Topic: Stereo Mic Cable - one 5 pin XLR to two 3 pin XLR's

[JackHenry]

What is the best cable for stereo (Rode NT4 etc). I want to run from a single 5 pin XLR via a single sheathed cable and terminated at two 3 pin XLR's at the recorder.

Also, what is the best (read neatist) way to terminate from a single cable into two 3 pin XLRs without it looking like a cable that has been stuck together with tape.

[RebelRebel]

email nick@nickspicks.com

or PM "NICKSPICKS here..

[guysonic]

What is the best cable for stereo (Rode NT4 etc). I want to run from a single 5 pin XLR via a single sheathed cable and terminated at two 3 pin XLR's at the recorder.

Also, what is the best (read neatist) way to terminate from a single cable into two 3 pin XLRs without it looking like a cable that has been stuck together with tape.

I've also supplied this to customers with custom lengths and option for low profile dual R/A Neutrik XLRs.

See standard offerings at: http://www.sonicstudios.com/access.htm#adapters

[JackHenry]

I'm specifically after a cable for DIY 

[rokpunk]

buy some 4 conductor plus a shield cable and build it yourself...it's easy enough.

[wbrisette]

Also Remote Audio has several flavors of these types of cables. Coffey Sound in LA, or Trew Audio in Nashville, TN can help you out.

Wayne

[guysonic]

ANY USB cable has 4 usable wires + shield, so hack off the connectors and use the cable for wiring the connector going into the MIC.  Run the other end of this USB cord into your first XLR-3M and use the connector body as a junction box to connect the wires going out of this connector to your second XLR-3M plug for the other channel.

[Nick's Picks]

complete DIY instructions.

1.  buy XLRs. 
2.  acquire two lengths of cable.  normal 2 conductor shielded, whatever gauge you prefer.
3.  get some of that "flexopet" techflex like I sent you in email off list.
4.  shrink tube (1/4")

run (both) wires up through the techflex.  leave a foot or so as the Y at the end.  heatshrink it so that the techflex holds in place.
twist the shielding together from both wires to form the grounding lead.  solder them together. 
Assemble  like so:
5pin
1+ right
2- right
3 Ground
4+ Left
5- Left

Know which is which at the "Y" end (mark them ahead of time or ping them w/a multi-meter for continuity).

viola!

or even better...just buy the sweet one I have in stock.


happy soldering.

[jacobmyers]

complete DIY instructions.

1.  buy XLRs. 
2.  acquire two lengths of cable.  normal 2 conductor shielded, whatever gauge you prefer.
3.  get some of that "flexopet" techflex like I sent you in email off list.
4.  shrink tube (1/4")

run (both) wires up through the techflex.  leave a foot or so as the Y at the end.  heatshrink it so that the techflex holds in place.
twist the shielding together from both wires to form the grounding lead.  solder them together. 
Assemble  like so:
5pin
1+ right
2- right
3 Ground
4+ Left
5- Left

Know which is which at the "Y" end (mark them ahead of time or ping them w/a multi-meter for continuity).

viola!

or even better...just buy the sweet one I have in stock.


happy soldering.

That is NOT the pinout for the NT4 cable. I know this because I just built a cable for my NT4. I took some pictures and the "DIY Guide" that contains them (and some notes on the assembly) is here: http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,109843.0.html. Anyway; for future reference, the actual NT4 pinout is as follows:

Pin 1: Ground (same as the rest of the connectors)
Pin 2: Left Pin 2
Pin 3: Left Pin 3
Pin 4: Right Pin 2
Pin 5: Right Pin 3

[Nick's Picks]

that is the other method (the scheops way).  with pin 1 being ground.

the one I mentioned above is the Shure standard, and is 90% of all 5 pin stereo pin-outs.  Figures Rhode would be different.

[TNJazz]

Nevaton stereo cables follow the "Schoeps" pinout configuration as well.

