atty1chgo
2 posts
Jun 05, 2010
10:54 AM
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I have a Sony F-45 Cardioid Dynamic Microphone (low impedence) that I have had since about 1976, although it probably is older (I guess by now it can be classified in the semi-vintage category). I had originally bought it at a pawnshop for use in recording for my reel-to-reel and the results were always crystal clear. I recently dug the microphone out, which is in pristine condition, and plugged it into and blew through one of those Honeytone plastic mini-amps and it sounded really good.
Is this the type of microphone which can be used on a bigger amp; for example, modified with a heavier cord and perhaps a sturdier connector? I can't find the specs on it anywhere. Just curious if anyone has any thoughts on this.
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Greg Heumann
507 posts
Jun 05, 2010
11:59 AM
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You can use any mic you can find to play through an amp. You won't hurt the mic or the amp. Whether you like the tone is up to you.
If this is a low impedance mic you should use an impedance matching transformer to connect to a guitar style amp - even the little Honeytone has a high impedance input as do pretty much all guitar/harp amps. There are TWO reasons. FIRST, impedance matching is important to get the mic and amp to perform within their specifications. However, and this is usually the bigger issue, low impedance mics are usually wired with XLR connectors - and the signal is on pins 2 and 3. If you use a HIGH impedance XLR-to-1/4" cable to connect it straight to your amp, you create another problem. That cable looks for the "+" signal from the mic on pin 2 OR pin 3 - leaving the other pin totally open. The reason it works at all is that the ground on Pin 1 (which isn't part of the low impedance signal circuit) is roughly half way between the + and - signals. But if you wire it this way you're getting half, or less - of the mic's potential output.
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/Greg
BlowsMeAway Productions
BlueState - my band
Bluestate on iTunes
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atty1chgo
3 posts
Jun 05, 2010
4:01 PM
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So I guess what I would want to do, if I think that this mic is worth the investment, is to have the bottom of the mic fitted with a connector that will accept, as an example, a Shure A95UF Impedance Matching Transformer, so that I could connect it to a high impedence cable. Right now it just has a 3.5 mm audio cable with a 3.5 mm stereo jack plug. Does that sound plausible?
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Greg Heumann
508 posts
Jun 05, 2010
4:38 PM
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For the amount of effort and money it would take to re-fit a connector, you could just buy a cheap vocal mic at Radio Shack or any guitar center - they start at about $15. It will already have the proper XLR connector. Then, you're better off to use a standard low-Z cable (XLR at both ends) and put the impedance matching transformer at the amp end. That reduces the weight and length at the mic, which makes it more comfortable for hand holding.
That is, unless you think there is going to be something really special about the mic you have tone wise. Honestly, I doubt there is.
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/Greg
BlowsMeAway Productions
BlueState - my band
Bluestate on iTunes
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Scrapboss
87 posts
Jun 06, 2010
10:17 PM
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"But if you wire it this way you're getting half, or less - of the mic's potential output."
Believe me, I know what he says is true.
Thanks Greg for get my bullet straightened out. I should have never let a hack work on my equip. Sounds like a new mic. I have missed out on playing through it for about 15 years. Glad I finally decided to have it looked at.
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"I have a high tolerance for boredom as long as it has a groove" - Scrapboss
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