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Gear / Technical Help => Recording Gear => Topic started by: weroflu on August 29, 2012, 08:48:32 AM

Title: 50 cent connector destroys sony m10
Post by: weroflu on August 29, 2012, 08:48:32 AM
 comedy of errors...

i ordered a pair of oscartech mics a few weeks ago. the communication was fairly bad in that it took  about 12 emails for them to understand that i wanted the two mics terminated in a single 3.5mm connector. their final solution was to send them to me terminated as two mono mics and then add in an additional dual mono to stereo adaptor.

the mics come unterminated, tinned, with two mono connectors and an adaptor. fine, so i go out and get a stereo 3.5mm connector this morning, thinking i'll skip their mono connectors.

put on the stereo connector, and connect it to the m10. no signal, fine, i'll have to check my soldering.

pull the connector out and and the tip of the connector actually is stuck inside the m10 jack. i've never heard of something like this happening. just the tip part of the trs, not the whole jack.

so i try to remove the back of the m10, remove two screws, get about 75% of the back plate off but the rest won't budge. i snap it back on and the manual/automatic record level slider breaks.

i guess i have to send in the recorder back to sony.
Title: Re: 50 cent connector destroys sony m10
Post by: it-goes-to-eleven on August 29, 2012, 09:10:43 AM
Bummer.  That is odd.  My guess is that at some point the longer adapter exerted sufficient side force on the m10 jack to cause an internal socket failure.  And it was likely a coincidence that the new plug hung-up.

Even if you had gotten to it, replacing that socket would be very difficult and would require a very special part.  Unless it is hacked to use something else.  It's also possible you could have tweaked it.  I sort of recall seeing internal images, but I can't seem to find them.

Sony seems to charge a lot for repairs. If you know someone who is really good at stuff, they might be able to get in there and do some good.  For many users, the auto/manual slider is something that will not be badly missed.
Title: Re: 50 cent connector destroys sony m10
Post by: George2 on August 29, 2012, 12:19:16 PM
Hmmmm.... Jack is female socket... Plug is male TRS.
Title: Re: 50 cent connector destroys sony m10
Post by: it-goes-to-eleven on August 29, 2012, 12:36:56 PM
Hmmmm.... Jack is female socket... Plug is male TRS.

Insufficient coffee, too early...... :P
Title: Re: 50 cent connector destroys sony m10
Post by: DigiGal on August 29, 2012, 01:22:02 PM
Ahh, the joys of 3.5mm connectors.  Good luck with the repair though.
Title: Re: 50 cent connector destroys sony m10
Post by: runonce on August 29, 2012, 01:28:54 PM
(http://www.rovingsign.com/50cent.jpg)
Title: Re: 50 cent connector destroys sony m10
Post by: John Willett on August 30, 2012, 07:16:20 AM
This happened to me once - it was a headphone adaptor in my case.

It happens sometimes with cheap plugs.

Personally I will only use Neutrik connectors - it's very much cheaper than the cost of fixing the recorder.
Title: Re: 50 cent connector destroys sony m10
Post by: ScoobieKW on August 30, 2012, 12:05:12 PM
Had this issue last spring with my Denecke PS-2. The DC input is a Tip/Sleeve 1/8" miniplug. When I first bought it the unit, I built an adapter for 9.6 RC batteries, and left the 1/8" plugged into the PS-2 at all times.

This lasted until the night of Roots Underground, had talked to the promoter, he spoke to band members and I had clearance to record. Opener was psyched to have a live recording too. Golden.

Plugged the battery into the adapter, red light. Low voltage, the battery had died. No problem, I'll disconnect the 1/8" and use the 9V battery compartment. Good taper me had a spare.

Went to pull out the connector and it was stuck. Opened the unit, worked it from multiple angles, stuck. Ended up having to break the socket to get the plug out. Put in the 9v and ready to go. Right? Wrong. About this time, the manager from the band came up to me and started yelling at me to tear down. By this point they had watched me hang my mics, I'd been there all sound check, and permission was pulled. 

Still haven't had a space in my taping schedule to fix it. Now I have a homebrew adapter comprised of wood in the shape of a 9v battery with two screws at the terminal points, wires leading to my RC battery. If it fails, I can pull it and use a 9v battery. Eventually I'll replace the 1/8" socket with a locking dc connector.
Title: Re: 50 cent connector destroys sony m10
Post by: hi and lo on August 30, 2012, 12:10:09 PM
It might be too late, but I would have recommend you take a toothpick + superglue or epoxy and very carefully bond the toothpick to the broken off piece and see if it could be pulled out w/o having to disassemble the unit.
Title: Re: 50 cent connector destroys sony m10
Post by: capnhook on November 16, 2012, 03:11:29 PM
It might be too late, but I would have recommend you take a toothpick + superglue or epoxy and very carefully bond the toothpick to the broken off piece and see if it could be pulled out w/o having to disassemble the unit.

Good idea with the toothpick, but I would try to get a proper diameter number drill and try the superglue, for more control.  You get one shot at it.
Title: Re: 50 cent connector destroys sony m10
Post by: ScoobieKW on November 16, 2012, 04:09:08 PM
It might be too late, but I would have recommend you take a toothpick + superglue or epoxy and very carefully bond the toothpick to the broken off piece and see if it could be pulled out w/o having to disassemble the unit.

Good idea with the toothpick, but I would try to get a proper diameter number drill and try the superglue, for more control.  You get one shot at it.

In my case the male plug was stronger than the PS-2's socket. Parts of the jack were pulled out with the plug.

My poor man's 9V battery adaptor has been working for 5 months without a hitch. I keep meaning to replace the jack with a locking power connector.
Title: Re: 50 cent connector destroys sony m10
Post by: hi and lo on November 16, 2012, 04:40:18 PM
It might be too late, but I would have recommend you take a toothpick + superglue or epoxy and very carefully bond the toothpick to the broken off piece and see if it could be pulled out w/o having to disassemble the unit.

Good idea with the toothpick, but I would try to get a proper diameter number drill and try the superglue, for more control.  You get one shot at it.

Definitely as that's a much better idea than a toothpick that might break. My mind was simply thinking "toothpick + epoxy = going in trashcan afterwards."
Title: Re: 50 cent connector destroys sony m10
Post by: F.O.Bean on November 17, 2012, 02:24:30 PM
Bummer. I agree with John tho, I try to only use HQ connectors