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Author Topic: Wiring Balanced Cables  (Read 5761 times)

Tom Roche

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Wiring Balanced Cables
« on: April 26, 2004, 10:02:36 PM »

I'm getting conflicting advice for the proper wiring of cables that have TRS 1/4" on one end and XLR connectors on the other end.  I was told the tip goes to pin 3, ring to pin 2, and sleeve to pin 1.  Is this correct?  It's for an aux send to an amp.  Thanks,

Tom
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Baron Gray

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Re: Wiring Balanced Cables
« Reply #1 on: April 26, 2004, 10:29:36 PM »

Hi Tom

Well....yes....and no.

"Pin 1 ground, pin two hot, pin three not" is the norm but they use a different standard in some equipment so the best way is to download the manuals for your desk and amp and just make sure. Also make sure that your aux sends are balanced.

You could also use a phase checker to bell it out and if you didn't buy the gear new this would be preferable as you don't know who has been "under the hood".

Baron
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John Roberts {JR}

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Re: Wiring Balanced Cables
« Reply #2 on: April 26, 2004, 10:29:40 PM »

Tom R. wrote on Mon, 26 April 2004 21:02

I'm getting conflicting advice for the proper wiring of cables that have TRS 1/4" on one end and XLR connectors on the other end.  I was told the tip goes to pin 3, ring to pin 2, and sleeve to pin 1.  Is this correct?  It's for an aux send to an amp.  Thanks,

Tom


Ironically the TRS connector may easier to call than the XLR.

"Most" TRS will be wired Tip=+, Ring=-, Sleve=Gnd. The IEC and AES specs for XLR are pin 2=+, pin 3=-, pin 1-gnd.

However there are some manufacturers who have been around since before the standards were enacted or have some other good (I'm sure) reason. So some manufacturer's will use pin 3=+, pin 2=-. Everybody pretty much agrees that pin 1 is ground.

I try to silk screen a legend somewhere on the chassis with the wiring approach I used in that product, and manufacturer's should at least tell you "how" they're interfacing. If not call them at home, late at night... Very Happy

JR

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ThomasA(lbenberger)

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Re: Wiring Balanced Cables
« Reply #3 on: April 26, 2004, 10:33:49 PM »

Hi Tom!

That's not correct in most cases. Usual wiring on an XLR is

Pin1: Ground
Pin2: Hot
Pin3: Cold

and on a TRS

Tip: Hot
Ring: Cold
Sleeve: Ground

So Tip->Pin2, Ring->Pin3 and Sleeve->Pin1 would be right.

Mind you these are just the standards and the situation might differ for your brand of mixer or amp, although this is very unlikely to be the case. Check the manual to be sure, and also check that you really have a balanced Aux Output on your mixer.

ThomasA

PS: If you are unsure about wiring of cables, for instance Mackie includes wiring schemes for the most common adapter cables in their downloadable manuals!
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Lee Patzius

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XLR pins 1-2-3 MY favorite mnemonic I learned on LAB.
« Reply #4 on: April 26, 2004, 11:34:14 PM »

I remember awhile back someone posted an easy to remember 1,2,3, pin assignment for XLR's.

Assign pins 1,2,3, in the same order as X,L,R.

Then you can remember the following:

X for eXternal shield = pin 1
L for Line out (hot or +) = pin 2
R for Return (cold or -) = pin 3

That's the way I remembered it.
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Alex_C

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Re: Wiring Balanced Cables
« Reply #5 on: April 27, 2004, 06:19:56 AM »

A little off topic, but...

About a year ago, I bought some real cheap XLR cables from a guy that just couldn't sell them -
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Tom Roche

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Thank You Everyone
« Reply #6 on: April 27, 2004, 08:51:35 PM »

Thanks for the info....I suspected something wasn't right when I compared the earlier given advice to a vague diagram I had.  Oh well, the good news is I have only two cables to fix and easy access to the snake.  Thanks again,

Tom
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Brent Handy

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XLR = stereo
« Reply #7 on: April 28, 2004, 09:40:07 AM »

The XLR connector was originally a stereo connector, hence the L, for Left and the R for Return.  Not everyone follows pin 2 hot (BSS, Hill, etc, etc)
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Brent Handy

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Mackie has it backwards
« Reply #8 on: April 28, 2004, 09:42:02 AM »

If you own the original CR1604's, they wired the auxes backwards.  So, don't look at that manual.
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Dave Dermont

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Re: XLR = stereo...No, not really
« Reply #9 on: April 28, 2004, 10:57:06 AM »

Brent wrote on Wed, 28 April 2004 08:40

The XLR connector was originally a stereo connector, hence the L, for Left and the R for Return.  Not everyone follows pin 2 hot (BSS, Hill, etc, etc)


This certainly sounds reasonable, but it's untrue.

XLR was originally a registered trademark of ITT Cannon. It has since become a generic audio term.

X is the connector series
L means that it has a Latch
R means the center insert is Rubber

See the Rane Audio Reference page for more info.
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