Question regarding XLR cable at DVinfo.net

Mark Davies · August 2nd, 2007, 03:50 PM

I bought the NTG2 but I just now realized that it didn't come with an XLR to XLR but rather a XLR to stereo 3.5 mm. Should I buy the XLR to XLR or stick with what it came with? I'm surprised the NTG2 didn't come with an XLR to XLR.

Mark Davies · August 2nd, 2007, 05:22 PM

And if I did get an XLR to XLR, would this one work well?

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...oiled_XLR.html

Bill Pryor · August 2nd, 2007, 09:14 PM

I've never seen a shotgun mic come with a cable, so you're one up on most people. If the right angle XLR connector fits OK without interfering with any switches or anything, it would be fine, but you might take a close look first. You'll need longer cables, of course, for when you use the mic on a boom, but that one should be OK for camera mounting.

Mark Davies · August 2nd, 2007, 11:36 PM

How much quality difference is there between an XLR to XLR or just using what mine came with? I also have an adapter I could use that makes the 3.5mm to an XLR...Is that worth it?

Chris Hurd · August 3rd, 2007, 07:00 AM

It's not a quality difference... it's a convenience difference and a peace-of-mind difference. XLR is a more secure and robust connection.

Mark Rook · August 3rd, 2007, 07:35 AM

I bought the NTG2, but mine never came with any cable. I made a XLR to XLR lead using a 90 degree bend on the camera end. This way the plug doesn't stick out to far and catch when I put the camera back into the bag.

Mark

Don Palomaki · August 3rd, 2007, 09:25 AM

You will need XLR-to-XLR to use the A1's phantom power with the mic. Phantom power is not available at the 3.5mm mic jack.

Also, there may be questions as to what sound is recorded on the left and right channels depending on the details of your XLR-to-miniphone adapter. From your post it reads as though you will get equal-but-out-of-phase sound on the left and right channels.

Dearl Golden · August 3rd, 2007, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Davies

And if I did get an XLR to XLR, would this one work well?

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...oiled_XLR.html

I use that cable with my A1/NTG2

Kevin Collins · August 5th, 2007, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Pryor

I've never seen a shotgun mic come with a cable, so you're one up on most people. If the right angle XLR connector fits OK without interfering with any switches or anything, it would be fine, but you might take a close look first. You'll need longer cables, of course, for when you use the mic on a boom, but that one should be OK for camera mounting.

The XH-A1 manual indicates a 3-meter length limit on the XLR mic cables.
That's not quite 10 feet but I was thinking about picking up a 25' XLR and a rode shotgun mic for my two day old XH-A1. Do we need to observe this limitation when using a boom or is there something else to consider, alternatives?

David W. Jones · August 5th, 2007, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin Collins

The XH-A1 manual indicates a 3-meter length limit on the XLR mic cables.
That's not quite 10 feet but I was thinking about picking up a 25' XLR and a rode shotgun mic for my two day old XH-A1. Do we need to observe this limitation when using a boom or is there something else to consider, alternatives?

You will be fine.

Bill Pryor · August 5th, 2007, 12:45 PM

I don't know why they would cite that length. I've routinely run 50-100 feet of audio cable with no problems.

Don Palomaki · August 6th, 2007, 06:48 AM

The 3 meter limit maybe driven by the mechanics of connecting to and dragging cable without additional strain relief. A careless user (none of those here are there?) could damage or break the XLR connector on the camcorder if they try to drag too much cable with the camcorder. Similarly, long cables not secured or gaffer-taped to the floor could get snagged by the dainty foot of a random passing klutz and you end up with a spilled camcorder and tripod. Aad if used with an on-board mic, more than 9.5 feet of cable becomes an issue with dragging on the floor, tripping the operator, extra weight, etc.

Practically speaking, you can run balanced, low impedance microphone signals several hundred feet without a problem.

Bill Pryor · August 6th, 2007, 08:38 AM

That would be true for any camera made if some dude drug a couple hundred feet of cable across the floor using the camera for a handle.

August 2nd, 2007, 03:50 PM	#1
Mark Davies New Boot Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Washington Posts: 20	Question regarding XLR cable I bought the NTG2 but I just now realized that it didn't come with an XLR to XLR but rather a XLR to stereo 3.5 mm. Should I buy the XLR to XLR or stick with what it came with? I'm surprised the NTG2 didn't come with an XLR to XLR. Last edited by Mark Davies; August 2nd, 2007 at 04:28 PM.

August 3rd, 2007, 07:00 AM	#5
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,366 Images: 513	It's not a quality difference... it's a convenience difference and a peace-of-mind difference. XLR is a more secure and robust connection. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

August 3rd, 2007, 09:25 AM	#7
Don Palomaki Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Northern VA Posts: 4,487	You will need XLR-to-XLR to use the A1's phantom power with the mic. Phantom power is not available at the 3.5mm mic jack. Also, there may be questions as to what sound is recorded on the left and right channels depending on the details of your XLR-to-miniphone adapter. From your post it reads as though you will get equal-but-out-of-phase sound on the left and right channels. __________________ dpalomaki@dspalomaki.com

August 6th, 2007, 06:48 AM	#12
Don Palomaki Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Northern VA Posts: 4,487	The 3 meter limit maybe driven by the mechanics of connecting to and dragging cable without additional strain relief. A careless user (none of those here are there?) could damage or break the XLR connector on the camcorder if they try to drag too much cable with the camcorder. Similarly, long cables not secured or gaffer-taped to the floor could get snagged by the dainty foot of a random passing klutz and you end up with a spilled camcorder and tripod. Aad if used with an on-board mic, more than 9.5 feet of cable becomes an issue with dragging on the floor, tripping the operator, extra weight, etc. Practically speaking, you can run balanced, low impedance microphone signals several hundred feet without a problem. __________________ dpalomaki@dspalomaki.com

August 2nd, 2007, 05:22 PM	#2
Mark Davies New Boot Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Washington Posts: 20	And if I did get an XLR to XLR, would this one work well? http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...oiled_XLR.html

August 2nd, 2007, 09:14 PM	#3
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	I've never seen a shotgun mic come with a cable, so you're one up on most people. If the right angle XLR connector fits OK without interfering with any switches or anything, it would be fine, but you might take a close look first. You'll need longer cables, of course, for when you use the mic on a boom, but that one should be OK for camera mounting.

August 2nd, 2007, 11:36 PM	#4
Mark Davies New Boot Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Washington Posts: 20	How much quality difference is there between an XLR to XLR or just using what mine came with? I also have an adapter I could use that makes the 3.5mm to an XLR...Is that worth it?

August 3rd, 2007, 07:35 AM	#6
Mark Rook Regular Crew Join Date: May 2007 Location: Aberystwyth, Wales, UK Posts: 91	I bought the NTG2, but mine never came with any cable. I made a XLR to XLR lead using a 90 degree bend on the camera end. This way the plug doesn't stick out to far and catch when I put the camera back into the bag. Mark

August 5th, 2007, 12:45 PM	#11
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	I don't know why they would cite that length. I've routinely run 50-100 feet of audio cable with no problems.

August 6th, 2007, 08:38 AM	#13
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	That would be true for any camera made if some dude drug a couple hundred feet of cable across the floor using the camera for a handle.