Sennheiser MKE-400

[jamesbridges]

Need some tech support.
I purchased the MKE-400 for my 7D the other day. It doesn't work on the Scarlet, but it works on the 7D.
My theory is that the mini jacks on the Scarlet are not stereo like the MKE400. I did look in the menu settings and I couldn't find and options if this is my issue.
Am I correct?
Thanks for the help.

[Brian F Kobylarz]

James,

Just to clear terminology - the connector is not actually "stereo" although it may appear so.

It is a "balanced" connector (referred to as Tip-Ring-Sleeve).

Balanced audio cables and connectors carry the microphone signal - both positive & negative inside the cable surrounded by a ground shield.
Provides better, cleaner audio than an "unbalanced" cable or connector which shares the negative with the ground (think of RCA cables).

On a 3.5mm connector, the tip carries the positive signal, the ring carries the negative signal and the sleeve connects to ground.


To answer your question:

The Scarlet Mic inputs on the front are balanced connectors - just like the connectors on the Sennheiser mic.

Start by going to the "Settings menu"
Next, select Audio / Video
Make sure the box for channels 1 and or 2 displays "ON"
Bring up the volume slider - start between 20-30.


Actually, I should have asked the obvious: Did you try a different mic on the Scarlet?
Have you used audio at all on the Scarlet before?

[James Bridges]

Hey Brian,
Thanks for the quick reply. Great question. I di try a different mic.

Here is what I just tested ( after I posted):
hooked up the x dual audio adapter
ran a 15' xlr cable to a Shure RE50 (ch. 1) tried both channels btw.
went into the Scarlet menu
tried both unbalance and balanced and the RE50 worked great

[Brian F Kobylarz]

Hmm - that certainly helps narrow down the rabbit hole. First thought that comes to mind is that the RE50 is a dynamic mic which requires no powering.

On the other hand, the Sennheiser is an Electret Condenser mic - which does require power - normally provided via AAA battery.

As far as I know, the 7D does not have phantom power - so the fact that the Sennheiser did work on that camera and not the Scarlet is a twist.

Chances are that I will be talking to someone from Sennheiser this evening - I'll ask if they have heard of anyone else experiencing this problem.

[James Bridges]

Thanks, much appreciated. When I listen through headphones I get a crackling noise. You are correct about the powering of the microphones.

[Brian F Kobylarz]

James,

If you have not yet found the solution, here are two names at Sennheiser that should be able to help:

Scott Houston ext. 182
or Jason Kelly ext 107
860-434-9190


Before you do call, have you been able to test the 400 on any other unit?
When you turn the power on, does a small LED light flash?

[James Bridges]

Hello Brian,
I have, on my 7D, works great. When I plug the mic into the Scarlet 1/2 way I get a crackling sound- all the way in- nothing.
Thanks for going the extra mile, I really appreciate it.
I will call them.
Jim

[miguel.mesas]

Hi James, did you solve the problem? I have the same problem.

TKS

[Shiblon Wixom]

The only way I've found to get decent scratch track sound to the Epic/Scarlet is by running a decent mic or line-in to a tascam 100, then running a line to the camera, fairly clean with little or no distortion. I usually don't record with the tascam if we have a sound guy recording externally, we just use it for throughput to camera.

[Wil Wong]

I had issues too with running Shure UR5 receivers to my Scarlet. Shure lavs and receivers worked fine on my Sony FS100 but when I replaced the sony camera with the Scarlet, I too ran into issues. Like Shiblon, I had to send my Shure mics through a Zoom H4N and output it to the Scarlet. This does give me a backup but it also means one more piece of equipment and only 1 merged signal to the camera.

Red's 3.5mm mini plugs are not very desirable. Wish they'd build a xlr module (that is smaller and purely just sound...instead of the one with the other stuff like genlock and timecode etc.).