I wrecked my new microphone!!

  • Thread starter Thread starter dainbramage
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dainbramage

dainbramage

Well-known member
I just managed to destroy my new z3300a microphone and I know pretty much nothing about electronics, soldering etc. I need help urgently. I was just ready to test a new mic position and started screwing the mic (no, not like that) until it kind of dissasembled. Then while struggling to reassemble it I managed to do this:

IMG_0131.webp

Now I know it is very important that those wires match in terms of ground, tip and sleeve. Please help me. God, how embarrasing. :facepalm:
 
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Another picture showing the inside of the connector more clearly.
IMG_0127.webp
 
I can't figure out which cable goes into which hole. Google doesn't seem to help, as people usually describe the colors red, black and blue, whereas mine are yellow, black and green. Any advice?
 
Hi.
Do you have a multimeter?
The ground lug will read continuity with the metal threading.

One of those wires (almost certainly black) will be ground.

It seems sensible enough that the two lugs with insulation would be for the signal wires (yellow and green), and the lug without would be ground, but I'd still want to check with a meter first.
With a dynamic I'd take a chance BUT DON'T where phantom power is involved.

If the above proves to be true, the orientation of the other two doesn't matter.
One way will be as it was and the other way will be 180 degrees (opposite polarity). No big deal.
Either use a plugin to compensate if you do it 'wrong', or just swap them after the fact.

To prove, just record your voice with this mic and another simultaneously. The combined recordings will be weak if the mics are out 180 degrees.
 
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Steenamaroo said:
Hi.
Do you have a multimeter?
The ground lug will read continuity with the metal threading.

One of those wires (almost certainly black) will be ground.

It seems sensible enough that the two lugs with insulation would be for the signal wires (yellow and green), and the lug without would be ground, but I'd still want to check with a meter first.
With a dynamic I'd take a chance BUT DON'T where phantom power is involved.

If the above proves to be true, the orientation of the other two doesn't matter.
One way will be as it was and the other way will be 180 degrees out of phase. No big deal.
Either use a plugin to compensate if you do it 'wrong', or just swap them after the fact.

To prove, just record your voice with this mic and another simultaneously. The combined recordings will be weak if the mics are out 180 degrees.
Click to expand...

Hey thanks. I do not have a multimeter, but perhaps a bigger problem now is that there appears to be two wires of each color hanging out. Does this mean I should solder them in pairs? I was thinking it may be that the wires have snapped in both ends.. Any idea?

As for the phase I suppose I could flip it on my preamp if I ever get as far as to fix this mic?
 
I'm not sure what you mean. Maybe you could do a close pic of the loose wire ends?
 
I would contact the Se warranty dept, it looks like a broken weld let this happen. They may give you a new mic.

Alan
 
oh wow, I thought there was threading where it has opened.

If that's a broken weld/glue seal, definitely follow Alan's advice.
 
Steenamaroo said:
I'm not sure what you mean. Maybe you could do a close pic of the loose wire ends?
Click to expand...

First of all, thanks for your help folks. The microphone is used (but new to me) and I do think I might have abused it a slight bit so I'm not sure about the warranty.. I guess I twisted it in the wrong place as I was hesitant to turn the microphone. That made it disassemble and I started twisting it some more trying to reassemble it. The XLR-connector is twistable, like a screw. Here are some more pics, they are a bit out of focus but should do the job.

Here are the pairs of wire sticking out. It is a bit hard to see but there are two blacks, two yellows and two greens. I am not counting the ones (black and yellow) that go across the foam.
IMG_0132.webp

A close-up on the XLR-connector. I can see the numbers 1,2,3 there so I should know which are tip, sleeve and ground on that side of the connection.
IMG_0133.webp
 
arcaxis said:
SE Electronics Z3300a
Click to expand...

In the link you posted there are a bunch of pictures of a disassembled z3300a and it looks to me like there are pairs of wire soldered in each of the insulated lugs. A lot of helpful pictures there. Thank you. I am however a complete newbie when it comes to electronics but I suppose I have some, but very little, experience with soldering wires.
 
Soldering is the way to go.

From that closer pic I'd say I was right.
The two lugs with insulation are for green/yellow.

The other one is definitely ground as it is tied to the chassis lug. That's what the solder bridge is.
( plus, the numbering gave it away a bit :p )

So black to chassis, yellows to one terminal, greens to the other.
If you can't solder, find a friend who can. It's a two minute job. :)
 
Steenamaroo said:
Soldering is the way to go.

From that closer pic I'd say I was right.
The two lugs with insulation are for green/yellow.

The other one is definitely ground as it is tied to the chassis lug. That's what the solder bridge is.
( plus, the numbering gave it away a bit :p )

So black to chassis, yellows to one terminal, greens to the other.
If you can't solder, find a friend who can. It's a two minute job. :)
Click to expand...

Awesome, I have arranged with someone who can do it. Thanks a lot, I really appreciate it.
 
No probs. Best of luck.
If that threaded XLR housing is broken from the chassis, try two part epoxy to set it back in place.

I used some a while ago to put a modern mic stand threaded insert in an sm56 base. That thing's never coming out!
 
There we are, all fixed! Thanks for great advice everybody.
 
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