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Vintage Audio (record players, hi-fi etc) Amplifiers, speakers, gramophones and other audio equipment. |
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11th Aug 2020, 7:56 am | #1 |
Tetrode
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.
Posts: 92
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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. |
11th Aug 2020, 8:02 am | #2 |
Octode
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Morden, Surrey, UK.
Posts: 1,552
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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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11th Aug 2020, 8:10 am | #3 |
Heptode
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Portland, Dorset, UK.
Posts: 870
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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. |
11th Aug 2020, 8:41 am | #4 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Sleaford, Lincs. UK.
Posts: 7,631
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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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11th Aug 2020, 9:42 am | #5 |
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Oxford, UK
Posts: 27,783
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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. |
11th Aug 2020, 11:08 am | #6 |
Nonode
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Surbiton, SW London, UK.
Posts: 2,801
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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 |
11th Aug 2020, 1:29 pm | #7 | |
Octode
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Ware, Herts. UK.
Posts: 1,082
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Re: Connect ‘professional’ microphone to computer microphone input?
Quote:
John |
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12th Aug 2020, 2:32 pm | #8 |
Tetrode
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.
Posts: 92
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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. |
12th Aug 2020, 2:54 pm | #9 |
Hexode
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Harwich, Essex, UK.
Posts: 429
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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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12th Aug 2020, 2:57 pm | #10 |
Hexode
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Harwich, Essex, UK.
Posts: 429
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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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12th Aug 2020, 4:58 pm | #11 |
Heptode
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Portland, Dorset, UK.
Posts: 870
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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. |
13th Aug 2020, 12:11 am | #12 |
Octode
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Liss, Hampshire, UK.
Posts: 1,870
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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 |
13th Aug 2020, 3:13 pm | #13 |
Tetrode
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.
Posts: 92
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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. |
13th Aug 2020, 4:06 pm | #14 |
Hexode
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: South Manchester, UK.
Posts: 262
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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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