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Small parts gold plating
I'm into amateur sound recordings using electret microphones. These require
a low voltage, ~ 2.2v, which is supplied by the camcorder or Minidisc recorder via the signal lead. Consequently for low noise recordings it is essential that the 3.5mm plugs and sockets between the microphone and recorder aren't suffering from handling noise caused by oxide on the contacts. Where possible I've obtained gold-plated plugs from headphone leads, but the choice on offer* doesn't cover my precise configuration, and I do get handling noise. (*I've looked at CPC-Farnell, Maplin & RS websites recently.) Can anyone recommend a UK based gold plating service which might be able to plate the nickel(?) coated plugs and sockets which I can obtain easily. And at a reasonable price for very small numbers. Thanks in adavance -- M Stewart Milton Keynes, UK -- Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com |
Small parts gold plating
Malcolm Stewart wrote:
I'm into amateur sound recordings using electret microphones. These require a low voltage, ~ 2.2v, which is supplied by the camcorder or Minidisc recorder via the signal lead. Consequently for low noise recordings it is essential that the 3.5mm plugs and sockets between the microphone and recorder aren't suffering from handling noise caused by oxide on the contacts. Where possible I've obtained gold-plated plugs from headphone leads, but the choice on offer* doesn't cover my precise configuration, and I do get handling noise. (*I've looked at CPC-Farnell, Maplin & RS websites recently.) Can anyone recommend a UK based gold plating service which might be able to plate the nickel(?) coated plugs and sockets which I can obtain easily. And at a reasonable price for very small numbers. Thanks in adavance Try your local jeweller, not high street chain..... Joules |
Small parts gold plating
Malcolm Stewart wrote:
I'm into amateur sound recordings using electret microphones. These require a low voltage, ~ 2.2v, which is supplied by the camcorder or Minidisc recorder via the signal lead. Consequently for low noise recordings it is essential that the 3.5mm plugs and sockets between the microphone and recorder aren't suffering from handling noise caused by oxide on the contacts. Where possible I've obtained gold-plated plugs from headphone leads, but the choice on offer* doesn't cover my precise configuration, and I do get handling noise. (*I've looked at CPC-Farnell, Maplin & RS websites recently.) I'm just wondering whether what you need is a low-noise cable, rather than gold-plated plugs - something like RS stock no. 367-296, perhaps. -- Andy |
Small parts gold plating
"Malcolm Stewart" wrote in message .. . I'm into amateur sound recordings using electret microphones. These require a low voltage, ~ 2.2v, which is supplied by the camcorder or Minidisc recorder via the signal lead. Consequently for low noise recordings it is essential that the 3.5mm plugs and sockets between the microphone and recorder aren't suffering from handling noise caused by oxide on the contacts. Where possible I've obtained gold-plated plugs from headphone leads, but the choice on offer* doesn't cover my precise configuration, and I do get handling noise. (*I've looked at CPC-Farnell, Maplin & RS websites recently.) Can anyone recommend a UK based gold plating service which might be able to plate the nickel(?) coated plugs and sockets which I can obtain easily. And at a reasonable price for very small numbers. Thanks in adavance -- M Stewart Milton Keynes, UK I recently had some clock parts gold plated by Premier Plating of High Wycombe. Excellent job and reasonable price. Not too much of a trek from MK but could perhaps be done by mail. HTH Nick. |
Small parts gold plating
The message
from Andy Wade contains these words: I'm just wondering whether what you need is a low-noise cable, rather than gold-plated plugs - something like RS stock no. 367-296, perhaps. How about a soldering iron. Just solder the wires on each time - it'll be better than any connector. -- Skipweasel Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain. |
Small parts gold plating
On Mon, 25 Sep 2006 16:40:16 +0100, "Malcolm Stewart"
