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General => Technical Help => Topic started by: dixons on Friday 10 February 12 13:32 GMT (UK)

Title: USB connection
Post by: dixons on Friday 10 February 12 13:32 GMT (UK)
I wish to connect a microphone to a piece of equipment that has no USB inlet. It does have an ethernet connection.

Is there an adaptor which will enable me to do this?

regards,,

dixons
Title: Re: USB connection
Post by: Calverley Lad on Friday 10 February 12 13:40 GMT (UK)
Nope!
But if it has a make and model I could find out.
Or even what is it?
 Brian
Title: Re: USB connection
Post by: Ray T on Saturday 11 February 12 11:49 GMT (UK)
Yes, it would help if you were more explicit as to what you're trying to connect to what. The majority of microphones can't be connected directly to USB although there are ways of doing so and its difficult to think of a modern device which has ethernet but not USB.
Title: Re: USB connection
Post by: japeflakes on Saturday 11 February 12 11:52 GMT (UK)
Amazon sells these but NO IDEA if they will work for you, or if they fit the way you want to go.

USB TO LAN RJ45 Ethernet 10Mb/100Mb Network Adapter
Title: Re: USB connection
Post by: Calverley Lad on Saturday 11 February 12 21:06 GMT (UK)
Given that there are a great number of devices with an ethernet connection, not all have the facility to accept a microphone input! - My Blue Ray player as an example.
 Brian
Title: Re: USB connection
Post by: Midase on Saturday 11 February 12 21:54 GMT (UK)
USB Microphone adaptor  Whether it will work with a RJ45 USB adaptor is a matter of trial but I doubt it.
Title: Re: USB connection
Post by: Nick29 on Sunday 12 February 12 11:29 GMT (UK)
Until 'dixons' comes back and tells us what this "piece of equipment" is, there is no way of knowing whether anything will work.  My Home Cinema Amplifier has both a USB and an ethernet connection, but connecting a microphone (via any sort of adaptor) would not work at all, because the software wouldn't support it.
Title: Re: USB connection
Post by: Midase on Sunday 12 February 12 12:18 GMT (UK)
Quite agree, but until you try something you won't know if it will work and for just a few pounds outlay it's worth testing. As dixons has not come back, it seems like he/she may have fixed it elsewhere!
Title: Re: USB connection
Post by: Roger The Hat on Sunday 12 February 12 12:48 GMT (UK)
I've scratched me 'ead, removed the splinters, and I can't recall anyone using a microphone via an ethernet connection.

I haven't tried it, but it might be possible to network to another device which does have an audio input. However, without knowing the intended application, that might be defeating the object.

'Hat.
Title: Re: USB connection
Post by: Ray T on Sunday 12 February 12 13:33 GMT (UK)
Until 'dixons' comes back and tells us what this "piece of equipment" is, there is no way of knowing whether anything will work.  My Home Cinema Amplifier has both a USB and an ethernet connection, but connecting a microphone (via any sort of adaptor) would not work at all, because the software wouldn't support it.

I can only agree. A microphone is an analogue device and needs to have some means of controlling its level etc. - which is normally dealt with by the device you're plugging it into. USB/Ethernet are digital connections and don't deal with the same sort of signal.

You can plug a microphone into a A/D converter and/or you can use a USB microphone with the converter already built in but without knowing what we're dealing with I don't think we can help further.
Title: Re: USB connection
Post by: Nick29 on Monday 13 February 12 22:23 GMT (UK)
Quite agree, but until you try something you won't know if it will work and for just a few pounds outlay it's worth testing. As dixons has not come back, it seems like he/she may have fixed it elsewhere!

Maybe he/she went to Dixons ?   ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: USB connection
Post by: dixons on Tuesday 14 February 12 12:16 GMT (UK)
Hi All,

Excuse this octogenarian for not being explicit enough in original request or too technically aware!

Equipment is a Casablanca editor (for film editing). It does have USB inlets but, having purchased a Samson CO1U condenser microphone to use in voice overs, I have discovered that the system does not function via USB connection.

Microphone is not 'self powered' so therefore relies on USB connection for power. Is there some manner/adaptor in which I can connect to USB inlet to get mike powered up and then connect to, for instance, RCA inlets/headphone inlet (there is no microphone inlet).

dixons (no I don't own or shop at the company!!
Title: Re: USB connection
Post by: jc26red on Tuesday 14 February 12 12:24 GMT (UK)
Have you looked at the manufacturers website, they have a support and forum section.

Sorry I've only done film editing on a pc with editing software and have not encountered your problem...
Title: Re: USB connection
Post by: jc26red on Tuesday 14 February 12 12:39 GMT (UK)
As far as I can see from the not very user friendly website, you create a sound file on your pc and then import it into the video....
There is an expert who can guide you but clicking on his website requires a subscription!  :-\
Title: Re: USB connection
Post by: Roger The Hat on Tuesday 14 February 12 12:51 GMT (UK)
If you've got RCA inlets on the Casablanca then p'raps my original idea might work - connect the mic' to your p.c./laptop, then run a cable from the headphones out (if you don't have soundcard outs) to the RCA ins.

You may need some basic editting software on the p.c./laptop, but there's plenty about.

Good luck,

'Hat.
Title: Re: USB connection
Post by: jc26red on Tuesday 14 February 12 14:37 GMT (UK)
looks like the expert has put a few videos on you tube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mknKKTCWLs

does the back of your Casablanca look like this?

the standard microphone jack is the pink one....

now having had a look at the microphone you have bought, it comes with bundled (driver) software which is pc/Mac only. The specs say pc/Mac only so I double you will get it to work with the Casablanc as it doesn't recognise it without a driver being installed.

Jenny
Title: Re: USB connection
Post by: Ray T on Tuesday 14 February 12 18:30 GMT (UK)
Powering a USB mic should be easy - simply connect it via a powered USB hub. However, without delving into the manual, I suspect that the USB socket the Casablanca equipped with isn't designed to accommodate a [USB] mic.

Rather than messing around with USB and a laptop, it might be simpler to buy a cheapish analogue microphone. Something like this http://www.dv247.com/microphones/audio-technica-atr4697-omnidirectional-condenser-boundary-microphone--67453would be ideal for video voiceovers  - just stick it on the desk; it doesn't need a mic stand. I picked one up at a car boot sale for £2 last year.
Title: Re: USB connection
Post by: Calverley Lad on Tuesday 14 February 12 19:37 GMT (UK)
In the old days, the instructions for mic related to impedance, - resistance of mic input.
Usually a very high value.
The point I was trying to make was you can't just connect any microphone, the resistance of the circuit must match up with the recorder, too much and the input is very low (no sound) whilst too little and smoke comes out of the machine. It happened to me may years ago!
Brian
Title: Re: USB connection
Post by: dixons on Wednesday 15 February 12 12:55 GMT (UK)
Hi All,

Thank you all for your time and input. A plethora of suggestions indeed for me to work my way through.

regards,

dixons