Question on uni-directional microphones

[Dave]

Just bought a more-or-less uni-directional mic (intended for VOIP) for my
latest project, and saw that it comes with what looks like a stereo 3.5mm
plug. I am *guessing* that these separate bass and treble components of the
signal, but have no idea which part of the plug is for what. Again, I
*guess* that the first "shield" is ground, the second (middle) portion is
for treble (which would probably not require so much amplification) and the
tip is bass (which would require the most amplification and shielding.) But
I also guess that I am wrong on most if not all of this. Anyone out there
know anything about any of what I describe? Would love for someone to tell
me I am wrong, and set me straight. I am intending to use this mic for an
intercom I am building for my front door, and don't intend to make actual
use of the separation of bass and treble (if that is what it does.) Expect
to hook the tip and middle section to the amplifier input, and the "shield"
to ground. But I could also be full of crap and have this blow up in my
face, destroying the precious mic. Any ideas or feedback is sought and
eagerly awaited. Blast away.

Thanks,

Dave (who is all ears at this point.)

 

[Peter Bennett]

On Fri, 13 Apr 2012 09:37:40 -0500, "Dave" <db5151@hotmail.com> wrote:

Just bought a more-or-less uni-directional mic (intended for VOIP) for my
latest project, and saw that it comes with what looks like a stereo 3.5mm
plug. I am *guessing* that these separate bass and treble components of the
signal, but have no idea which part of the plug is for what. Again, I
*guess* that the first "shield" is ground, the second (middle) portion is
for treble (which would probably not require so much amplification) and the
tip is bass (which would require the most amplification and shielding.) But
I also guess that I am wrong on most if not all of this. Anyone out there
know anything about any of what I describe? Would love for someone to tell
me I am wrong, and set me straight. I am intending to use this mic for an
intercom I am building for my front door, and don't intend to make actual
use of the separation of bass and treble (if that is what it does.) Expect
to hook the tip and middle section to the amplifier input, and the "shield"
to ground. But I could also be full of crap and have this blow up in my
face, destroying the precious mic. Any ideas or feedback is sought and
eagerly awaited. Blast away.

Thanks,

Dave (who is all ears at this point.)

I would expect the sleeve to be ground, and the tip and ring to be
signal. The tip and ring would carry the same signal, since most
sound card inputs probably expect stereo signals (left and right) on
the tip and ring.

--
Peter Bennett, VE7CEI
peterbb (at) telus.net
GPS and NMEA info: http://vancouver-webpages.com/peter
Vancouver Power Squadron: http://vancouver.powersquadron.ca

 

[Black Iccy]

On Fri, 13 Apr 2012 09:12:40 -0700, Peter Bennett <peterbb@somewhere.invalid>
wrote:

I would expect the sleeve to be ground, and the tip and ring to be
signal. The tip and ring would carry the same signal, since most
sound card inputs probably expect stereo signals (left and right) on
the tip and ring.

Unlikely IMO.
Much more probable that it's a (T)ip, (R)ing, (S)leeve connection
for a computer sound card / connection. If so, then the mic. will
be a "standard" electret and the connector pinouts will be
Earth, +5 Volts, Signal.


http://www.hobby-hour.com/electronics/computer_microphone.php
http://www.epanorama.net/circuits/microphone_powering.html

 

[Dave]

"Black Iccy" <Daedelus@whereamIinvalid.com> wrote in message
news:v4lho7h4ft8flnabvuncgaah8dmnvd5a7a@4ax.com...

On Fri, 13 Apr 2012 09:12:40 -0700, Peter Bennett
peterbb@somewhere.invalid
wrote:

I would expect the sleeve to be ground, and the tip and ring to be
signal. The tip and ring would carry the same signal, since most
sound card inputs probably expect stereo signals (left and right) on
the tip and ring.


Unlikely IMO.
Much more probable that it's a (T)ip, (R)ing, (S)leeve connection
for a computer sound card / connection. If so, then the mic. will
be a "standard" electret and the connector pinouts will be
Earth, +5 Volts, Signal.


http://www.hobby-hour.com/electronics/computer_microphone.php
http://www.epanorama.net/circuits/microphone_powering.html

THANK YOU! This is exactly what I needed, since the mic is intended for use
with a laptop and VOIP etc. Now I have some idea as to how to adapt it for
my front-door intercom project. Man. Don't know what to say other than,

Much appreciated.

Dave

 

[Michael Black]

On Sat, 14 Apr 2012, Black Iccy wrote:

On Fri, 13 Apr 2012 09:12:40 -0700, Peter Bennett <peterbb@somewhere.invalid
wrote:

I would expect the sleeve to be ground, and the tip and ring to be
signal. The tip and ring would carry the same signal, since most
sound card inputs probably expect stereo signals (left and right) on
the tip and ring.


Unlikely IMO.
Much more probable that it's a (T)ip, (R)ing, (S)leeve connection
for a computer sound card / connection. If so, then the mic. will
be a "standard" electret and the connector pinouts will be
Earth, +5 Volts, Signal.

Definitely. Especially when soundcards have both line input and microphone

input. There's no overlap since the microphone needs extra amplification
over the line inputs, so they can split the signal into two channels after
the preamp.

Michael