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Gear / Technical Help => Cables => Topic started by: paulbaptiste on October 06, 2007, 03:24:38 PM

Title: 1/8th inch mic extender cable
Post by: paulbaptiste on October 06, 2007, 03:24:38 PM
I have for At853's on the way and was curious about getting/making a 8 foot extension to be able to run the mics on a stand. 

I have several Mic cables laying around the house so was hoping to do this myself; I have (had)  an 8 foot XLR female to 1/4.  I took both ends off and replaced with a 1/8th inch male and female respectively.  The cable works but is only mono.  Any help?

And also was curious of opinions on using an extension cable.  Is any sound lost by adding an extra set of connections?  I'm looking into this because i'd like to be able to use these mics for both open and stealthing, and it would be nice to have just the 3 foot cable for stealth and be able to add a longer set for open taping. Thanks
Title: Re: 1/8th inch mic extender cable
Post by: dgodwin on October 06, 2007, 03:28:51 PM
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2102965&cp=2032058.2032228.2032256&parentPage=family

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103868&cp=2032058.2032228.2032256&parentPage=family
Title: Re: 1/8th inch mic extender cable
Post by: paulbaptiste on October 06, 2007, 03:37:05 PM
thanks for the links.

Are headphone cables not as good quality wise to use though?  I was hoping that some of the mic cables i have would have better shielding ect to run to the mics, but again the one i've tried to make only has one channel.
Title: Re: 1/8th inch mic extender cable
Post by: bugg100 on October 06, 2007, 03:49:04 PM
  It sounds like your ends are not put on correctly.

3 wires =

1 wire common ground

1 wire lest side

1 wire right side

Make your choice on dolors to use for each, stick both ends on in same way, check for shorts visually or (better) with multi-meter. 

Sounds like your at the check for shorts stage.........

Joe
Title: Re: 1/8th inch mic extender cable
Post by: paulbaptiste on October 06, 2007, 03:50:50 PM
Thanks Joe, bout to tape them apart for the third time and see if i'm missing something.
Title: Re: 1/8th inch mic extender cable
Post by: Belexes on October 06, 2007, 04:23:13 PM
I use this extender for when I run an open rig from my stealth gear and I do not think I have much signal loss:

http://www.soundprofessionals.com/cgi-bin/gold/item/SP-SPSC-1

Title: Re: 1/8th inch mic extender cable
Post by: paulbaptiste on October 06, 2007, 04:29:44 PM
Hey Joe: the mic cable i'm using only has 2 wires, while the plug has three.

And thanks Belexes, that cable looks better than the others i've looked at, was just hoping i could make one with the crap i have lying around.
Title: Re: 1/8th inch mic extender cable
Post by: Jamos on October 06, 2007, 07:36:04 PM
Hey Joe: the mic cable i'm using only has 2 wires, while the plug has three.

Are you using the shield for your ground? 

Does it have 2 wires + shield, or 1 wire + shield?
Title: Re: 1/8th inch mic extender cable
Post by: paulbaptiste on October 07, 2007, 09:46:19 AM
Hey Joe: the mic cable i'm using only has 2 wires, while the plug has three.

Are you using the shield for your ground? 

Does it have 2 wires + shield, or 1 wire + shield?


2 wires- one in clear plastic, the other just spread around the cord (shield?) ?  I tried hooking them up several diff. ways, but only have one channel.
Title: Re: 1/8th inch mic extender cable
Post by: Jamos on October 07, 2007, 10:27:40 PM

2 wires- one in clear plastic, the other just spread around the cord (shield?) ?  I tried hooking them up several diff. ways, but only have one channel.

Yeah that is the shield...but you need a 2-condutor + shield cable to do what you want to do.  Sounds like you wired it up correctly though!
Title: Re: 1/8th inch mic extender cable
Post by: paulbaptiste on October 07, 2007, 11:04:02 PM
yes sir JMOS, i was just hoping i could use what was around the house instead of buying something.  Have 3 more mics hardwired, and wouldn't miss cutting them up, my guitar days are lacking and so is my money.  But thank you sir and +T has been given.  Now should i cut up and respectively fuck up my other mic cables ?  or just buy something?
Title: Re: 1/8th inch mic extender cable
Post by: Jamos on October 07, 2007, 11:20:36 PM
yes sir JMOS, i was just hoping i could use what was around the house instead of buying something.  Have 3 more mics hardwired, and wouldn't miss cutting them up, my guitar days are lacking and so is my money.  But thank you sir and +T has been given.  Now should i cut up and respectively fuck up my other mic cables ?  or just buy something?

Well I guess it depends if you want to chop another of your cables...

You could probably buy a piece of cable pretty cheaply.  I recently bought some of that Musilux cable that member ShaneJackson is selling and am pretty happy with it.  He bought a big roll of it and probably would sell you whatever length you needed.

Title: Re: 1/8th inch mic extender cable
Post by: paulbaptiste on October 07, 2007, 11:41:27 PM
thanks for the response!  was just hoping to save some money, but sounds like i need to spend some.  I chose the xlr cable because of it's thickness and flexability, i.e. didn't look cheap, and now it seems i should've kept that calbe alone, not cut it.

Damn disability is killing me, money is beyond short (way short) and was hoping i could slide by.

Thanks for all the help
Title: Re: 1/8th inch mic extender cable
Post by: Jamos on October 08, 2007, 12:00:14 AM
thanks for the response!  was just hoping to save some money, but sounds like i need to spend some.  I chose the xlr cable because of it's thickness and flexability, i.e. didn't look cheap, and now it seems i should've kept that calbe alone, not cut it.

Damn disability is killing me, money is beyond short (way short) and was hoping i could slide by.

Thanks for all the help

Send me your address and I'll send you a length of black XLR free of charge.
+T back'atcha