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Author Topic: AT8531 RCA mod (completed w/ pics)  (Read 18036 times)

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Offline igene

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AT8531 RCA mod (completed w/ pics)
« on: March 21, 2011, 07:26:57 PM »
I got a pair of these and I opened them up.

I was thinking I could change the output (XLR) wiring to a Female RCA panel  jack.
That way I just need a L/R male RCA to mini jack to a recorder...
instead of a giant XLR/RCA adapter, and then the cable.

How do I wire the RCA jack. There's 3 wires going to 2 wires.
To I tie the common and ground together ?
Or use the common, and ground to the chassis ?

anyone ?
« Last Edit: March 22, 2011, 06:43:06 PM by igene »
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Offline Roger Gustavsson

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Re: AT8531 mod
« Reply #1 on: March 22, 2011, 06:20:10 AM »
Hi igene,

How do you power them?


Roger

Offline igene

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Re: AT8531 mod
« Reply #2 on: March 22, 2011, 09:45:54 AM »
Hi Roger  :)

I have not changed anything, so with the AA battery.
Do you suggest something different ?
I'm open to all suggestions with these.
I'm basically willing to do whatever needs to be done (if you have some upgrade solution).

Gene
Leela : ...what are we going to do ?
the Doctor : Should we try using our Intelligence ?
Leela : Well, if you think it's a good idea.
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Gallifreyan Guard : But you do have access to the greatest source of knowledge in the Universe.
the Doctor : Well, I do talk to myself sometimes, Yes...

Offline Roger Gustavsson

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Re: AT8531 mod
« Reply #3 on: March 22, 2011, 10:10:20 AM »
My mistake, I thought it was a microphone AT853.... So it is a power module like this?
http://www.audio-technica.com/cms/resource_library/product_images/32c9af8fd6582d72/large/at8531.jpg

I am not familiar with it. It seems to have two power options. Balanced while powered from Phantom and single-ended while using the batteries. Are you using two of these? What recording device are you connecting it with? (Not that I am the person to tell what is should be like...)


Roger

Offline kinglerxst

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Re: AT8531 mod
« Reply #4 on: March 22, 2011, 10:16:18 AM »
I use a pair of the 8531's on my 2nd rig. I've been curious as to how they function with the AA battery as my main rig uses a pair of 8532's which each use a 9V battery.

Do you have any photos of the inside of the 8531's?

Offline igene

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Re: AT8531 mod
« Reply #5 on: March 22, 2011, 10:37:36 AM »
Yes, I'd be using 2, and it's going to a digital recorder w/ a 3.5mm line in.

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« Last Edit: March 22, 2011, 10:39:22 AM by igene »
Leela : ...what are we going to do ?
the Doctor : Should we try using our Intelligence ?
Leela : Well, if you think it's a good idea.
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Gallifreyan Guard : But you do have access to the greatest source of knowledge in the Universe.
the Doctor : Well, I do talk to myself sometimes, Yes...

Offline kinglerxst

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Re: AT8531 mod
« Reply #6 on: March 22, 2011, 10:54:18 AM »
Just curious, if you're running from the pair of 8531 XLR's to the recorder via a 3.5mm mini plug, why would the RCA stuff be needed? I run a Y cable from the 2 xlr's on the 8531's to the mini plug on the recorder and I prefer the xlr because they lock.

Offline igene

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Re: AT8531 mod
« Reply #7 on: March 22, 2011, 11:04:12 AM »
I'd be replacing the XLR connector with a Female panel RCA.
The RCA connection would be very recessed, eliminates the use of a XLR to RCA adapter barrel
 (the extra space needed to accommodate it )and makes for a secure connection because it's out of the way.

Then all you need is a stereo male RCA to mini jack cable.
(smaller footprint, less connections)  ;D
Leela : ...what are we going to do ?
the Doctor : Should we try using our Intelligence ?
Leela : Well, if you think it's a good idea.
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Gallifreyan Guard : But you do have access to the greatest source of knowledge in the Universe.
the Doctor : Well, I do talk to myself sometimes, Yes...

Offline kinglerxst

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Re: AT8531 mod
« Reply #8 on: March 22, 2011, 11:30:05 AM »
>eliminates the use of a XLR to RCA adapter barrel

Why would you need to go from XLR to RCA and then to mini jack? Is XLR straight to mini jack not what you require?

>(the extra space needed to accommodate it )and makes for a secure connection because it's out of the way.

