Professional microphones are connected to mixing consoles using special XLR connectors. Sometimes you want to use such a microphone in conjunction with household equipment, but it's a pity to spoil it by changing the connector. A simple adapter will help.
Necessary
- - soldering iron, neutral flux and solder;
- - multimeter;
- - screwdriver.
Instructions
Step 1
Check the pinout of the XLR connector in the following illustration:
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/81/XLR_pinouts.svg … Here, the number 1 indicates the contact connected to the braided cable, number 2 - connected to the output of the microphone capsule, connected inside the microphone housing with the braid, and number 3 - connected to the opposite terminal of the microphone capsule
Step 2
Make sure the studio microphone is dynamic and not a condenser microphone that requires so-called phantom power. It is more difficult to connect such a microphone than not only a dynamic one, but even an electret one. Unlike an electret microphone, a studio condenser microphone requires a dedicated power supply, which is not easy to make at home.
Step 3
Purchase a 3-prong XLR plug from a radio store. In the same place, buy a “jack” plug with a diameter of 6, 3 mm, if the microphone will be connected to a karaoke system, or a diameter of 3.5 mm, if you want to connect it to a sound card. In the latter case, you will also need parts for assembling the amplifier (more on this below).
Step 4
On an XLR-type receptacle, connect pins 1 and 2 together.
Step 5
On the plug, connect the pin closest to the cable entry to the middle pin.
Step 6
If you intend to work with a karaoke system, connect the connection point of pins 1 and 2 of the XLR socket to the "far" pin of the "jack" plug with a diameter of 6, 3 millimeters, and pin 3 of the socket to the connection point of the "near" and "middle" contacts of this forks. Check the integrity of all connections with a multimeter in ohmmeter mode. Connect the microphone through the adapter to the karaoke system and make sure it works.
Step 7
Connect the microphone to the sound card in the same way, with the only difference that a 3.5 mm jack is taken, and a microphone amplifier must be placed between the XLR socket and the jack. The need for its use is due to the fact that the sound card input is designed to work with an electret rather than a dynamic microphone. The diagram of such an amplifier is given at the following link:
jap.hu/electronic/micamp.html
