USB connection

[Ray T]

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.

[Nick29]

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 ?   

[dixons]

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!!

[jc26red]

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...

[jc26red]

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! 

[Roger The Hat]

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.

[jc26red]

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

[Ray T]

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.

[Calverley Lad]

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