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Old 11th Aug 2020, 7:56 am   #1
Joe Ingle
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Default Connect ‘professional’ microphone to computer microphone input?

Hello,
I normally visit this website for the invaluable help with valve radios, but this time I’ve got a different request.

My son has been given a very professional looking microphone with an xlr jack. Technically I don’t know what sort of microphone it is, but it looks like it would have come from a recording studio.

He has asked me to connect it to his computer 3.5mm stereo microphone input. Making the physical connection will be easy enough, but will that work, or is there some electronic conversion needed?

Thanks for any advice,

Joe.
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Old 11th Aug 2020, 8:02 am   #2
barrymagrec
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Default Re: Connect ‘professional’ microphone to computer microphone input?

Try it. Unless you have the spec of the microphone anything else is just guesswork.
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Old 11th Aug 2020, 8:10 am   #3
dglcomp
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Default Re: Connect ‘professional’ microphone to computer microphone input?

If it is not a condenser microphone then it should just work with an XLR - 3.5mm jack, if it is a condenser microphone or any type of microphone that requires phantom power there are simple XLR USB interfaces like this, https://www.thomann.de/gb/the_tbone_micplug_usb.htm , whilst computer microphone inputs provide plug-in power for generally electret microphones normal powered professional microphones that aren't designed to be used with a wireless system use a different powering system with higher voltages.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phantom_power

Last edited by dglcomp; 11th Aug 2020 at 8:17 am.
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Old 11th Aug 2020, 8:41 am   #4
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Default Re: Connect ‘professional’ microphone to computer microphone input?

In my experience I had to use a preamp to boost the signal up a bit, this is with a dynamic cardoid type mic. Also to get the best performance out of it a proper balanced to unbalanced circuit, usually just an IP audio tfmr and opamp etc. A lot of this will depend on what your PC's soundcard is, some are decent and come with decent software, others don't.

You can buy XLR to 3.5mm but there may be an issue with a big mass jiggling your PC jack about with consequent damage. It depends what the mic is used for, if as a fixed desk mic, not so bad, if used to sing along with Oily Mars with attendant leaping about and killer dance moves, think of the poor pretty crap when fitted 3.5mm socket.

Andy.
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Old 11th Aug 2020, 9:42 am   #5
paulsherwin
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Default Re: Connect ‘professional’ microphone to computer microphone input?

Computer soundcard mic inputs are normally mono. They are designed for use with cheap electret mics for things like Skype.

There isn't any real advantage in using a pro mic with such an input.
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Old 11th Aug 2020, 11:08 am   #6
Restoration73
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Default Re: Connect ‘professional’ microphone to computer microphone input?

Be aware of microphones that may look like a Neumann U87 but are nothing more than
an electret in a large housing. There is normally an internal circuit board to generate
the balanced output for the XLR output. They are normally powered by the soundcard
or interface e.g. https://focusrite.com/en/usb-audio-i.../scarlett-solo
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Old 11th Aug 2020, 1:29 pm   #7
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Default Re: Connect ‘professional’ microphone to computer microphone input?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Joe Ingle View Post
Hello,
My son has been given a very professional looking microphone with an xlr jack. Technically I don’t know what sort of microphone it is, but it looks like it would have come from a recording studio.
Could you attach some photos of the microphone? It's likely that someone will be able to identify it and give specific advice.

John
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Old 12th Aug 2020, 2:32 pm   #8
Joe Ingle
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Default Re: Connect ‘professional’ microphone to computer microphone input?

Hi all, thanks for the replies. This is showing me how little I know about microphones!

As suggested by John, here are a couple of pics...

Joe.
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Old 12th Aug 2020, 2:54 pm   #9
Records
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Default Re: Connect ‘professional’ microphone to computer microphone input?

The onboard sound chip on a computer, the mic input will be mono, but if u buy a good quality pci or pcie soundcard such as audigy it will be stereo and a good quality input.
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Old 12th Aug 2020, 2:57 pm   #10
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Default Re: Connect ‘professional’ microphone to computer microphone input?

That mic in your picture is a good one i know a couple of utubers who use that mic, with an adaptor it should be possible to use it with a pc soundcard
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Old 12th Aug 2020, 4:58 pm   #11
dglcomp
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Default Re: Connect ‘professional’ microphone to computer microphone input?

Looks like an AT2020 https://www.thomann.de/gb/audio_technica_at2020.htm
Will need to have something to provide phantom power, so an external USB audio interface which can provide phantom power would be the best solution.
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Old 13th Aug 2020, 12:11 am   #12
jamesperrett
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Default Re: Connect ‘professional’ microphone to computer microphone input?

Yes, you'll need some way of obtaining phantom power and, to be honest, a phantom power supply would cost as much as an audio interface with phantom power. The cheapest I could see is

https://www.studiospares.com/studio-...ace_384220.htm

though I would suggest going a little more upmarket which gains you a second microphone input, better convertors and better software drivers.

https://www.studiospares.com/studio-...ace_384570.htm
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Old 13th Aug 2020, 3:13 pm   #13
Joe Ingle
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Default Re: Connect ‘professional’ microphone to computer microphone input?

Thanks for all the replies, and now I know what I need to buy.
You’ve all saved me some fruitless soldering!

Thanks again,

Joe.
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Old 13th Aug 2020, 4:06 pm   #14
LXSTEIN45
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Default Re: Connect ‘professional’ microphone to computer microphone input?

I am currently playing with a phantom powered headset for flight sims and thinking about scrapping the mic input altogether and using a small amplifier and going in through line in. General PC mic inputs are terrible!
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