If the normal XLR's are too big you could always go with stubbies.

>Then all you need is a stereo male RCA to mini jack cable.
>(smaller footprint, less connections)

That's three connections (2 RCA & 1 mini), same as using a Y cable XLR > mini so same number of connections. Maybe slightly smaller footprint, but with stubby XLR's close to the same.

Plus even though it's probably rare, even a reccessed RCA plug can get pulled out, even just little enough to affect the connection, the xlr's locking prevents that. I've used normal XLR > mini Y cables for over 10 years with no problems and in very cramped space.

Offline igene

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Re: AT8531 mod
« Reply #9 on: March 22, 2011, 11:50:50 AM »
All that is probably true for the most part, but a recessed RCA connection is also secure.
I don't tape from the mosh pit, the equipment is always in a protected area and the cables and footprint is somewhat smaller.
Besides, I'll have a unique set of modules, the cables are more readily available, and I'd like to do the mod.
I think that it will look great too.

so why not...?

It's a quick and easy mod.

Can someone please tell me where the wires go ?
« Last Edit: March 22, 2011, 12:11:29 PM by igene »
Leela : ...what are we going to do ?
the Doctor : Should we try using our Intelligence ?
Leela : Well, if you think it's a good idea.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gallifreyan Guard : But you do have access to the greatest source of knowledge in the Universe.
the Doctor : Well, I do talk to myself sometimes, Yes...

Offline kinglerxst

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Re: AT8531 mod
« Reply #10 on: March 22, 2011, 12:01:22 PM »
>so why not...?

If that's what you want, go for it!  ;D

I was just curious as to why since I've never had any issues with them as they are and they already have great connections, but if you're into tinkering that's cool too.

Thanks for the photos of the interior and I hope someone can hook you up with the wiring info.

Offline darktrain

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Re: AT8531 mod (wiring question)
« Reply #11 on: March 22, 2011, 01:48:05 PM »
basically you would bridge the 1 and 3 pin on the xlr to the ground of the rca and pin 2 would go to the tip

Offline igene

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Re: AT8531 mod (wiring question)
« Reply #12 on: March 22, 2011, 01:51:44 PM »
THANK YOU.

hot to tip is obvious, but I wasn't sure about the grounding.

I just needed the confirmation.  :cheers:
Leela : ...what are we going to do ?
the Doctor : Should we try using our Intelligence ?
Leela : Well, if you think it's a good idea.
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Gallifreyan Guard : But you do have access to the greatest source of knowledge in the Universe.
the Doctor : Well, I do talk to myself sometimes, Yes...

Offline Chuck

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Re: AT8531 mod (wiring question)
« Reply #13 on: March 22, 2011, 02:08:37 PM »
igene, check out this thread before you start modifying those boxes.
http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=32849.0

It looks like the best way to run them is with phantom power.
So, you'll probably want to keep the full sized XLR jacks.
Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one.

Microphones: AKG C 480 B comb-ULS/ CK 61/ CK 63, Sennheiser MKE 2 elements,  Audix M1290-o, Micro capsule active cables w/ Naiant PFA's, Naiant MSH-1O, Naiant AKG Active cables, Church CA-11 (cardioid), (1) Nady SCM-1000 (mod)
Pre-amps: Naiant littlebox, Naiant littlekit v2.0, BM2p+ Edirol UA-5, Church STC-9000
Recorders: Sound Devices MixPre-6, iRiver iHP-120 (Rockboxed & RTC mod)

Recordings on the LMA: http://www.archive.org/bookmarks/ChuckM
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Offline igene

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Re: AT8531 mod (wiring question)
« Reply #14 on: March 22, 2011, 02:26:45 PM »
igene, check out this thread before you start modifying those boxes.
http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=32849.0

It looks like the best way to run them is with phantom power.
So, you'll probably want to keep the full sized XLR jacks.

I'm just modding the output jack. XLR > RCA
Instead of using an adapter cable, I'm doing it inside the box.

The miniXLR provides the power to the mic.
I'm not touching that !

Does that make sense ?


one thing I'm still not clear on...how much voltage do these modules provide > 1.5V  right ?
because the audio-technica specs say 9-48V how can that be true ?
Leela : ...what are we going to do ?
the Doctor : Should we try using our Intelligence ?
Leela : Well, if you think it's a good idea.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gallifreyan Guard : But you do have access to the greatest source of knowledge in the Universe.
the Doctor : Well, I do talk to myself sometimes, Yes...

 

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