
positive to tip and negative to sleeve - short ring and sleeve together.

XLR 3F:
Use a 1μF tantalum bead capacitor.

Wire the -ve side to XLR pin 2. Connect the +ve side to the cable and connect the other end of the cable to mini-jack tip. I would advise sleeving this to minimise the possibility of a short.

Unbalance the XLR by shorting pins 1 and 3 and connect the screen here.

You can then connect a dynamic mic. to the SK 100 TX as the capacitor blocks the DC voltage from the transmitter.

Hi , I just bought an EW100 kit , with the SK 100 bodypack and the EK 100 camera receiver .

While the kit came with what I take to be the ME2 or 4 microphone , with 3.5mm mini jack connection , I also have some MKE 2-2r microphones from some older VHF kits we used to have in a hire company I worked for . These older kits used an unusual connector which was impossible to buy anywhere , and if the cables got damaged out on a hire , the mics used to get written off ; I kept a couple of them where the damage was near the end of the cable :)

I currently use the MKE 2-2r's as wired lapel mics with a couple of Audio Technica preamps which have mini XLR connectors - these preamps have what I presume to be balanced inputs with 5V phantom power across the hot and cold connectors ( pins 2&3 ) .

While I know the (unusual) pin assignment for the SK100 mic/line input connector , what I cannot see in any of the manuals is the spec for mic power . Even though the mic input is unbalanced , I wonder if it is still 5V ?

To confuse things still further , I had a trawl through Sennheiser's website and found the pdf manual for the SK 5012 , which shows the pin assignment of the mic connector to be ground , +5V and audio +5V : so it would seem that the MKE 2-2r is not a balanced mic anyway ?

I don't know if it would work to conect the two +5V cables together to the unbalanced +ve tip of the jack and the ground to the ground ; I suspect not , and I'm a bit wary of grounding one side of the mic which should have +5V on it , thus putting 5V across the capsule instead of both ends being equally suspended at 5V above ground .

I would most likely make up a short cable from mini jack to mini XLR , so as to still have the facility to use these capsules as wired mics with the preamps .

I just wondered if anyone has used these capsules with the newer transmitters , and how they might have wired them ?

I would prefer to use them as they are much smaller and better mics than the ME2 and ME4 mics , and so they should be as I recall they used to cost around £300 to replace about 15 years ago !

Lavaliere mics usually require 'bias current' (aka, "Plug-in Power") which is normally 2 to 5 volts... not to be confused with "Phantom Power" which is normally 48V and totally different wiring. The SK100 bodypack transmitter incorporates this so you do not need an external power supply. I do not know the wiring configuration for an MKE-2 mic other than the TRS plug's ring connector is floated.
Locking 3.5mm TRS plugs are readily available though. TecNec Locking 3.5mm Stereo Audio Plug Black 3.5, 2.5mm Mini Connectors at Markertek.com (http://goo.gl/uMP8jO)

I know the ring connector is for line level input ( against ground on the sleeve ) while the mic level input is tip/sleeve .

Yes 'plug in power' is typically a single low voltage , whereas phantom is two separate but equal voltages over ground applied to hot and cold so that there is no potential difference across the signal pins ; the spec allows for phantom to be anywhere from 5V to 48V , although requirements vary from one microphone to another .

Thanks for the link , the locking mini jack connectors are readily available from a number of places .

"Phantom Pwr to be anywhere from 5V to 48V" Would be for the XLR Phantom Power adapter, which would have an XLR connector. The MKE mic itself only requires bias current, so the PP adapter would not be necessary with the transmitter.

This is what I'm trying to determine . However , tonight I have spent a couple of hours doing a bit more research .

The link below describes the MKE 2-2r as requiring 12-48V Phantom Power

Sennheiser MKE2 miniature omnidirectional condenser microphone. Free data sheet by GB Audio (http://www.gbaudio.co.uk/data/mke2.htm#GB)

However , that is the website of a private company and may or may not be correct .

For more reliable information I went to Sennheiser themselves .

The spec sheet for the MKE 2 ( of which the 2-2 R is a variant ) lists several versions with differing power supply requirements ( this seems to depend on how the cable connector is configured - the lead is a screened cable with copper screen surrounding red and blue cores , which would seem reasonable to interpret as screen = ground , red = hot , blue = cold ) and , going by the connector options it can be configured as either a balanced mic with Phantom power ( the manual states on page 7 under 'technical Data' that Phantom power can range from 12V to 48V , however the Audio Technica preamp/power modules I have used them successfully with only supply 5V Phantom , as does the SK 5012 series transmitter ) .

