19Mar Feeding two Lav mics into a 3.5mm Audio port on the cheap
There are tons of very expensive audio adapters out there that allow you to mix XLR and 3.5 mm audio sources into your camera, sometimes you just need to feed two lav mics into your camera on the cheap. That’s where the $4.50 Hosa stereo breakout cable comes in handy. After all, most Lav mic kits (like the Sennheiser G3 units I use) have built-in amplifiers with controllable output settings which mean all you need is an easy way to bring audio into the left and right channels.
There really isn’t much to it. The $4.50 Hosa adapter is just a breakout cable for the tip and ring connectors on the stereo plug. With it, you now have the option to feed to channels of audio into your camera.
If you want to take things up a notch, grab yourself one of these right angle stereo adapters. This will give you a little bit of strain relief on your cameras microphone port.
Also, if you use something like this Varavon Armer cage, the right angle stereo adapter gives you a nice solid place to clamp down on that will do an even better job of protecting your camera’s stereo mic input.
All together the combination of Hosa stereo breakout cable and right angle stereo adapter will set you back about $8. It is a pretty decent combo if you are looking to feed two lav mics into something like the Panasonic GH4. If that is what you are trying to accomplish, it is a pretty decent investment.
March 21st, 2016 at 4:35 pm
Been doing this exact same thing for a couple of years now. Like having directional audio on separate channels to easily adjust in post.
March 25th, 2016 at 12:26 pm
Just FYI, any 1/8 mini to mini connection is a risky proposition in portable situations. Think twice about that right angle adapter..look around for or make/have made a cord that terminates in a right angle…especially if you happen to be feeding a camera without a headphone jack.
March 25th, 2016 at 7:10 pm
The right angle is 1/8 (3.5mm) to 1/8 as are all of the other connectors.
March 25th, 2016 at 7:17 pm
I understand..and mini to mini connections can be fussy and unreliable if moved.
March 25th, 2016 at 9:11 pm
You don’t think a screwed down and clamped in place right angle connector into the camera will stay put?
March 25th, 2016 at 9:26 pm
Immobilized? Sure. Just trying to give your readers some sense of the weakness of the connection. And if there is a similar cord that terminates in a rt. angle already, would eliminate one potential point of failure.