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Gear / Technical Help => Cables => Topic started by: kirk97132 on March 13, 2012, 06:04:17 PM

Title: Microphone XLR grounds
Post by: kirk97132 on March 13, 2012, 06:04:17 PM

I'm not sure where to post this question but here we go.  Is it an issue if two microphones leads share the ground?  So in other words say for instance you had five wires to wire up two XLR's for a mic to preamp/recorder.  Can they share the ground without an adverse effects as long as the hot and cold are different?  I know it's an off the wall question but I can't seem to find the answer anywhere.  Thanks

Title: Re: Microphone XLR grounds
Post by: ScoobieKW on March 13, 2012, 06:14:16 PM

It is ok. Stereo mics often use 5 pin connectors and share a ground. These are used with a 5 pin to 2 XLR fan.

Title: Re: Microphone XLR grounds
Post by: notlance on March 13, 2012, 11:47:22 PM

A common ground shared between two mics is not a problem.

My "standard" microphone cable has 5 conductors and I run stereo mics or two separate mics through them all the time.  I have never had a problem with a common ground.

Every one of my stereo mics has a common ground between channels.  In fact, I do not know of a stereo mic that does NOT use a common ground.  (However, I am sure someone will come up with an example to prove me wrong.)