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Re: Hydrophone cables--formerly "extension cables"

Subject: Re: Hydrophone cables--formerly "extension cables"
From: "Robb Nichols" robb_nichols
Date: Wed Jan 27, 2010 9:38 pm ((PST))
Grant, Are you saying that the cable is microphonic, or that the 
hydrophone is picking up sounds in air? The hydrophone is obviously 
designed to work at a much higher acoustical impedance and will have 
poor sensitivity and sound quality in air. But in essence, it is just a 
pressure transducer, like any microphone, and will pick up sounds in 
air. Sounds in air are coupled to water to some degree, especially if 
that sound is created by something that is mechanically coupled to 
Earth. Are you sure that the "just audible" sounds aren't in the water?

It might be helpful to know what hydrophone you are using and how your 
XLR adapter is wired.

Regards, Robb

Grant Finlay wrote:
>
> Slightly O/T but related..
>
> I've recently brought some hydrophones and tested them out a few days 
> ago. Very happy with the quality of the underwater recordings BUT have 
> noticed they seem to be microphonic, as in pick up audio from above 
> the water at a very low level but just audible.
> info:
>
> Approx 10m cable, unbalanced jack to XLR input plug, into my SQN mixer.
>
> Is the simple solution to shorten the unbalanced cable? (But I still 
> want some length on the cable though)
> Sorry if it seems like a dumb question but I only ever use 
> professional "balanced" equipment and have never come across this 
> issue before...
>
> Grant
> http://naturesounds.co.nz <http://naturesounds.co.nz>
>
> 






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