Ion Action Camera External Mic Problem

[KruznW/Kev]

So I recently bought an Ion Speed Pro 2nd generation because it has an external mic outlet. Due to the fact that its a 2.5mm jack and pretty much no one makes 2.5mm microphones I bought a 3.5mm mic with the drift hd 3.5mm -> 2.5mm adapter. PROBLEM - When I connect the mic to the camera the sound just gets completely muted (no sound at all). I tested the mic and it works, ive swapped out the adapter 3 times, and Ive tried plugging in the mic with the camera off and with it turned on. Ive called Ion but they were ZERO help and kept blaming the mic and/or the adapter. Am I missing something here or is the camera just F&€ked up? BTW - for cool pics around the Boston, MA area check out Kruznwithkev on Instagram!

 

[SalvageSV]

Two things:

First, many Bluetooth headset mics are 2.5mm. Look at the 20s mics from Sena for a good option.

Second, it could very well be an adapter issue. Is the adapter a standard mono or stereo mic/headphone adapter, or one for like a mic/headset combo cable?

Audio cable have either one or two black strips on the plug. One strip is mono (one signal and ground) and two strips is stereo (two signals and ground) .

The plug for like an iPhone headset or similar has three black strips as it carries three signals. The problem with using that kind of adapter is the extra signal connection. That may cause the ground to not connect properly with a mono or stereo cable causing it to not work.

So, make sure the connections on the adapter match the cable.

 

[SalvageSV]

Also, you could solder a 2.5mm on the mic.

 

[RoadSprock]

I would of thought adapter issues to be fair, either cheaply China made or as @MattW said mono/stereo compatibility issues.

 

[Reize]

Adaptor issues are common. My old Contour +2 also used a 2.5mm jack which I had to apply an adaptor to. Eventually it stopped recording sound and I boiled it down to either the jack or the adaptor failing, although the camera and its' internal mic continued to work.

But I decided to fuck it and buy a Drift Ghost S with a 3.5 mm jack instead since it would serve me better in the long run to just use a camera with a 3.5mm jack with which I could just plug a 3.5mm mic to, so I'd know straight away which one was the problem, and it's less hassle anyway.

If I were you, i'd just relegate the Ion to backup and insurance duty and just buy another cam with a 3.5mm jack.

 

[KruznW/Kev]

Two things:

First, many Bluetooth headset mics are 2.5mm. Look at the 20s mics from Sena for a good option.

Second, it could very well be an adapter issue. Is the adapter a standard mono or stereo mic/headphone adapter, or one for like a mic/headset combo cable?

Audio cable have either one or two black strips on the plug. One strip is mono (one signal and ground) and two strips is stereo (two signals and ground) .

The plug for like an iPhone headset or similar has three black strips as it carries three signals. The problem with using that kind of adapter is the extra signal connection. That may cause the ground to not connect properly with a mono or stereo cable causing it to not work.

So, make sure the connections on the adapter match the cable.

So I bought a Gopro microphone and instead of using their adapter which is a micro usb, I used a Drift 3.5 to 2.5 adapter. The male part on the adapter has one black ring and the gopro microphone male part has 3 rings... both are for action cams so im confused.

 

[SalvageSV]

So I bought a Gopro microphone and instead of using their adapter which is a micro usb, I used a Drift 3.5 to 2.5 adapter. The male part on the adapter has one black ring and the gopro microphone male part has 3 rings... both are for action cams so im confused.

The adapter sounds right as many have verified that the Drift input is mono.

I don't know why the GoPro mic would have 4 connections. At most a mic should only have 3 ... left, right, ground.

A plug like that could work though, as it's all to do with the ground connector location in the adapter and how the mic is wired. The left and right connections are in a standard location on all of the plugs. It's those last two that cause trouble. The mic's ground has to connect to the adapter ground. So, if the ground touches the right part of the plug, it'll work. If it touches the wrong part then it won't ground.

I don't know what to tell you without having it in my hands.