wrote: Can anyone recommend a UK based gold plating service which might be able to plate the nickel(?) coated plugs and sockets which I can obtain easily. And at a reasonable price for very small numbers. -- M Stewart Milton Keynes, UK Try http://www.auric.co.uk/ or http://www.twickenham.co.uk/ I've used both of them for commercial gold plating over nickel on automotive electronic connector jobs, the spec. for which was 0.75microns nickel hardened gold over 1.25-2.25 microns sulphate nickel. This gave a good hard wearing contact surface. Peter |
Small parts gold plating
In article ,
Malcolm Stewart wrote: I'm into amateur sound recordings using electret microphones. These require a low voltage, ~ 2.2v, which is supplied by the camcorder or Minidisc recorder via the signal lead. Consequently for low noise recordings it is essential that the 3.5mm plugs and sockets between the microphone and recorder aren't suffering from handling noise caused by oxide on the contacts. Where possible I've obtained gold-plated plugs from headphone leads, but the choice on offer* doesn't cover my precise configuration, and I do get handling noise. They are the spawn of the devil, those mini-jacks. I'd just keep a can of cleaner/contact treatment like Electrolube handy. You're likely to get handling noise off the cable too. It's for a good reason 'proper' mics are low impedance balanced and use XLRs. I modified my portable MiniDisc by hard wiring onto the PCB and having a flying XLR lead. -- *Reality? Is that where the pizza delivery guy comes from? Dave Plowman London SW To e-mail, change noise into sound. |
Small parts gold plating
On Mon, 25 Sep 2006 19:13:13 +0100, "Dave Plowman (News)"
wrote: In article , Malcolm Stewart wrote: I'm into amateur sound recordings using electret microphones. These require a low voltage, ~ 2.2v, which is supplied by the camcorder or Minidisc recorder via the signal lead. Consequently for low noise recordings it is essential that the 3.5mm plugs and sockets between the microphone and recorder aren't suffering from handling noise caused by oxide on the contacts. Where possible I've obtained gold-plated plugs from headphone leads, but the choice on offer* doesn't cover my precise configuration, and I do get handling noise. They are the spawn of the devil, those mini-jacks. I'd just keep a can of cleaner/contact treatment like Electrolube handy. You're likely to get handling noise off the cable too. It's for a good reason 'proper' mics are low impedance balanced and use XLRs. I modified my portable MiniDisc by hard wiring onto the PCB and having a flying XLR lead. Cheapskate! Use Lemo's :-) Mark Rand RTFM |
Small parts gold plating
"Malcolm Stewart" wrote in
message news:4517ec13$0$19707 Can anyone recommend a UK based gold plating service which might be able to plate the nickel(?) coated plugs and sockets which I can obtain easily. And at a reasonable price for very small numbers. Whatever you can do to the plug, the socket inside the camcorder or Minidisc recorder is always going to be crap. As other's have said, if you're serious you need XLR connectors for mic's. Greg |
Small parts gold plating
Guy King wrote:
How about a soldering iron. Just solder the wires on each time - it'll be better than any connector. Slightly inconvenient and may not cure the problem if is is due to cable microphony. Good to do once though to prove the point one way or the other. -- Andy |
Small parts gold plating
In article ,
Mark Rand wrote: It's for a good reason 'proper' mics are low impedance balanced and use XLRs. I modified my portable MiniDisc by hard wiring onto the PCB and having a flying XLR lead. Cheapskate! Use Lemo's :-) ;-) Cost more than the recorder... -- *If at first you do succeed, try not to look too astonished. Dave Plowman London SW To e-mail, change noise into sound. |
Small parts gold plating
"Malcolm Stewart" wrote in message .. . I'm into amateur sound recordings using electret microphones. These require a low voltage, ~ 2.2v, which is supplied by the camcorder or Minidisc recorder via the signal lead. Consequently for low noise recordings it is essential that the 3.5mm plugs and sockets between the microphone and recorder aren't suffering from handling noise caused by oxide on the contacts. Where possible I've obtained gold-plated plugs from headphone leads, but the choice on offer* doesn't cover my precise configuration, and I do get handling noise. (*I've looked at CPC-Farnell, Maplin & RS websites recently.) Try a Google on electroless gold. Used to do it ages ago on small microwave assemblies. John |
Small parts gold plating
