If you are good with tools and a soldering gun you can fix it, but with the break so close to the mic you only get one shot. I don't remember if you can easily open up the mic to re-wire entirely. If I remember correctly, Rode has a decent warranty period; ten (10) years I think, so you can send it directly to Rode. If not under warranty, you can always send it to a reputable repair shop; contact the vendor you bought it from for recommendations.
This is one reason I don't like consumer devices. If you have to pay for it a repair like this will be $75 to $150, and you paid, what, about $225 for the RVM? This means the repair will cost you 1/3 to 2/3 of the cost of the mic. With a pro or prosumer mic you just plug in a new cable; and no down time for repairs. That's what I mean when I talk about investing in your future - you're now paying for a repair when you could be buying a case or a memory card or saving up for ____________ (fill in the blank). At the very least you are out the time you may have used it, anywhere from two (2) to twelve (12) weeks, maybe more.
BTW, were you REALLY careful when you packed it up? That's a stress break, so the cable was pulled extremely hard while it was hooked up to your recording device. Or it was just tossed into the mic bag and not carefully packed; something heavy was tossed onto the cable in the bag. Or was yanked out of the bag in a hurry and the cable caught on something? Or did you clamp it into the shoe mount? Or....
Looks like it could be a zipper snag too.
But yes,the ground/shielding is hosed.. looks like it's totally disconnected. There could be issues with the other two signal wires as well. In my opinion, you'll want to fix it on the inside of the mic if possible, as the connections on the board inside the mic could already be stressed or broken as well.
You should replace the entire cable, rubber stop(s) included. Radio Shack is your friend. As long as you've voided the warrantee by opening the unit you may as well try to replace the cable with an input jack.
You should replace the entire cable, rubber stop(s) included. Radio Shack is your friend. As long as you've voided the warrantee by opening the unit you may as well try to replace the cable with an input jack.
This. A quick connect is a solid upgrade. If your solder/desolder skills are lacking,
http://makezine.com/2007/01/13/its-learn-to-solder-month/
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=how to solder&sm=3
Best of luck to you.
Any idea on the parts I'd need?
What about the shielding? Is it supposed to completely cover the cables or doesn't it matter, as long as the shielding is connected?
It should be fairly simple. You desolder at the circuit board, clip the cable so it is clean, slip the strain relief back onto the cable, strip the cable, reseat the strain relief, solder the cable to the circuit board, test, close it up. That's the simple fix. If it doesn't work, then you can worry about replacing the cable.
You've got it Col. Because Rode knew this thin mic cable was extremely important to the success of the VMP, they went to great lengths to make sure it would work to their satisfaction.
Apart from the necessary sound quality, with a thin cable one of the tests is 'bending, twisting and straining' many many times more than in normal use. The outer cable coverings play a huge part of course.
As a result the first thousand VideomicPros have external mic cable manufactured by Mogami, while Rode worked on theirs.
If you want to look it up, as a major cable manufacturer Mogami actually publish the results of their bend/twist/strain tests.
Rodes quality small brass 3.5mm connector is another feature, there are quite a few brass compositions available and the cheaper ones will corrode faster, just like the brass plate on the front of a building.