I have sort of a problem. I have a sony cyber shot DSC-S950 camera, I want to try to get into motovlogging. While mounting the camera will prove to be a challenge, I have some ideas. Problem is, The camera doesn't have any hookup for a mic, it does have some built in. I was wondering If there might be some way to tap into the built in microphone, and wire a jack outside the camera? I don't care how it looks, just that it works.
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Does anyone have a strong electrical knowledge?
- Thread starter J_Walker
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What do you need as a result?
The build in mic is most likely a tiny electret microphone which is then amplified.
And, since I don't have that camera nor opened one similar to yours, I can only assume;
but if it is it will be soldered to the pcb with very small cables, it is in fact really easy to tap into those cables and attach (with a similar small pair of cables) an outlet of some sort.
But this will cause two problems
1) the output signal is extremely weak (.5mV or something) AND
2) it's very sensible to feedback, if you by accident add greater voltage to those lines (pre amplified mic for example) you can seriously damage the amplifier of the camera, rendering it useless for any further audio recording.
So, best way is to detect the amplifier and attach said pair of small cables you need BEHIND that.
You can simply add those cables to the original solder, that's fast, easy and reliable.
To know what's "behind" the amplifier you can either trace the lines (hard work, most of which google searches to identify the parts) or you can try to find the repair manual and hope it comes with a detailed pcb scheme.
what are you intending to do with the audio in port?
Maybe someone will know an easier approach.
'sid
The build in mic is most likely a tiny electret microphone which is then amplified.
And, since I don't have that camera nor opened one similar to yours, I can only assume;
but if it is it will be soldered to the pcb with very small cables, it is in fact really easy to tap into those cables and attach (with a similar small pair of cables) an outlet of some sort.
But this will cause two problems
1) the output signal is extremely weak (.5mV or something) AND
2) it's very sensible to feedback, if you by accident add greater voltage to those lines (pre amplified mic for example) you can seriously damage the amplifier of the camera, rendering it useless for any further audio recording.
So, best way is to detect the amplifier and attach said pair of small cables you need BEHIND that.
You can simply add those cables to the original solder, that's fast, easy and reliable.
To know what's "behind" the amplifier you can either trace the lines (hard work, most of which google searches to identify the parts) or you can try to find the repair manual and hope it comes with a detailed pcb scheme.
what are you intending to do with the audio in port?
Maybe someone will know an easier approach.
'sid
xXPhasemanXx
Newb
Unless you know what your doing with soldering and desoldering. I would recommend you buy a totally new camera that can use a mic because you could destroy (And by destroy, I mean render useless) the whole circuit board by soldering over more than one wire. Especially with these kind of circuitboards. Tear down the camera and show some pics as to what you're looking at.
Okay, here's the pictures, I have it down to the board pretty much, I can go a bit further, is this what you're asking for? I'm pretty sure the little black device on the 3rd picture [top view] is the speaker.. [red and black wire] the fourth picture, bottom of it, there's a red/white/brown wire.. I'm assuming that's the mic hook up? and if that's so.. Couldn't I just tap into the red/white/brown wire that goes into that little white connector?.. It's okay If I render the default camera mic useless, as long as I have an wired external mic. by the way, I'm not really concerned messing up this camera - long story short, its pretty much a "throw away camera" because the battery charger was missing [rigged up a charger for it...] so a friend just gave it to me.
Never mind, just looked at it closer, and saw the red/white/brown wire is the main power...
Eh, looking at it further, yeah.. it'd be better off find a camera with a microphone attachment already built in.. For now, ill try to mount it inside my helmet or something... 0_o I'm not really a camera guy.. so looking on craigslist is kind of pointless as of right now, without knowing what I'm looking for.
Never mind, just looked at it closer, and saw the red/white/brown wire is the main power...
Eh, looking at it further, yeah.. it'd be better off find a camera with a microphone attachment already built in.. For now, ill try to mount it inside my helmet or something... 0_o I'm not really a camera guy.. so looking on craigslist is kind of pointless as of right now, without knowing what I'm looking for.
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xXPhasemanXx
Newb
Before you can even think of hooking up an external mic the another mic, you need to locate the proper wires that actually connect to the mic (Assuming there are any wires, it may just be a circuit board). Is that the mic in the top left on the third picture or on the bottom right in the first picture? It's hard to tell when the camera is taken apart like that.
Top left picture, the silver thing, its round.. that's the mic I assume. Its connect VIA Pins to a... Dammit cant remember the name of it, the freaking ribbons with the metal printed on them.. That you use to see a lot in older hardware.. Has 4 pins each soldered to the ribbon thing.. I'm not attempting anything because for one, its to late, and I'm tired.. and Two, I'd rather use a "cold" soldering iron, as my hot one would melt the plastic. plus I don't got a small enough tip.
xXPhasemanXx
Newb
Yes you would have to use a cold soldering iron. I can't tell from the picture, what about separating the ribbons to make individual wires and solder the mic you want onto the correct wires after you remove a selection of insulation? Once that's done, you can simply electrical tape the remaining un-insulated wire, or even insulate another way. Just be sure to get a correct type of microphone.
four line flat ribbon cable?
The mic needs two... what's the other pair for?
(stereo mics come with three connections)
Or are two of the lines bridged at one end of the cable?
Any controllable soldering iron (I have one of the cheapest $22 new) can get low enough for a quick soldering of the "golden" flat ribbon cables (it fails most of the time on green ones for some reason... my fault maybe)
Anyways... you can find almost any pitch in flat ribbon cables at digikey in almost any length, and some come with through hole connectors, so you can easily extend the cable, and use the through holes to connect the wires you need.
you might also want to check if there are any terminals for your pitch and count.
That way you can easily disconnect any AddOn and reconnect it any AddOn as often you like without de/re/soldering it
'sid
The mic needs two... what's the other pair for?
(stereo mics come with three connections)
Or are two of the lines bridged at one end of the cable?
Any controllable soldering iron (I have one of the cheapest $22 new) can get low enough for a quick soldering of the "golden" flat ribbon cables (it fails most of the time on green ones for some reason... my fault maybe)
Anyways... you can find almost any pitch in flat ribbon cables at digikey in almost any length, and some come with through hole connectors, so you can easily extend the cable, and use the through holes to connect the wires you need.
you might also want to check if there are any terminals for your pitch and count.
That way you can easily disconnect any AddOn and reconnect it any AddOn as often you like without de/re/soldering it
'sid
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