The spec sheet for the MKE 2 series can be read here

http://94.100.244.130/sennheiser/old_manual.nsf/resources/MKE2.pdf/$File/MKE2.pdf

The confusion arises because we used them in supplied kits with both the SK 2012 VHF transmitters , and the later SK 5012 UHF transmitters .

The earlier transmitters ( 2012 ) had a coaxial Bruel and Kjaer microphone connector ( which Sennheiser would not supply as a part , nor could it be sourced elsewhere , hence the mics being written off due to cable damage ) - since this connector only had a single centre pole plus the screw down body it could never support anything other than unbalanced operation and single sided power supply .

The manual for the SK 2012 , link below , states on page 14 that a dc voltage of 7.5 volts is supplied via the connector , or can be blocked by inserting a capacitor .

http://94.100.244.130/sennheiser/old_manual.nsf/resources/SK_2012_33001_0394_Sp5.pdf/$File/SK_2012_33001_0394_Sp5.pdf

However , if we then look at the manual for the later SK 5012 transmitter , which used a three pin Lemo connector , and which were supplied with these same microphones as a kit , we see pins 1 & 2 each carrying +5.2V , and the pin 3 being ground , along with the body of the connector - this looks awfully like 5V Phantom powering , other than that only pin 2 is designated as carrying AF ! See page 36 of the link below

http://94.100.244.130/sennheiser/old_manual.nsf/resources/SK5012.pdf/$File/SK5012.pdf

Sadly , referring to the manual for the EW 100 series , while there is a pin assignment for the connectors on page 79 , and sensitivities quoted for the AF inputs on page 82 , there is no mention of what the voltage supplied via the mic input might be ! I may just need to plug a loose connector in and measure it .

The EW 100 manual is here

http://94.100.244.130/sennheiser/old_manual.nsf/resources/ew100.pdf/$File/ew100.pdf

Going by all of the above , I will measure the mic supply voltage coming out of the bodypack ; if it seems to be within an acceptable range , I will make up a short adaptor cable from 3 pin-mini jack to a male mini-XLR to mate with the connectors already on my microphones and I will wire it so that the red wire goes to the tip of the mini-jack and both ground and blue go to the sleeve , also shorting the ring to ground .

While I'm about it , I will also make up a line input cable so that I can use the transmitter to link from the output of my portable mixer ( Spirit Folio ) for occasions where I want to set up a few mics and link to the camera from a distance away .

EDIT - I noticed after posting that the links to the manuals don't come up as hyperlinks , but they seem to work fine if you paste them into your browser .

John Willett, who was employed by Sennheiser is more of an authority on the MKE-2 and Sennheiser products in general than I, and hopefully will comment on your issue. John?

Hi , I just bought an EW100 kit , with the SK 100 bodypack and the EK 100 camera receiver .

While the kit came with what I take to be the ME2 or 4 microphone , with 3.5mm mini jack connection , I also have some MKE 2-2r microphones from some older VHF kits we used to have in a hire company I worked for . These older kits used an unusual connector which was impossible to buy anywhere , and if the cables got damaged out on a hire , the mics used to get written off ; I kept a couple of them where the damage was near the end of the cable :)

I currently use the MKE 2-2r's as wired lapel mics with a couple of Audio Technica preamps which have mini XLR connectors - these preamps have what I presume to be balanced inputs with 5V phantom power across the hot and cold connectors ( pins 2&3 ) .

While I know the (unusual) pin assignment for the SK100 mic/line input connector , what I cannot see in any of the manuals is the spec for mic power . Even though the mic input is unbalanced , I wonder if it is still 5V ?

To confuse things still further , I had a trawl through Sennheiser's website and found the pdf manual for the SK 5012 , which shows the pin assignment of the mic connector to be ground , +5V and audio +5V : so it would seem that the MKE 2-2r is not a balanced mic anyway ?

I don't know if it would work to conect the two +5V cables together to the unbalanced +ve tip of the jack and the ground to the ground ; I suspect not , and I'm a bit wary of grounding one side of the mic which should have +5V on it , thus putting 5V across the capsule instead of both ends being equally suspended at 5V above ground .

I would most likely make up a short cable from mini jack to mini XLR , so as to still have the facility to use these capsules as wired mics with the preamps .

I just wondered if anyone has used these capsules with the newer transmitters , and how they might have wired them ?

I would prefer to use them as they are much smaller and better mics than the ME2 and ME4 mics , and so they should be as I recall they used to cost around £300 to replace about 15 years ago !

