Author Topic: External mic...with no mic input Adzy
posted 02-02-2001 12:38 AM
My JVC MiniDV camera has no mic input. A good friend of mine is well versed in electronics and feels confident we can easily splice an external plug into the in-camera stereo mic. I took the camera apart and noticed there were only two wires coming out of the mic. Since it is stereo, I suppose this means it is grounded on the camera chassis and not with a wire?? Anyway, splicing in the plug shouldn't be hard, but I'd like to make it so when I plug in an external mic, the in-camera mic automatically shuts off. The guy at Radio Shack just stared at me when I asked him. Anyone know what hardware is needed to make that switch automatic?

Prism
posted 02-02-2001 04:14 AM
Sounds like a cool idea. I think it's odd that only two wires come out of the mic assembly, but like you said - it must be grounded on the chassis. I really don't know how to make the switch automatic. I'd have to sit down and draw a diagram to figure it out, but it's kinda late and my brain isn't working too well.

If you want, you could install a mini DPDT (Double-Pole, Double-Throw) switch. That will let you select one mic or the other. Just wire the output leads (that go into the camera's circuits) to the two center poles, and the leads from each mic source to the two other pairs of poles. It would look like this:

That would be pretty simple to assemble with a good soldering iron and a skilled hand.

Isaiah

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Isaiah Eyre, Sound Guy

"I don't know anything about music. In my line you don't have to." - Elvis Presley

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