> > Before you send it back, you might care to try thoroughly cleaning the
> > 1/8" plug - the merest hint of skin grease can cause the problems you
> > describe.
>
> If it's truly a 1/8" plug that could be the problem. Most recorders are
> 3.5mm not 1/8". They are similar sizes, but 1/8" is smaller than 3.5mm
> (3.18mm =3D 1/8"), so a 1/8" plug fits loose. This is more than enough to
> cause problems, particularly if the jack in the recorder is worn. About
> the only cure is to replace the plug with a 3.5mm.
>
> Walt
I have been busy making my shock-mount and wind-shield for the NT4.
Pictures soon.
I haven't returned the NT4 or the cord because cleaning made a
signficant difference but really this is not a good cord. I used metho
as I don't have alcohol. I will try and get some - I'm worried the
method will dissolve the plastic or something. The level of
functionality I got from cleaning was good enough to work with. I'm
realising I can't afford the 3-4 week delay of making a warranty claim
at this stage.
So thanks for the advice Rob, Walt and Neil.
I need to keep this one mic as my lavaliers from Sound Professionals
seem to be coming very slowly... and it is looking like I am going to
need a lot of animal sounds in this project. I am guessing they will
take a long time to gather. The list so far is kangaroos, birds, bats,
a phascogale (a totally silent creature so that should be easy to fake),
lizards rustling the leaves as the crawl around (another easy faker) and
a feral cat. I was making my shock mount today and two cats had a fight
under the house - but of course it was all over before my kit was
ready. I bet you it doesn't happen for at least another 6 months!
Anyway I want to have my tripod NT4 and recorder set-up and ready to
just go.
Walt - I would be surprised if there is a difference in diameters - the
Rode company and Sony surely use the same standard for
stereo-mini(3.5mm). My current theory is that there is just a slight
bend in the plug itself - rotating it in the socket produces more and
less sensitive positions. But strangely it seems to be improving with
time. Perhaps the warp straightening with use - I'm just guessing.
I have ordered a second cord - actually a cord that will run from the
dual XLRs supplied with the Rode and convert back to stereo-mini. The
idea being to have a spare and to skip the attenuator. Not the neatest
solution I know but I absolutely could not find an XLR5 to
stereo-mini-cord so I figure I will eventually have to build such a
cord. If anyone knows a supplier please let me know (I would like about
5 foot of cable and a right-angle gold plug). If anyone knows an
Australian supplier of such a cord or a good custom cord builder that
also could work.
Graham
|