[ghellquist]

The international standard for 5-pin XLR-s is pin 1 as ground.
This goes for all sizes (3 or 5 included)
The connector is made to connect pin 1 first.

Anything else is non-standard. Beware.

Gunnar

[Nick's Picks]

all, but Sure, Studio Projects and Peluso any way.

[Todd R]

I just got pointed to this thread by someone looking for a 5pin cable.  I'm with Gunnar and Jacob, the std way seems to be using pin 1 to ground.

I don't know about Studio Projects and Peluso, but Shure doesn't use the pinout Nick suggested either, according to the VP88 user manual anyway:

http://www.shure.com/ProAudio/Products/WiredMicrophones/us_pro_vp88_ug

Edit: the pin 1>gnd method is also what was used for my Pearl MSH-10.

[fozzy]

This is what is used for the Schoeps VST62Iu

XLR-5
as seen from the pin side

Pin 1: GND
Pin 2: +Phase channel I
Pin 3: –Phase channel I
Pin 4: +Phase channel II
Pin 5: –Phase channel II



edit: this info is mostly redundant b/c i didn't read the full thread.

schoeps link: http://schoeps.de/E-2004/xlr.html

link fixed:  http://web.archive.org/web/20080527041819/http://www.schoeps.de/E-2004/xlr.html

[sanaka]

Another way is a two channel snake cable, like Canare MR202-2AT.

Once you verify the pinout you need, this would be constructed exactly as in Nick's instructions, except instead of techflex, the two cables would already be in an overall jacket.

Peace,
Sanaka

[Nick's Picks]

there are two 5 pin stereo pinout methods. 
the Shure standard, and the Scheops method.   I've build stereo cables for ever stereo mic out there.  some use one way, other sue a different way.
I typically call the manufacturer first to see what way they do it.

[Todd R]

there are two 5 pin stereo pinout methods. 
the Shure standard, and the Scheops method.   I've build stereo cables for ever stereo mic out there.  some use one way, other sue a different way.
I typically call the manufacturer first to see what way they do it.

Nick -- I don't understand, could you provide more information on where you found what you're calling the shure standard and where it comes from?  The Shure VP88 user manual I posted clearly shows the wiring to be following what you are calling the schoeps standard.  At best it seems to me that some shure mics use the wiring with pin 3 as ground, and some like the vp88 use a wiring configuration with pin 1 as gnd (the "schoeps" standard).  At the very least, it doesn't seem we can call the shure standard a true standard since they don't even apply it to all of their stereo mics.

[Nick's Picks]

that info was given to me by the Rhode techs....I'm just regurgitating the info I was given.  The more of these cables I've build, the less of them I see follow the method I was told originally and more often its pin 1 as the ground.

[Todd R]

Gotcha.  Sorry, not trying to bust balls or anything, just trying to figure out which end is up.  Someone is buying a 5pin cable I made for my Pearl that uses the pin 1 gnd method for their vp88, and it seemed clear my cable would work based on the vp88 UG, but I didn't want to screw him up.

[DSatz]

Schoeps and Neumann follow the IEC standard which (since it is also an ISO standard) applies in the United States as well, via ANSI. It is not "their own" standard; there is no such thing.

Pin 1 is always the shield contact for XLR connectors unless someone is being downright perverse and stupid. As with a single-channel XLR plug, pin 2 is hot and pin 3 is cold for channel 1, while on the other channel, pin 4 similarly is hot and pin 5 is cold.

If the Shure VP88 is wired differently, perhaps that is because it is a decades-old microphone design by now, and until some time in about the 1980s most U.S. manufacturers routinely ignored (or were even unaware of) international standards. They've grown up a lot since then, fortunately for us all.

--best regards

[goodcooker]

^^^^Try to tell that to Studio Projects. I just turned Kobi's BumbleBee cables into a stereo cable for his LSD2....seven pins with three of them jumped to ground....that makes perfect sense.

Use your multimeter kids!!!