Forum: music.stackexchange.com
Tags: <recording><homerecording>
Title: Will an XLR female to 1/4" TRS plug work to connect a dynamic microphone?
Question: Can a XLR female to 1/4 inch adapter give power like a XLR input.  I want to record dynamic mics into an line input. Will a TRS 1/4 inch cable give same level signal as xlr audio input.

Answers:
sents: text: Sorry, No You won't be able to get a good recording of a microphone in a line level input.
text: That's because microphones put out a very low level mic level signal that has to be amplified up to line level using a mic preamp .
text: Without a mic preamp, it doesn't matter what cables you use, the signal level will be too low.
text: What you can do is use a transformer like the image below and plug the mic into an XLR cable, then plug the other end of the cable into the transformer, and plug the transformer into any instrument input.
text: Instrument inputs are what guitar amps have and are often found on audio interfaces and on some mixers.
text: The type of cable used to carry an audio signal has no effect on the level of that signal.
text: You can apply mic/instrument level signals to 1/4" TS, 1/4" TRS, or XLR cables and connectors.
text: You can also apply line level signals to 1/4" TS, 1/4" TRS, or XLR cables and connectors.
text: You can but shouldn't apply speaker level signals to 1/4" TRS or XLR cables and connectors.
text: You should only use speaker cable (which has to large gauge stranded wires in it, and no shield) terminated with 1/4" TS connectors or Neutrik Speakon connectors or spade lugs or banana lugs or in the worst case scenario bare wires (don't use bare wires with high powered PA amplifiers).
answer_details: author: music.stackexchange.com/users/6070/Todd Wilcox
score: 2
sents: text: If your recording device only has 1/4" inputs, then your best option would be to purchase an inexpensive mic preamp.
text: The output of the preamp will be at line level which you can record via 1/4".
text: The Art Tube MP preamp is going for $40 at Musicians Friend and it includes a 1/4" output.
text: ART Tube MP Studio Mic Preamp
text: You could probably find one even cheaper if you are willing to buy used.
answer_details: author: music.stackexchange.com/users/24430/Tekkerue
score: 2
sents: text: At one venue I use, I normally have an SM58 going straight into an XLR on the p.a.
text: Recently, there's been a different head with only jacks.
text: I made up a lead between XLR and jack (male) which goes straight into the new head - it sounds better in the 'low' impedance socket - but it would, being a low impedance mic.
text: Don't know about TRS jack plugs, though - they usually get used with stereo.
text: Just thought - a different venue with a Bose p.a. has XLR, and for this I made up a TRS to canon (XLR) lead, to plug in a (stereo) keyboard.
text: This has all 3 pins on XLR connected to all 3 contacts on the TRS - all separate of course!
text: That works fine too.
text: Perhaps you can say what the application is to be used for.
text: Several different come to mind, and will require different wiring.
answer_details: author: music.stackexchange.com/users/2808/Tim
score: 1
sents: text: For one thing, everything between the source of the sound and the device recording it adds interference/lowers the quality of the signal.
text: This includes an adaptor.
text: If you want a good quality signal, get or make the right cable and also add a pre-amp because phantom power on a DI box or mixer will probably not cut the mustard.
text: For mics I would never suggest any connection type other than XLR to XLR.
text: A good quality recording device will have XLR in and so will the pre-amp.
answer_details: author: music.stackexchange.com/users/47316/Anj Avraam
score: 1
sents: text: You'll either need a preamp or you could consider a USB mic which is the easiest way, though divides opinion when it comes to sound quality.
answer_details: author: music.stackexchange.com/users/47336/Tim
score: 1
sents: text: First off, I know this is a year and a half late.
text: Second, the microphone is what determines the signal strength, not the cable.
text: All microphones I've seen have a mic level output.
text: Also, XLR can carry a line-level signal, and TS/TRS/TRRS/TRRRS can carry a mic-level signal.
text: Next, I'm assuming you wanted an XLR to TS
text: (Tip-Sleeve) cable, even though you said "TRS."
text: (Tip-Ring-Sleeve).
text: I'm assuming this because most people, when they use a balanced signal, will use XLR.
text: An XLR to TS cable will actually convert it into a half mic-level signal.
text: That's because XLR is balanced (one of the audio signals (the one on your right when looking at the socket, your left when looking at the plug) is initially inverted, and is reinverted (so now no longer inverted), and any noise picked up is cancelled out thanks to interference), and TS is not.
text: You'd lose one of the signals, since it goes to the ground, instead.
answer_details: author: music.stackexchange.com/users/61366/x Hades Stamps
score: 1

Summary of the answers:
For a TRS 1/4 inch cable to give the same level signal as xlr audio input, you'll either need a preamp or you could consider a  USB mic  which is the easiest way, though divides opinion when it comes to sound quality. The microphone is what determines the signal strength, not the cable. All microphones have a mic level output.
The microphone is what determines the signal strength, not the cable