Line out to mic in, Attenuating Cord?

ssmacc

ssmacc

ssmacc

Soldato
Joined
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Macclesfield
I’d like to record my electric drum kit on my Camcorder, I have a mic in and a line out from my V Drums (well it will be a line out from my PC) I’ve done some reading and I know I need a “Attenuating Cord“ to reduce the line out..problem is I can’t seem to find one that will do the job, can anyone please point me in the right direction?

Any advice appreciated
 
20 quid a piece! You could build 5 for that, less if you have cables lying around that you can butcher. They'll be a simple l pad attenuator inside.
 
Once I'm back at my desk later I will, got any specs of the hardware in question?

The cheapest option will be a single level one, but I'll dig around the RS website and think about a multi-level version. Be warned, they won't be as elegant as the pre-made ones, btu they will be cheapy cheap!
 
Sorry don't know the specs, the hardware is:

ASUS DS Sound card (output)

Panasonic HDC-SD90 (mic in)

Cheers,
 
L-pad.png

Schematic
Switch.png

Switch Pinout

Switch: http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/toggle-switches/1900664/

1k8 Resistor: http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/through-hole-fixed-resistors/7077688/ You need 4, but you have to buy 10.

220 Resistor: http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/through-hole-fixed-resistors/7077612/ You need 4, but you have to buy 10

Enclosure: http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/general-purpose-enclosures/5135353/

Total parts bill, £5!

You will need to double check your 3.5mm cable, but they are generally wired Tip-Left, Ring-Right, Sleeve Ground.

The attenuator is directional, so the "IN and "OUT" connections need to be correct. IF you get it backwards, then it wont attenuate the signal. The switch changes from 15db to 20db. There is no 0db/passthrough mode the way I've laid it out.

The enclosure is obviously up to you, but it's the neatest way I could think of when incorporating a switch. If you just want one fixed level of attenuation, then you could do it carefully in line with the cable and heatshrinking over it. It would look a little bulky, but it would work.

Any questions, let me know.

(Standard internet disclaimer) I take no responsibility for what may happen if you build it wrong or anything blows up. I have built a mono, single level one up just now to test the theory.
 
If the audio is coming from a computer, or even from a V drums module, why not record on the PC itself and then just match the audio and video up when editing. If you are doing single takes it won't be too hard to match up, obviously lots of small takes will be more of a hassle, although if you at least shoot and record it as a single long video and audio you can match it up once and then do the editing afterwards.

This will also be far better quality as you will add quite a bit of noise having a hot signal, attenuating it, then amplifying it again!
 
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