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Gear / Technical Help => Microphones & Setup => Topic started by: obsidian on July 19, 2017, 11:01:49 PM

Title: Quick Question
Post by: obsidian on July 19, 2017, 11:01:49 PM
Would there be any advantages / disadvantages to using a Ferrite Ring on the cable going from my battery box into the line in of a Sony PCM?  Would it cut down on battery noise (if that is a thing) and or cell phone interference?  I would be very curious to know as I have a show coming up Friday and was thinking of trying it out.

PS: The picture shows a USB thingy, but I just included it to show what a Ferrite Ring was I am referring to in case I used the wrong term.
Title: Re: Quick Question
Post by: rocksuitcase on July 20, 2017, 11:30:09 AM
https://electronics.stackexchange.com/questions/76412/how-does-a-ferrite-core-wire-terminator-work-to-reduce-emc

Both answers imply that for your specific use it might provide some protection from EMC's. Here is the sentence I derive that opinion from:
Quote
The ferrite material used in these things present a high impedance to high-frequency (MHz and up) common mode noise, which is why one usually sees them on DC power cables and on ribbon cables carrying relatively low frequency signals.
bold my emphasis
So, your cable between battery box and recorder is a 'DC Power cable'.

Waiting on others' more electronically inclined than I to weigh in as well.
Title: Re: Quick Question
Post by: goodcooker on July 20, 2017, 12:33:21 PM
Would there be any advantages / disadvantages to using a Ferrite Ring on the cable going from my battery box into the line in of a Sony PCM?  Would it cut down on battery noise (if that is a thing) and or cell phone interference?  I would be very curious to know as I have a show coming up Friday and was thinking of trying it out.

PS: The picture shows a USB thingy, but I just included it to show what a Ferrite Ring was I am referring to in case I used the wrong term.

It couldn't hurt but I don't think you will see any real advantage from it. Keep the unbalanced cables as short as possible. Cell phone interference was more of a problem in the past than it is now and the main point of leakage is going to be the connectors, not the cable, as long as it is shielded.
Title: Re: Quick Question
Post by: admkrk on July 21, 2017, 03:53:17 AM
It couldn't hurt but I don't think you will see any real advantage from it. Keep the unbalanced cables as short as possible. Cell phone interference was more of a problem in the past than it is now and the main point of leakage is going to be the connectors, not the cable, as long as it is shielded.
I might be mixing up terminology here, but I do not think there is such a thing as an unbalanced cable that is shielded. Without looking it up, I think unbalanced cables use the shielding for ground, or something along that line.

Along those same lines, wrapping a random amount of ferrite around a cable seems about as useful as putting a random resistor, of capacitor, in a circuit. It may, or may not work.

I am not an EE so I could not be right.
Title: Re: Quick Question
Post by: TheMetalist on July 21, 2017, 07:20:09 AM
Great question! I've been thinking about this as well. I bought a cable to use between my Nbox and M10. It has a ferro ring but I have no clue if it has any advantage or not.

(http://i.imgur.com/jIvYDZB.jpg)
Title: Re: Quick Question
Post by: nak700s on July 21, 2017, 09:24:04 AM
I sincerely doubt it will make an audible difference, but it certainly can't hurt to try.  Are there two sets?  Bring two cables, one with and one without, and switch between sets.  Let us know how it works out for you.
Title: Re: Quick Question
Post by: obsidian on July 24, 2017, 03:08:27 AM
I am going to try this for sure!  I got the replies too late for the friday show but I will be seeing another in just a few days and I'll be running two identical rigs and one will have the Ferrite Ring and the other will not. We'll soon see!
Title: Re: Quick Question
Post by: pillowman on July 24, 2017, 07:59:56 AM
good luck !
2 rigs is always a challenge,
cheers
pm