XLR to mini question

[Michael Panfeld]

Hi: this is not related to the RED cam per se, but.....

I bought a new mixer. It has balanced XLR outs (R&L). I want to put the audio in through the cam's 1/8 mini-stereo plug. The cam does not have XLR ports. I also want to introduce the least noise. What are the plusses and minuses of these three choices:

1) two 20 ft. long XLR cables with a short XLR + XLR to 1/8 mini-plug Y-adapter.

2) a short XLR + XLR to 1/8 mini-plug Y-adapter plugged into the mixer and then a 1/8 to 1/8 extension cord to the cam (20 feet)

3) L and R wireless transmitter dongles plugged into the mixer and a dual channel wireless receiver on the cam with a short 1/8 to 1/8 cable to go into the cam.

Also, can anybody recommend the best XLR + XLR to 1/8 mini-plug Y-adapter (and where to buy it).

Thanks, Mike

[Brian Ferguson]

What camera are you speaking of ? On some prosumer cameras this company made nice mini mic input adapters.
http://www.beachtek.com/
Hope that helps - glad you said it wasn't RED related because I was stumped for a minute.

[Michael Panfeld]

What camera are you speaking of ? On some prosumer cameras this company made nice mini mic input adapters.
http://www.beachtek.com/
Hope that helps - glad you said it wasn't RED related because I was stumped for a minute.

Thanks Brian, but I am looking for cabling options. I do not want to introduce another pre-amp or amp unit in the workflow.

[Jon Frost]

Remember that XLR cables are balanced and the mini Phone jack on your camera might be unbalanced. It's important to keep any unbalanced cable as short as possible --- under 2' if possible.

You can find adpater cables through Markertek, Radio Shack, Mouser Electronics and many video vendors like B&H, Adorama, etc.

[David Rasberry]

The stereo mini-jack cables on video cameras are unbalanced.
I highly recommend the Beachtek DXA-2s, which provides a passive transformer balanced pair of XLR inputs with attenuators for use with either external mics that don't need phantom power or with line outs from mixers or wireless receivers. Much cleaner and far superior to adaptor cables, but does not introduce an extra preamp stage. This is the right way to do it to protect your camera pre's from overload and to isolate grounds to eliminate hum. It won't cost a lot more more than a properly made reliable Y-cable, but it will be much more rugged and can be mounted to the camera/tripod.