Malcolm Stewart wrote:
I'm into amateur sound recordings using electret microphones. These require a low voltage, ~ 2.2v, which is supplied by the camcorder or Minidisc recorder via the signal lead. Consequently for low noise recordings it is essential that the 3.5mm plugs and sockets between the microphone and recorder aren't suffering from handling noise caused by oxide on the contacts. Where possible I've obtained gold-plated plugs from headphone leads, but the choice on offer* doesn't cover my precise configuration, and I do get handling noise. (*I've looked at CPC-Farnell, Maplin & RS websites recently.) Can anyone recommend a UK based gold plating service which might be able to plate the nickel(?) coated plugs and sockets which I can obtain easily. And at a reasonable price for very small numbers. Thanks in adavance Your really chasing something that you'll only catch by getting rid of the 3.5s altogether imho. 3.5 jacks are simply not a system thats upto it, for a number of reasons. Youve got small contact areas Whatever plug you use, youve got a consumer grade socket in the chain due to small plug size, cable handling puts a relatively high forces on the jack and its connection points Youve got plugs with a central pin pressed onto the lug, and some come loose youve got at best physically weak assemblies and so on. Its not gonna work, pull out the 3.5 socket and mount something decent on there. 1/4" jacks might be sufficient, but XLR and a balanced mic would be much better. I have worked on recording studio equipment but not a lot. NT |
Small parts gold plating
"Malcolm Stewart" wrote in
message .. . I'm into amateur sound recordings using electret microphones. These require a low voltage, ~ 2.2v, which is supplied by the camcorder or Minidisc recorder via the signal lead. Consequently for low noise recordings it is essential that the 3.5mm plugs and sockets between the microphone and recorder aren't suffering from handling noise caused by oxide on the contacts. Where possible I've obtained gold-plated plugs from headphone leads, but the choice on offer* doesn't cover my precise configuration, and I do get handling noise. (*I've looked at CPC-Farnell, Maplin & RS websites recently.) Can anyone recommend a UK based gold plating service which might be able to plate the nickel(?) coated plugs and sockets which I can obtain easily. And at a reasonable price for very small numbers. Thanks in adavance Many thanks for all the suggestions. Company names (which didn't turn up in my Google search) etc. have been noted. The handling noise only occurs occasionally and is not caused by the Yoga electret microphone cables (I've just checked this specifically.) I do have an XLR connector lying around and it's about 1/3 the size of my Minidisc recorder, so not really suitable for this application. I've tried applying a drop of Electrolube switch-cleaner to the noisy connectors, and after being exercised for a short time, the handling noise disappears. Period. However, I expect it will be back when the chemical has dried out, so gold plating would probably be the long term answer. There's no audible noise from gold-plated plug contact against gold plated socket. -- M Stewart Milton Keynes, UK -- Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com |
Small parts gold plating
No-one seems to have expressed any concern that the OP wants to gold
plate his small parts. NT |
Small parts gold plating
Malcolm Stewart wrote:
I've tried applying a drop of Electrolube switch-cleaner to the noisy connectors, and after being exercised for a short time, the handling noise disappears. Period. However, I expect it will be back when the chemical has dried out, so gold plating would probably be the long term answer. There's no audible noise from gold-plated plug contact against gold plated socket. There used to be some products often recommended in the sci.electronics newsgroups - Tweek and De-Oxit, I think. These were some sort of contact enhancer rather than the solvent/lubricant that electrolube use, and were particularly popular with the hifi crowd. Might be worth a try if you can source some. -adrian |
Small parts gold plating
wrote in message ps.com... No-one seems to have expressed any concern that the OP wants to gold plate his small parts. NT Well as true Engineers, we don't have small parts, so probably have no comment G AWEM |
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