One of my biggest problems with the Sony UWP lineup is the small selection of used after market lavs. True you can buy any of the lavs from the major makers wired for UWP but than what? Try to sell a UWP wired lav on eBay and see how many times you can post it without getting any bids before  you go crazy. Buying UWP wires lavs is like throwing good money down the drain. That same microphone wired for Sennheiser will holds its value on the second hand market.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00J2XQZN2/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00J2XQZN2&linkCode=as2&tag=hold0a-20&linkId=VFCAXBEGOU5NIRWK

Another reason for this adapter cable is why keep another set of lavs in your audio bag that only work with your UWP systems. I have three G3 systems and one Sony UWP. Last thing I want is to mix up the lavs and waste time having to rewire an actor on set. Or keep an extra set of lavs in a bag just incase I reach for my UWP.

Materials you’ll need:

Locking 3.5mm male connector

Locking 3.5mm female connector

2 wire cable

Soldering Iron

Clear Heatshrink

Label maker (optional)

Step 1:
I used alligator clips to figure out which of the leads on the UWP was the signal, neutral, and ground. You don’t need to do this. On the UWP the ring is the hot and the tip is the neutral. The sleeve is the ground.

Step 2:
Cut off a short piece of clear heat shrink. This will be used too cover your label maker tape if you choose to label this cable. Slide it over your wire before you begin to solder.

Step 3:
Solder the ring of the 3.5mm male too the tip of the female 3.5mm connector. Now solder the male’s tip to the ring of the female. The lavs I use don’t require the ground to be soldered.

Step 4:
Now screw the covers over your connector and use a heat gun on low to heat up your heat shrink. I saw low because a small cable like this is hard to hold and the metal connector will get hot quick being that close to the heat shrink.

I hope this tutorial helps. If I were to make this adapter again I would a right angle male 3.5mm to keep the wiring smaller. When I use this transmitter I bend the adapter cable back on to the belt pack and use a bongo tie to keep it into place. The bongo tie also helps to reduce stress on the belt packs connector.

Post comments if you have any questions.

---

 

About the Author

Andrew Jones is a location sound mixer based in Los Angeles. He started in the TV and Film industry in 2004. You can email him at  Andrew@HoldForSound.com

www.HoldForSound.com