Another Idiot Question, How is a XLR audio cable wired?

[alexis]

Ok, so I have an AT3035 going to my Studio Tube MP Tube Pre-Amp. They are connected with my Chinese made(I currently live in PRC) XLR wire. I have not been able to get a signal on my preamp from the Mic. I tried a cheap dynamic, and the VU on the preamp is reading a signal, so I now know the preamp is working. So either I have troubles with the XLR cable or the Mic, which is brand new out of the box. My gut is telling me the cable is wired wrong for what I am using it for, so I took it apart to see whats going on.
There are three basic wired a red, black, and a naked copper wire. The red and black are joined together at the second terminal, while the naked copper wire is connected to the first terminal. Another wire connects the first and third only.
Is this cable wired to support a condensor mic requiring phantom power? If not how would I do this? Have I possibly damaged my mic by plugging it into this and turning the phantom power on?
Oh, by the way, I have received more useful help here than from calling tech support with the manufacturers. Thanks for all your help in assisting this newbie.

 

[bennychico11]

throw that cable away (or at least mark is as unbalanced)
that's probably what your problem is.
Positive (red) wire should be soldered to pin 2
Negative (black or white) should be soldered to pin 3
And ground (the bare copper wire) to pin one.
Same thing with the other end of the cable.
Your condenser isn't getting 48V to it since pin #3 is wired to ground.

 

[reshp1]

Benny is right. Chances are you haven't damaged anything though (keep fingers crossed). There's current limiting resistors in the preamp that should keep you from frying things. Besides, it looks like the 2 - 48V phantom carrying leads (red and black) are wired together so the mic is being biased with the right voltage, but the black and red signals are just cancelling out.
Get a good XLR cable wired like this,
http://www.faqs.org/faqs/theatre/stagecraft/faq/section-25.html
and you should still be good to go.
By the way, which part of PRC are you from? I'm from Kumming originally.