View Full Version : Dead right channel on Sennheiser ew100 lav


Matt Hiebert
September 25th, 2006, 09:32 PM
I just bought a used set of Sennheiser ew100 g2s. Didn't come with the CL 1 mini jack and I don't have an XLR adapter on my GL2. I went to radio shack and picked up a standard stereo mini jack. Everything sounds great on the left channel. The right channel is a flat line. Checked and adjusted all the audio settings on my camera. Am I doing something wrong or did the kid in Miami rip me off?

Chris Barcellos
September 25th, 2006, 10:11 PM
Is it a stereo mic ?

Pete Bauer
September 25th, 2006, 10:15 PM
Most probably, it is just a matter of the mini-jack cable not seating properly into the receiver. The CL1 has a knurled screw-fastener just like the ME2 microphone's fastener, so even though it is a 3.5mm diameter jack, the fitting is designed to cause the CL1 to sit a bit shallower into the receptacle than a regular male stereo mini-jack does. I think there's a special name for that fitting, but it escapes my memory right now.

Try pulling your mini-jack just a little bit out and see if both channels register on your camera; if you're able to do that even momentarily, it'll confirm it is only the connection and you just need to get hold of a CL1 or similar screw-on cable:

http://www.sennheiser.com/sennheiser/icm_eng.nsf/root/products_wireless-systems_accessories_evolutionwireless

Pending getting a Senn CL1 cable or similar that fits correctly, you're really not losing anything as the lav system's output is mono. You can just copy the left channel to the right in your NLE or audio application.

Greg Bellotte
September 26th, 2006, 01:23 AM
Hi Matt,

I don't think your wireless has a problem, its just a matter of the connection to your camera.

The output jack on the EK100G2 is unbalanced, and will only send signal to the tip and shield of a stereo mini plug. This will only appear as a left channel signal to your camera with the stereo input. The right channel would be wired to the ring and sleeve of this connector.

Get yourself a cable that has a mono mini on one end, wired to feed mono to both channels (tip and ring) of a stereo mini on the other end. Or you can use a stereo to mono miniplug adapter with the stereo mini cable you are usuing now.

Gareth Watkins
September 26th, 2006, 02:25 AM
Hi there

The wireless Senny's are mono mics...the only way I can see you getting the audio on both channels on your camera if it doesn't have XLR's is with a Beachtek or similar...

or easier still just 'fill' the missing channel in post..

I generally always feed my audio into separate channels, doubling and mixing is easy in say Premiere, and gives you far more flexibility for setting the correct audio level... especially if you hafve two mics...

cheers
Gareth

Pete Bauer
September 26th, 2006, 08:45 AM
The CL1 sends the mono signal out to both the L and R channels.

Matt Hiebert
October 6th, 2006, 06:09 AM
Trip to the local Sennheiser dealer took care of it. Bad cable. $30 bucks for a new one. By the way these mics are incredible for the price. Going from a shotgun to a lav stunned me. And no clothing noise out of six separate interviews. I don't how they even do that.