Panasonic AG-HMC70 XLR audio problems

I purchased [a Panasonic AG-HMC70]. Works very well. My question for you is how do you get an XLR microphone to work? I followed the directions in the manual about audio. But I get no sound at all when plugging into the XLR input.

I have a RODE 3.5mm to XLR adapter, and an Audio Technica ATR6550 microphone. Yeah I went low budget to try this out. I wonder if the microphone and or the adapter quality are not compatible with the camera.

I have the AG-HMC70 and have been using it to record interviews with a Sony wireless mic and it works great. Though the wireless pack has a mini-plug out, it came with a short mini-XLR cable that plugs into it, and has given no problem. I've also used other XLR mics with no problems, but all of those mics have been "true" XLR mics, so I've just been running XLR-to-XLR cable.

Settings for AG-HMC70 XLR input

Assuming you set the audio-in (on the side of the camera) to "Rear" and Line-Mic-+48 to Mic (as above) it *should* work. I'm assuming the Audio-Technica ATR6550 is sending out Mic level here, and it definitely doesn't need phantom power (+48v)

However, I was looking at the specs of the Rode VXLR mono mini-Jack to XLR converter (I'm not sure if that's what you have, but I'm going to go with it for sake of no better explanation) and one person in the B&H review says it's wired for use with stereo-type connectors and it won't work with mono connectors; which is what that ATR6550 has:
This product is excellent in theory but leaves something to be desired in practice. The unit is wired for use with microphones with stereo-type (tip-ring-sleeve) connectors. The tip and ring are jumpered together inside the VXLR. This essentially prevents its use with a mic with a mono-type (tip-sleeve) connector UNLESS one is willing to CAREFULLY pry each one apart and clip the jumper between the tip and ring. Since this unit is PRESS FIT together, not screwed, this action may destroy the tight friction, rendering it useless.
So you might see if you can find a different mini to XLR connector.

But before doing that; do you have another XLR mic and cable you can test? Or another XLR input device that you can test with the mic/adapter combination? It would be nice to be able to narrow in on what's not working, rather than buying parts in hopes that's the solution!

ONE LAST THOUGHT
You could try using the External microphone input, which is a mini-plug (tt's towards the front of the camera on the opposite side to the LCD panel) Set the Audio-In switch to FRONT and plug in the mic and see if you get anything that way. You won't be able to use the on-camera mic for the other channel, and it's not really answering the original question, but you should get audio that way.


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