Topic: Recording Gear with 5pin XLR>48P Power Unit>3.5mm Stereo

[ricola]

I hope anyone can help me with using a XY One-Point Stereo Mic (5 pin XLR) and a mobile recorder unit.
I still have some trouble with the connections and don't want to damage any of the units below:

1)
I want to use a XY Stereo Condenser Mic Audio Technica BP4025 (withz vinyl-jacketed stereo cable with 5-pin XLRF-type connector at microphone end and two 3-pin XLRM-type connectors at output end). It needs 48V phantom power.
http://www.audio-technica.com/cms/wired_mics/5bbed15003fe56a2/index.html/


2)
I will use this one pointed Stereo mic with a separate power unit!
For the 48Power supply unit I have this one:
http://www.digitalaudioservice.de/psc-48-phantom-power-supply.html

3)
The recorders are Edirol 09HR or Marantz PMD620 ( They only have 1/4 inch stereo Mic input)

First I bought a 5-pin XLRF-type to 3pin XLR adapter to connect the Mic faced output with the Mic input of the 48P Power supply (because I don't need a two 3-pin XLRM-type connector for the power box). As far as I understand I can put together the splitted stereo signals from a 5pin xlr (2 for left und 2 for right channel) into one 3pin xlr. It is explained here: http://suite101.com/article/how-to-wire-a-stereo-xlr-to-3-pin-xlr-plugs-a123045

Also I bought a 3-pin xlr to 3.5mm stereo jack adapter for the output of Power box to Stereo Mic input of the Edirol 9HR (that only presents consumer-type 3.5mm sockets).


So my question: Can I get a stabile Stereo signal for my pocket recorder with this way?

Audio Technica BP4025>5pinxlr to 3pinxlr cable>48V Phantom Battery Box>3pin xlr out to 3.5mm Stereo jack>Mic In of Edirol 09HR

AND: I read that most phantom power units put the 48V supply on the microphone-facing socket only and isolate it from the plug going to the recorder.
So I hope the Microphone or recording device don't get damaged when I connect the 48 Phantom Power supply with an unbalanced 3.5mm Stereo socket.

Thanks a lot for your help!!

[runonce]

You're going to need 2 of those phantom power supplies, or a 2 channel unit - or have a custom box built for your application.

You also need to figure out how to unbalance the phantom box output.

Once unbalanced, you can combine them into a single 1/8 TRS plug.

[SmokinJoe]

The "old standby" around here is the Denecke PS-2.  Sound professionals used to offer a modified one with a 1/8" stereo minijack... which is ideal for your situation.
http://www.soundprofessionals.com/cgi-bin/gold/item/DEN-PS2

If you go with the PSC phantom supply, like he said... you will need 2 of them.  Then ideally a set of impedance transformers... the mics are low impedance, the recorder is high impedance.  You can skip the transformers and just go with a Y-cable, but then you end up needing to add more gain at the recorder, and you might start to get hiss.

It's not clear how much of this gear you already own, or if it's "this is what I an planning to get".  If you already have the mic, the recorder, and 1 phantom power supply, then you might as well just add the other phantom power supply and get the right cable.  If you just own the mic, I would suggest a different recording setup, such as a small deck which has XLR's and phantom power and just run the mic into that.  The phantom power supplies, transformers, and Y cables becomes a big pile of "stuff" in your bag, and not nearly as handy as you might have imagined the stereo mic and small recorder.  I think I have a set of impedance transformers and a Y cable down to 1/8" in my junk box... I'll sell you for next to nothing, if you want to go that route.

As far as not blowing up any of the gear, you probably won't have a problem, they generally use blocking caps, but it's good to be cautious.  If you plug the mic into the power supply, and power it up with no cable on the male XLR, measure the male XLR pins with a volt meter set to DC.  If you see something like 48V from one pin to another, you shouldn't plug it into your mini-recorder.  I expect you won't see that voltage, and you will be fine.

If you haven't bought the mic yet, consider these similar stereo mics... Rode NT4 and AT825 (the older model).  They will run off an internal battery which eliminates the phantom power supply, so then you really are mic > recorder. (footnote... the NT4 comes with a 5pin XLR > 1/8" cable, but it has an attenuator built in, best replaced with a similar looking cable without the attenuator).