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Gear / Technical Help => Microphones & Setup => Topic started by: yawnfactory on January 26, 2010, 11:26:47 PM

Title: cutting microphone wires
Post by: yawnfactory on January 26, 2010, 11:26:47 PM
i have a set of sound pro bcm-12. i want to cut the wire and be able to connect them back using one of the plastic things. this is for stealth reasons.

my question is, if the wire is cut and connected back, would it degrade
the signal?  or worse? anyone ever done this?

Title: Re: cutting microphone wires
Post by: Brian Skalinder on January 27, 2010, 04:22:29 AM
I imagine a proper severing and re-attaching of the wires shouldn't pose a problem, but I'll let one of our more technical and informed TSers chime in.  I want to know, and they may, too, what you mean by "one of the plastic things".
Title: Re: cutting microphone wires
Post by: Neilyboy on January 27, 2010, 09:20:50 AM
should be ok not sure what you are talking about by 'plastic thing' my question is what is there on a set of bcm-12's that isnt stealth enough haha.. you should just buy some panasonic wm61a caps and modify them rather than risk a 100 dollar set of mics' if you are going to have to solder anyways. good luck either way man take care
neil
Title: Re: cutting microphone wires
Post by: stevetoney on January 27, 2010, 01:54:00 PM
I might be wrong, but I assume the 'plastic thing' he's talking about would be a stereo mini-jack connector with a plastic barrel/hosel.
Title: Re: cutting microphone wires
Post by: yawnfactory on January 28, 2010, 12:08:44 AM
I might be wrong, but I assume the 'plastic thing' he's talking about would be a stereo mini-jack connector with a plastic barrel/hosel.

exactly, something like that. im not sure what its called. but the smaller the clip, the better.
Title: Re: cutting microphone wires
Post by: stevetoney on January 28, 2010, 09:27:13 AM
I might be wrong, but I assume the 'plastic thing' he's talking about would be a stereo mini-jack connector with a plastic barrel/hosel.

exactly, something like that. im not sure what its called. but the smaller the clip, the better.

I suggest contacting Chris Church from Church Audio (search ts.com for his contact info.) and ask him the question.  That's how he wires his stereo mics.  He might also be able to recommend the size of connector you'd want if you/he knows the gauge of cables on those particular mics.
Title: Re: cutting microphone wires
Post by: Church-Audio on January 28, 2010, 11:05:24 AM
i have a set of sound pro bcm-12. i want to cut the wire and be able to connect them back using one of the plastic things. this is for stealth reasons.

my question is, if the wire is cut and connected back, would it degrade
the signal?  or worse? anyone ever done this?

If you want to shorten a cable best to buy a jack and do it properly "splicing a wire" on a set of mics will make them 100% unreliable. And will ruin your resale value as nobody wants hacked up mics. And I know at some point in time you will want to upgrade  ;) So if you need a connector I would be glad to sell you one for $3.00 + 2.00 or something like that for postage. Or point you in the direction of a dealer in your area that you could purchase the item from.

Chris
Title: Re: cutting microphone wires
Post by: SmokinJoe on January 28, 2010, 08:26:55 PM
Are you saying you want to remove the straight gold connector and replace it with something less obvious?  Or you just want the wires shorter?

(http://www.soundprofessionals.com/mas_assets/thumb/SP-BMC-12.jpg)

Those are pretty small wires.  It takes "a steady hand and a pure heart".... and good eyes too.
Title: Re: cutting microphone wires
Post by: yawnfactory on February 10, 2010, 11:29:58 PM
thanks for all the input. basd on the ideas, it sounds like a bad idea.  i was just thinking
outside the box to make a more stealthly rig using binaural mics. 
Title: Re: cutting microphone wires
Post by: twatts (pants are so over-rated...) on February 10, 2010, 11:36:54 PM
Why would you want them shorter???  Just coil up the excess and put a twist-tie around the loop to hold it.

What's that saying???  "You can always cut things shorter, but never longer"???

Terry



Pfft...  Nevermind, I went back and re-read the thread...  If you want to replace the stereo jack, I recommend making a patch cable with a smaller/90deg male at the deck end, and a female at the mic end.  Mics go untouched, excess cable gets wrapped up, and you get your lo-pro jack.


Title: Re: cutting microphone wires
Post by: jnorman34 on February 11, 2010, 07:13:47 PM
i use firecrackers.