Author Topic: 3.5 MIC to USB Conversion  (Read 1661 times)

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Offline vidarrTopic starter

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Re: 3.5 MIC to USB Conversion
« Reply #25 on: January 19, 2025, 01:56:31 am »
Well, I am still working this out. Why oh why do Mics have to be so simple and complicated at the same time... Seems like mics are a pretty hot topic.

So, I actually went back to EEV YouTube video where he talked to the mic designer/engineer that I can't remember his name. He drew some really good mic and op amp circuits.

Someone is bringing me one of those tiny USB soundcard with 3.5 jacks.

Thanks Guys for All your Input!
« Last Edit: January 19, 2025, 03:05:21 pm by vidarr »
 

Offline special_K

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Re: 3.5 MIC to USB Conversion
« Reply #26 on: January 19, 2025, 05:02:39 am »
Your link does not work. It just sends us to a login page that also advertises a sale or promotion of some sort.
 
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Offline vidarrTopic starter

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Re: 3.5 MIC to USB Conversion
« Reply #27 on: January 23, 2025, 04:02:57 pm »
My friend brought me this external soundcard that I thought would allow me to use this mic with my laptop, but it isn't working.

The laptop recognizes the device; I can play audio through it just fine; it sows up in the Win10, so-called "Sound Control Panel"; the mic does not work.

I tried my headset with mic and it works.

Could it be because of this 3.5 jack? It only has two rings, tip and sleeve. Most of the 3.5 mic jacks I see online are TRS. (I know what the rings are for. TS, TRS, TRRS..., I just don't know what else the problem can be. This should work.)

Any ideas? Thank You!
 

Offline magic

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Re: 3.5 MIC to USB Conversion
« Reply #28 on: January 23, 2025, 04:47:48 pm »
It's possible that the tip and ring are shorted internally, so this plug shorts them both to ground. This appears to be the case in my "GeneralPlus" USB audio dongle - the dongle records in mono and when I plug headphones into the mic jack, both sides work equally so they seem to be shorted.

You could take the dongle apart and cut this connection. Or make a cable with TRS plug and TS or TRS socket and leave the ring floating. Or reterminate the mic with a TRS plug with floating ring.
« Last Edit: January 23, 2025, 04:54:44 pm by magic »
 
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Offline vidarrTopic starter

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Re: 3.5 MIC to USB Conversion
« Reply #29 on: January 24, 2025, 12:22:53 am »
The tip of the mic jack appears to be the mic audio and the single sleeve is the ground. I'm going to make a homemade adapter where I send the tip of the mic cord to the 2nd ring of a TRRS jack, and the ground to the sleeve.

From what I have read so far, computers and phones have TRRS jacks. So, this is what I have to wire the mic to conform to. Not really a problem, just so ridiculous to have to do.

Let's ditch the 3.5 jacks and go with USB. Professional audio can keep the 1/4 jacks and XLR; audiophile equipment can keep their RCA and banana jacks; everything computer/phone related should be USB. 3.5 jacks are ridiculous. Really stupid at this point.

Thanks!
 

Offline magic

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Re: 3.5 MIC to USB Conversion
« Reply #30 on: January 24, 2025, 12:55:18 am »
Hmm, if your dongle's tip and ring contact are shorted, things may also work if you insert the plug halfway:

Code: [Select]
socket: T R S
  plug:   T S
 
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Offline radiolistener

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Re: 3.5 MIC to USB Conversion
« Reply #31 on: January 24, 2025, 01:23:31 am »

Sound card don't supply phantom power, so the electret would have to supply its own.

It does - if 5V counts.  The PC standard microphone jack is mono with 5V on the ring.



There are two mic pin-out standards for 3.5mm connectors and they are not compatible:

PC microphone:


Phone/Camera microphone:



Headset connectors also have two standards:


« Last Edit: January 24, 2025, 01:29:43 am by radiolistener »
 
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Offline vidarrTopic starter

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Re: 3.5 MIC to USB Conversion
« Reply #32 on: January 24, 2025, 08:40:22 pm »
OK, so I salvaged some 3.5 jacks and wires and am going to attempt to make this mic work on the laptop.

You cannot see the red wire on the mic cord, but the red wire of the mic goes to that red wire on the cord with TRS jack.
The black wire of the mic will go to the ground wire of the cord with TRS jack.


The jack is wired such that the tip and ring are going to the red wire.
The sleeve is going to the ground.

Then, the TRS gets plugged into the external soundcard/dongle, which plugs into the laptop via USB.

Will this work? IDK... I hope so.

Thank You!

edit: I was trying to make this simpler radiolistener. LOL. 
« Last Edit: January 24, 2025, 08:42:48 pm by vidarr »
 

Offline vidarrTopic starter

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Re: 3.5 MIC to USB Conversion
« Reply #33 on: January 24, 2025, 08:46:03 pm »
Hmm, if your dongle's tip and ring contact are shorted, things may also work if you insert the plug halfway:

Code: [Select]
socket: T R S
  plug:   T S

I tried this but it didn't work. Fortunately, the mic screen easily unscrews so I could check its wires. The only thing I don't know is if the mic needs 5v on the red wire from the usb dongle, or if the 5v is even provided. I don't know how the laptop jack is wired. I did not open up the soundcard/dongle either.
 

Online Analog Kid

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Re: 3.5 MIC to USB Conversion
« Reply #34 on: January 24, 2025, 10:27:20 pm »
Since the mike clearly says "cardioid dynamic", it definitely doesn't need any power, assuming there's no circuitry in the handle (and there shouldn't be). So you just need to find the right connections.
 
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Offline vidarrTopic starter

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Re: 3.5 MIC to USB Conversion
« Reply #35 on: January 25, 2025, 11:20:51 pm »
Well, it works. I cut off the mic's TS jack and soldered on a TRS jack. Then, that plugs into the USB soundcard to the laptop. Everything turned out to be pretty straightforward in the end.

The sound is really good too. There is no noise, or background sounds. Just very clear vocals coming thru. I will do some EQ adjustments to fine tune it, but I am happy with the outcome.

Now, my next questions are coming ----> The DAC hookup.

Thanks Everyone for your help!
 

Offline vidarrTopic starter

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Re: 3.5 MIC to USB Conversion
« Reply #36 on: January 25, 2025, 11:21:54 pm »
Yep, it was pretty simple in the end. Thankfully.
 


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