Newbie here, so sorry if I missed previous discussion on this topic. (Yes, it tried searching but didn’t find anything…)

I am working on a project to build a hand-held stereo sample recorder/player, and I thought it would be cool to start with a Zoom XYH-5 mic unit for the input. ?I like the idea of being to easily swap mics - in future I’d like to see if I can improve the performance of the H-5 with homemade mics. ?However, I have discovered that the interface is not simple - the mic assembly has built in pre-amps, and the ten element card edge connector seems to be doing more than just carrying audio and (maybe?) phantom power. ?

So, I am trying to figure out the best way to reverse engineer the interface between the mics and the recorder. ?Wondering if anyone here as already done this and/or has any pointers to Zoom technical docs? ?(Their tech support was decidedly unhelpful. I guess the slogan “we are for makers” doesn’t include hardware makers :-) )?

Thanks for any pointers!

John

Hi. Unless you already have a Zoom H5 or H6 recorder that you want to plug into, I would pick a common locking multi-pin connector - like an or the already mentioned 5-pin XLR, or similar, as the interface. If this was 20 years ago, I'd also suggest a 9 or 15 pin??, but they don't seem so common any more.

If you're still keen on the Zoom approach, maybe you could score a deal on a bricked Zoom H5 or 6 that someone's selling for parts. They don't like being dropped.... don't ask how I know this. That would give you parts and something sacrificial to reverse-engineer.

Thanks for the replies everyone.? Yes, I already have an "extra" XYH-5 capsule, so was hoping it would be easy to use... seems not.

Main reasons I wanted to go this route were:?

1) I'm already kind of out of my depth on the sampler part of the project, so wanted to use a "simple" approach for the mic.
2) I wanted an excuse to tear down the Zoom mic
3) I have a knack for making projects over complicated :-)

Seriously though, I do think the whole concept of making mic units interchangeable like camera lenses is pretty cool -- too bad Zoom is keeping the interface proprietary.

Based on the replies I'm going to proceed with the sampler part of the project using a simple mono mic until I get that part to where I want it.? Then I'll revisit a better mic implementation.

@Johan: about the project - I am trying to re-work a device called the MicroGranny -- it's a sampler that allows the samples to be manipulated with granular synthesis algorithms. The original is cool, but very lo-fi (8bit mono) and has a really clunky file management system due to the limitations of the hardware 10 years ago. (It was based on the Atmega chip - essentially an Arduino Uno.)

Cheers!

like an 'aircraft' connector ...
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I believe these are also called "Foster Plugs" and "Foster Jacks" - as in 4 or 8 pin Foster Jacks found on amateur radio transceivers. (I am NOT being critical - just giving another name that might make it easy to find and acquire same.) James

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I generally agree with everybody else's recommendations (ie: use something else) but I see the attraction of an "off-the-shelf" solution, especially since the mic preamps and gain control are built-in, and there's even a handy auto-switching 3.5mm socket for external mics. I have a lot of those Zoom mic modules (leftover from older Zoom H5 recorders that I sent back for free replacement because they got sticky and disgusting. Zoom told me to keep the accessories, and then sent new H5s with all the accessories!)

I did a similar teardown and tried to reverse-engineer the edge connector. I gave up, but discovered lots of clues along the way. I put the notes and pinout on my page of Zoom recorder tech info here:

If you decode any more mysteries, I'd be happy to hear about it and add some more detail to the website.

-Zach

... never heard of Foster plugs ...
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Wikipedia says this:

Multi-pin circular connector (Marushin, MCC, CBC series, Foster, GX-16)

First used in the 1970s by Japanese radio manufacturers as an alternative to the German DIN connector standard for microphone connectors on citizens band and amateur radio equipment, these screw-on circular connectors are available with 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8 pins. They are often used for other purposes as well, for example, 2-pin connectors used for DC power in 1970s Kenwood mobile radios and soldering stations from Eastern Asian manufacturers in the 1990s using the connector for the iron/hand piece.[1]

As reported by Philmore-Datel (LKG Industries of Rockford, Illinois), the American importer and distributor of these connectors, the original Japanese manufacturer, Foster, ceased production. Due to the loss of factories in the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, connector manufacturing moved from Japan to Taiwan and mainland China. Marushing Electric Mfg. Co., Ltd. in Kanagawa, Japan, the original 1950s producer of the connector type, still continues manufacturing.[2] Japanese communications equipment manufacturers such as Icom and Yaesu Musen have used Marushin connectors in their products.

These connectors are sold under a variety of generic names: CB connector, mobile connector, microphone connector, and power connector. Sometimes they are misidentified as XLR connectors.

Chinese mainland and Taiwan manufacturers adopted this connector as the GX16 (16 mm) for power and avionics usage. The Chinese GX series is used as a multi-voltage connector for soldering stations, avionics, marine equipment etc.

The manufacturer Renhotec has standardized the GX series in a variety of sizes named after the diameter of the connector (in mm): GX12, GX16, GX20, GX25, GX30, GX35, GX40.

Even though this circular connector is largely standardized, there is no industry standard for wiring or pin usage. The individual pin assignments to specific functions varies from manufacturer to manufacturer.

On Thu, Mar 7, 2024 at 05:14 PM, Richards wrote:

Wikipedia says this:

Multi-pin circular connector (Marushin, MCC, CBC series, Foster, GX-16)

Usually known as GX connectors.

GX12, 16 & 20, in reference to the external diameter.