Hi folks.

We've got a few NT4 mics to use with minidisks for location recording at work, but unfortunatley the cables are causing crackles on the recordings. We think this is probably because the cables are quite stiff and putting strain on the mini jack connectors.

So, we were wondering where we can purchase a more 'stringy' cable (like the ones that come with the Sony ECM MS957 if anyone is familiar with that mic!)which won't put as much strain on the connectors.

We've had a scout around the net but haven't been able to find what we want yet.

Not sure if anyone will be able to help, but thanks in advance if you can!

Cheers
Ben.

I haven't seen any for sale but you could just make some - all it takes is a 5 pin female XLR, a length of an appropriate cable, a minijack and some soldering You can get everything you need from Canford Audio - I just made a couple of 3m cables for portable use with stereo mics to portable DATs and Canford had all the bits I needed:

Neutrik 5 pin Female XLR (Black shell, gold pins)

Neutrik 3 pole Minijack (Right Angled, black shell, gold plate)


Canford Audio TSQ Tinsel Starquad (Extra flexible)




I'm not a big fan of using Starquad cable for long runs of stereo circuits as this isn't what they're designed for and you can get crosstalk problems in some circumstances. However, for short runs, particularly in something like a stereo mic where the differences between channels are smallanyway, and signal levels are low, I've not had any problems with it. This makes a really good flexible cable that's easy to handle, doesn't tangle easily and is still thick and robust enough for the connectors to get a good grip so the connections don't get strained and fail early.

Afraid we were just going for the quick fix!! Any idea what the proper name for the 'stringy cable' is to see if we can find it anywhere?

Thanks for the reply!
Ben

Sorry, just updated my post with some links and pictures of the bits I used - including some very nice flexible cable.

There's also a very thin Starquad cable that's suitable, made by Mogami for use on tie-clip mics. It's very thin but not as flexible as the TSQ and being very thin most connectors won't grip it properly so you risk straining the solder joints.

And just a thought, are you sure it's the cables that are causing the problems. I look after quite a lot of kit for people who do location recording (as well as my own) and something I've found to be a perennial problem for people using domestic kit like consumer portable DAT and MD recorders - much more than the cables themselves) it the minijack connector straining the mating connector inside the machine. The machine connector is normally PCB mounted and nowhere near strong enough to take the constant straining of plugging/replugging and sideways wiggling/pulling that heavy pro/semi-pro use by careless people will give it. They tend to be poorly fixed to the PCB with no secondary fixing/strain relief and frequently detatch temselves - often lifting the pads on the PCB - and can be a right fiddle to fix!

0VU has said it all, really - but I would put in my vote for the Neutrik rt.angled metal mini-jacks he mentioned. They are the only serious mini-jack around and having it rt.angled minimises any strain on the socket.

Another fix is to make a short cable - mini-jack to XLR socket and tie the XLR to the recorder case. This virtually eliminates any strain to the mini-jack socket and you can use normal cables to the mic.

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John - Sound-Link ProAudio
President - Federation Internationale des Chasseurs de Sons

Quote 0VU:

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And just a thought, are you sure it's the cables that are causing the problems. something I've found to be a perennial problem is the minijack connector straining the mating connector inside the machine.

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I agree this is the usual cause of problems -- we had no end of trouble with it on cheapo MD and DAT machines used by journos as location recorders inthe Beeb.

Never, ever use straight minijack plugs... ever.... ever. Always use the 90 degree right angle ones (as 0VU included in his post above, as it happens).

The weight of the cable produces a lot of leverage over the length of the straight connector, which either forces the contact springs back to results in poor connections in future, of forces the plug contacts away fromthe spring contacts to result in poor connections now!

The 90 degree connector is much shorter, so there is far less leverage anyway, and it tends to rotate automatically so that the cable weight pulls down with minimal leverage.

Better still is to make a short interface lead with a 90 degree minijack to XLR or some other convenient connector which is fixed to the carry strap or something. That way, the minijack socket can be left permanenetly rigged, reducing strain and wear. The cable weight is then supported by the carry strap rather than the minijack connector, and connector abuse is tolerated far better by a connector designed for the purpose (and easier to fix when it gets broken).

hugh

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Technical Editor, Sound On Sound

Quote Hugh Robjohns:

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Better still is to make a short interface lead with a 90 degree minijack to XLR or some other convenient connector which is fixed to the carry strap or something.

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I beat you to it by two minutes there Hugh

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John - Sound-Link ProAudio
President - Federation Internationale des Chasseurs de Sons

Another solution...
I assume that youa re powering the NT-4 by the 9v battery
If you used a battery powered Mic preamp - you could provide 48v to the NT4 and then use decent mic cable to link the NT4 to the pre amp box then use a small cable to connect the preamp to the mini-disk
The added benefit is that the preamp box can give a decent Monitor output on a jack

Just so happens I bought one of these things a while back...
The Pass reporter range - Canford has them...

Thanks for all the replies.

You've confirmed alot of our thinking! Which is good!

THink we'll probably go for the right angle mini jack extension lead type thing which will stay permanently in the MD player so it doesn't suffer from constant plugging and un plugging strains.

Thanks for all your replies. much appreciated!

Ben.