Anything Wrong With this Stereo to Mono setup?

[Hacdrag]

I have a setup that is functional. I'm just wondering whether anything is off about the audio quality of the WAV files. If not, I'd like to know why this works.

This is my setup:

Tascam DR-05X - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07YFM6ZCZ/

I connect it to a RODE Video Micro Microphone - https://www.amazon.com/Rode-VideoMicro-Compact-Camera-Microphone/dp/B015R0IQGW.

I don't like the short mono TRS cable the RODE device came with, and I can't find any longer mono TRS cables, so I setup the devices with a stereo 3.5 mm cable -
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00NO73MUQ/. In order to match the genders, I have a stereo gender changer:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08137TXV2/.

This is my exact setup:

I plug one end of the male 3.5 mm stereo cord into the Tascam's Mic/Ext in port, and the other male end into the gender changer. One male end of the short mono 3.5 mm cable that came with the Rode device goes into that microphone, and the other end goes into the other female end of the gender changer.

I set the Tascam to record mono. The resultant WAV files are mono, and they play from both my left and right speakers.

I'm glad this all appears to work out but have a few questions:

Is anything about the WAV files lesser quality with my setup, than had I used the original, short, mono TRS cable that came with the RODE device to connect to the Tascam? If not, then please explain why this setup works perfectly.

Thanks

 

[For The Popcorn]

It should work fine. The stereo cable just has an extra conductor which isn't connected for mono.

 

[Nigel Goodwin]

The Rode microphone uses a stereo lead anyway - the ring is presumably used for power to the microphone - and the Tascam can be set to provide power out the microphone socket - from what I can tell, on both tip and ring, but presumably the Rode microphone is designed to accept that.

So nothing wrong, you're using a stereo (TRS) lead on something that requires a stereo (TRS) lead. If you used a mono (TS) lead it 'probably' wouldn't work?.

 

[eTech]

I have a setup that is functional. I'm just wondering whether anything is off about the audio quality of the WAV files. If not, I'd like to know why this works.

This is my setup:

Tascam DR-05X - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07YFM6ZCZ/

I connect it to a RODE Video Micro Microphone - https://www.amazon.com/Rode-VideoMicro-Compact-Camera-Microphone/dp/B015R0IQGW.

I don't like the short mono TRS cable the RODE device came with, and I can't find any longer mono TRS cables, so I setup the devices with a stereo 3.5 mm cable -
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00NO73MUQ/. In order to match the genders, I have a stereo gender changer:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08137TXV2/.

This is my exact setup:

I plug one end of the male 3.5 mm stereo cord into the Tascam's Mic/Ext in port, and the other male end into the gender changer. One male end of the short mono 3.5 mm cable that came with the Rode device goes into that microphone, and the other end goes into the other female end of the gender changer.

I set the Tascam to record mono. The resultant WAV files are mono, and they play from both my left and right speakers.

I'm glad this all appears to work out but have a few questions:

Is anything about the WAV files lesser quality with my setup, than had I used the original, short, mono TRS cable that came with the RODE device to connect to the Tascam? If not, then please explain why this setup works perfectly.

Thanks

For all intents and purposes, the MIC has a two channel mono audio output.
The recorder has a two channel stereo input.
Your connection should work and shouldn't affect the audio quality, but the recording will be monophonic audio (unless the MIC outputs stereo audio).

 

[Hacdrag]

For all intents and purposes, the MIC has a two channel mono audio output.
The recorder has a two channel stereo input.
Your connection should work and shouldn't affect the audio quality, but the recording will be monophonic audio (unless the MIC outputs stereo audio).

Ty - I'm fine with mono. I'm using the setup to record bird calls. No need for stereo.

 

[Hacdrag]

The Rode microphone uses a stereo lead anyway - the ring is presumably used for power to the microphone - and the Tascam can be set to provide power out the microphone socket - from what I can tell, on both tip and ring, but presumably the Rode microphone is designed to accept that.

So nothing wrong, you're using a stereo (TRS) lead on something that requires a stereo (TRS) lead. If you used a mono (TS) lead it 'probably' wouldn't work?.

Ty - No batteries on the Rode microphone, so if must be getting powered by the Tascam.

 

[Hacdrag]

The Rode microphone uses a stereo lead anyway - the ring is presumably used for power to the microphone - and the Tascam can be set to provide power out the microphone socket - from what I can tell, on both tip and ring, but presumably the Rode microphone is designed to accept that.

So nothing wrong, you're using a stereo (TRS) lead on something that requires a stereo (TRS) lead. If you used a mono (TS) lead it 'probably' wouldn't work?.

It doesn't work with a mono (TS) lead, but it does work with a longer single stereo (TRS) male to male cable, without connecting the setup to the original Rode cabling with a coupler, so I it looks like the stereo ring indeed powers the microphone.

 

[Nigel Goodwin]

It doesn't work with a mono (TS) lead, but it does work with a longer single stereo (TRS) male to male cable, without connecting the setup to the original Rode cabling with a coupler, so I it looks like the stereo ring indeed powers the microphone.

As I said, it needs a stereo (TRS) lead in order to power it.