All MKE 2 microphones are unbalanced at the capsule.

There is more than one way of wiring the mic. as you can see from the KE 4 manual (http://www.music.mcgill.ca/caml/lib/exe/fetch.php?media=equipment:ke_4_211_2_gb.pdf) (the KE 4 is basically the raw OEM capsule that's used in the MKE 2).

So just contact Sennheiser and they will tell you which wire goes where on the 3-pole mini-jack for correct working on the G3.

OK , thanks for that suggestion - I will email their support section .

Just to update , since I hadn't been in here since the holidays , I connected the red ( hot ? ) wire to the tip of the mini jack plug and the braid to the sleeve of the plug , leaving the blue wire unconnected . I did this by making a short adaptor cable from a locking mini jack to a mini XLR to mate with the existing connectors on the mics - this way I can still use them as wired mics with the Audio Technica adaptors .

The mics work very nicely indeed with the EW 100 and are so much less conspicuous than the larger ones which came with the kit .

Just to update , since I hadn't been in here since the holidays , I connected the red ( hot ? ) wire to the tip of the mini jack plug and the braid to the sleeve of the plug , leaving the blue wire unconnected . I did this by making a short adaptor cable from a locking mini jack to a mini XLR to mate with the existing connectors on the mics - this way I can still use them as wired mics with the Audio Technica adaptors .

The mics work very nicely indeed with the EW 100 and are so much less conspicuous than the larger ones which came with the kit .

If it's a G3, you need to short ring and sleeve to switch off the line input.

Yes , I should have said I did that as well , thanks .

I also made up a couple of line input cables , one from 1/4" jack and one from XLR , for taking feeds from mixing desks at venues - in those cables I left the tip unconnected as I didn't want to short out the power ( I suppose I could short a cap to ground to block all but dc ) .

"I left the tip unconnected as I didn't want to short out the power"
> AFAIK, on the SK100 G2, one could get away without grounding the tip .. On the G3, the Tip terminal must be tied to the sleeve/ground.
Maybe John can clarify this.

Alas , mine is neither the G2 nor the G3 , just the plain old eW 100 kit ( Generation 1 ? ) with the grey metal cases which take a PP3 battery in the side , not the newer ones with the flip open cases which run on two AA batteries . We also have an eW 500 kit at work of the same generation as mine , the components of which seem to mix and match fine with mine .

I know my older transmitter is capable of operating outside the 863-865 MHz licence exempt range here in the UK , but I will just take care to remain within the legal frequencies .

"I left the tip unconnected as I didn't want to short out the power"
> AFAIK, on the SK100 G2, one could get away without grounding the tip .. On the G3, the Tip terminal must be tied to the sleeve/ground.
Maybe John can clarify this.

Yes, this is correct, on the G3 you have to ground the tip for the line input.

It is this grounding of the unused input that switches the inputs on and off.

But - only on the G3 is it a *must* - you don't do it on the G2 and G1.

Would shorting the tip to ground on the G1 and G2 be harmful - in as much as you are shorting out the mic power supply ?

Would shorting the tip to ground on the G1 and G2 be harmful - in as much as you are shorting out the mic power supply ?

I'm not certain - I know it's essential for the G3.

Ring Sam Davison (Service Supervisor) or Andy Lillywhite (Chief Engineer) at Sennheiser UK and ask. They will know.

I've ran SK100 G2's line level without the tip grounded.. no problems that I'm aware of.
Don't know about the G1 or even if it has a line level option.

The G1 does have the line level input , using ring/sleeve as on the later models .

The line input cables I made up work just fine with the tip left unconnected .

I've ran SK100 G2's line level without the tip grounded.. no problems that I'm aware of.

This is what we have been saying all along - G1 and G2 work fine without the tip being grounded for line level. The question was *can* it be grounded.

For the G3 it *must* be grounded - the question was regarding a line cable wired for G3 being used with a G1 or G2.

And I don't know the answer to this - you have to ask Sennheiser.


Don't know about the G1 or even if it has a line level option.

The G1 is exactly the same as the G2 regarding wiring.

I was stating my experience in response to Derek's post, "Would shorting the tip to ground on the G1 and G2 be harmful"

I was stating my experience in response to Derek's post, "Would shorting the tip to ground on the G1 and G2 be harmful"

Exactly - which is why my response was "ask Sennheiser".

You did not actually answer the question about being harmful at all, you only said that you did not short it out on G1 and G2 systems.

Old post, but, to use the SK100 G3/4 in the line level plug configuration, the tip should be tied to ground/shield. The G2 works either way..