r/LocationSound • u/caersuvia • Jun 27 '26

Gear - Tech Issue TA5M to 3-pin XLR Adapter?

I need to hard wire a few lavs and all of my lavs have TA5F output and I need TA5M to 3-pin XLR adapter. I know the Ambient Recording one but if there's more affordable adapter I'd rather go with that. If it's something I can do by myself that's an option too but I need some resources for that to how to wire etc.

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3

u/cape_soundboy Jun 27 '26

I think Deity do a cheap one. It's not as simple as wiring something up - the adapter needs to convert 48V phantom to 5V plug-in power for the lav.

1

u/caersuvia Jun 27 '26

If you mean the microdot adapter that's not exactly what I'm looking for. If you mean something different can you please link me.

3

u/Run-And_Gun Jun 28 '26

Love the Ambient adapters. I think I probably have at least 6-8 of 'em.

1

u/caersuvia Jun 28 '26

Looks like I'm gonna spend more to these adapters than I spend to the lavs I'm going to hard wire.

2

u/noetkoett Jun 28 '26

You could specify which lavs we are talking about.

1

u/caersuvia Jun 28 '26

That's the problem they're not Sanken, Countryman etc. it's just local brand that produces them. They're awesome but there's of course lack of information that Sankens or Countrymans have.

1

u/noetkoett Jun 28 '26

Oookay. I guess they're wired for Lectrosonics though. If this is the case then I found this: https://www.ypamicrophones.com/products/ypa-ma507-adapter

which I think you could use with this: https://www.thomann.fi/the_t.bone_cc_100_rc_ew.htm

Dunno if it's any cheaper.

1

u/caersuvia Jun 28 '26

Yes, they're wired for Lectrosonics. Actually, I envisioned something like this setup where I use TA5M to 3.5mm cable to RODE VXLR+ but I wasn't sure if it'll work. I've already got few VXLR+ the only thing I need is a TA5M to 3.5mm adapter/cable.

Question is: Would it work? I'm not that into these electricity things so I can't tell.

2

u/NotYourGranddadsAI Jun 28 '26 edited Jun 28 '26

noetkoett's solution should work and is pretty neat.

I also found "How to wire a Lectro TA5M to XLR'. They describe the same problem and point to another $$ solution.

And "TA5M to 3.5mm cable to RODE VXLR+" should work.

As a technician/nerd, i would approach like this:

  1. I'd make a quickie adaptor cable - TA5M to 3.5mm TRS phone, and try this with one of your mics into the PiP mic input of a handheld digital recorder, to confirm that your mics can be PiP powered.
  2. Then I'd try this into a RODE VXLR+ into a XLR mic input with phantom power
  3. Assuming that steps 1 & 2 worked, I'd make enough robust TA5M to locking 3.5mm TRS phone plug adaptor cables

1

u/caersuvia Jun 28 '26

Do I need VXLR Pro just to turn unbalanced signal to balanced?

1

u/NotYourGranddadsAI Jun 28 '26

The most important job of the Rode VXLR+ is to convert +48v phantom to the lower PiP voltage.

2

u/noetkoett Jun 28 '26

I'm not an electronics genius either but I think it should work - of course, it depends of course on the wiring of the cable.

Here are some of them wired for that purpose. https://www.ebay.com/itm/302741889297

2

u/GreatBoneStructure Jun 28 '26

You might need something called a “Eumel”. An adaptor that lets you hardwire a lav. I’ve used them with COS11’s and Countryman for years.

2

u/asquishyllama Jun 27 '26

I don’t know about other manufacturers but countryman has a guide on their site for how to wire each mic for any type of connector and transmitter

1

u/g_spaitz Jun 27 '26

Szjelen cables on AliExpress.

Thank me later!

1

u/caersuvia Jun 27 '26

I saw their "XLR 3Pin Male to TA5F" cable but I'm not sure if they regulate the phantom power to levels I want (1.3V-3.0V).

3

u/g_spaitz Jun 27 '26

A cable per se won't typically do anything to voltage.

I think you either need a preamp that can output bias current, or an adapter from phantom to bias and one from XLR to ta5.

Or spend the money for the real thing if it exist.

Have you looked around at circuits for phantom to bias? What do they look like?

1

u/caersuvia Jun 27 '26

Yes, I need a preamp and there's one actually but it's a little bit expensive. I was wondering if there's something I could buy or do for a fraction of a price.

What do they look like?

Honestly, I'm just not good at these things so for now I'm not touching anything without a clear guide on what to do.

1

u/g_spaitz Jun 27 '26

Many location sound preamps found on mixers/recorders, contrary to their studio counterparts, do offer the possibility to output 5v instead of 48. You need to investigate a little though.

1

u/caersuvia Jun 27 '26

I've Tascam Portacapure X8 that just lays down around which supports PiP on its 3.5mm TRS socket. Does it'll work with just a TA5M to 3.5mm adapter?

2

u/NotYourGranddadsAI Jun 28 '26

Does it'll work with just a TA5M to 3.5mm adapter?

I don't have direct experience with this exact combo, but from a good general knowledge of two-terminal electret mics and PiP powering, I'd say yes, if wired correctly. Note that recorder PiP inputs are stereo (Tip = left, Ring = right)