Can 2.46 volts kill an iPod? (line level to mic input test)

Kodak's new Zi8, arriving September 1st, will be the first pocket-size camcorder with a stereo external microphone input. It appears to use the Sony "plug-in power" type which provides DC power through the mic jack to power a condenser mic. But will it also be compatible with line-level audio sources, despite this DC voltage? I test it by using my iPod Shuffle with the powered mic jack of my Sony MiniDisc recorder.

Kodak's demo of using the Zi8 with an external Sony mic: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbAs2juHmFc

Demo of using the Zi8 with a wireless mic: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73xQeqCXbuQ

Using the same GE microphone I use in my video with an Aiptek Action GVS, another small camcorder with an external mic input: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXr3L09DPbM

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• kodak
• zi8
• pocket
• size
• digital
• video
• camera
• camcorder
• external
• mic
• mike
• microphone
• stereo
• mono
• input
• output
• jack
• plug
• plug-in
• power
• powered
• sony
• dc
• voltage
• line
• level
• aux
• headphone
• earphone
• apple
• ipod
• shuffle
• dane
• mp3
• player
• ge
• g.e.
• pc
• boomstick
• minidisc
• md
• recorder
• walkman

[radar3699]

boring as heck

[vwestlife]

@radar3699 Thanks for watching! :-)

[chrischoy9]

bare in mind that ipod shuffle supports 5V and 1Am max shown under the shuffle's clip (2nd gen ipod shuffle).

And about the $10 MP3, does it use the plug that the cell phone uses?

[vwestlife]

Yes, the iPod charges through USB, which provides 5 volts at a maximum of 500 mA (0.5 Amps).

The cheapo MP3 player uses a 2.5 mm jack, a.k.a. 3/32", which is the same size used by cell phones.

[jjred86]

I just bought an old 80's boombox with an ext mic input. I wonder if I plug my zune into it if it will do any harm.... Wish I had a meter to try it out.

[vwestlife]

The mic input on a boombox or home stereo is typically for dynamic microphones and thus has no voltage present. If you don't have a microphone, you can plug in a pair of headphones and use the left side earphone as a dynamic microphone!

[zackokross]

Did I just sit here for 6 mins and watch a guy play with big boy toys....

[boogiebootique]

Hi, can i plug my ipod to my 80's boombox's mic imput to play music?

[TimpBizkit]

it won't 'kill' the device but will just sound distorted if it's too high an input. Microphones don't produce as much voltage so need more sensitive inputs

[millantje123]

i dont understant

how it works

[SuperSonicSourD]

Here's a nice one, ABBA.

hahahahhahahahhahah!!!!!

[azzamrockon]

NERD~

[Theofficialastro]

2:16 when he talks about the volts

[thegreek32]

in soviet russia the ipod tourte u

[violet606]

i want it to blow!!!!!!!

[hmbam1]

i thought this was about blowing up an ipod