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Gear / Technical Help => Ask The Tapers => Topic started by: The Kilted Taper on November 17, 2004, 12:13:28 PM
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Are they usually male or female? I'm going to be building some custom XLR > RCA to use to go into my UA-5 and want to make sure I get the right ends. ???
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might i suggest that you just use a pair of shorter xlr>xlr and then get a bunch of adapters so that you are ready in any situation?
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You could....but it wouldn't answer my question ;)
I realize that the XLR > RCA isn't the most widely used, but I have this thing about using adaptors in the chain...it's a quirk, I'm sorry :-\
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the boards ive seen were female outs. but i would also tell ya that you are better off runinng to the xlr ins on the ua-5 than the rca ins......
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unless the board is too hot and you need to knock down the signal a bit.
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Sorry, should have mentioned this would be for doing a sbd/aud mix. Mics using the XLR on the UA-5, board feed using the RCA's. Just a thought. Making cable sis so much fun and affordable (less than $15 for all the parts for XLR > RCA) why not have a few options laying around.
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Most boards I've seen are female out, but most are also balanced outs, so keep that in mind.
I use a pair of impedance matching transformers (xlr>1/4") with 1/4">rca adapters to matrix w/ my ua-5.
JAson
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i've been offered both male and female outs. didn't actually take the male out so i dunno.
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Back when I taped I never once ran into a board with male XLR outputs, although I did have the adapters ready just in case. ;)
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unless the board is too hot and you need to knock down the signal a bit.
Which is very likely...the XLR output likely runs at "pro" level...much hotter than what a RCA "consumer" input is expecting to see. Unless you can control the output level at the XLRs - you may be taking a risk of brickwalling the RCA input...
I think Pro gear is +4db
Consumer -10db
Is that right? I forget...
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unless the board is too hot and you need to knock down the signal a bit.
Which is very likely...the XLR output likely runs at "pro" level...much hotter than what a RCA "consumer" input is expecting to see. Unless you can control the output level at the XLRs - you may be taking a risk of brickwalling the RCA input...
I think Pro gear is +4db
Consumer -10db
Is that right? I forget...
Yeah, that's about right. Absent the "adapter phobia", I carry a set of Whirlwind XLR "Y" cables (2 female/1 male) and a pair male-2-male barrel adapters - so I can patch anything to anything. All my gear (v3 & D10 Pro) is either pro, or jumper adaptable, so input levels aren't a problem (never brickwalled the V3 anyway - I don't know that you actually CAN). SBD outs may frequently be 1/4 Phone also, or you may have to "rob" signal from an insert on the master out (used for EQ's, compressors, etc. that are pre-master-faders - insert tip/ring connector 1/2-way).
When I'm heading out for a board patch I carry my "magic bag" which contains:
2 - Whirlwind XLR "Y" cables - 2F/1M
2 - XLR M-M Barrel Connectors
2 - Direct Wired (no impedance matcher) RCA-M to XLR-M
2 - RCA-F to 1/4 Phone Adapters (the kind that just plug onto RCA males)
1 - mini-stereo to RCA cable (in case I gotta run out of the Sound Guys D-8)
2 - Gold RCA-F Barrel Connectors
There basically isn't a console you can't get a line out of with this assortment. Most will be just a plain pair of XLR mic cables required. While yes, you want as little as possible in your signal path, unless you're patching Phish or The Dead - there's likely gonna be so many junk cables onstage, and FX patch's on the console - that a couple more connectors between the console on your pre/deck aren't gonna make it any worse (and I've seen some pretty ragged out consoles in clubs).
Typical "patchers courtesy" applies also. Soundguy is likely busy, band soundguy (unless it's thier own rig) likely doesn't know WHERE the patchpoints are on that particular console anyway. Ask the HOUSE engineer, if the band is OK with patching. Ask what type of connection is required, get your cables/adapters ready, and stand back until he's ready to plug you in, then get out of the way.
Rick
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If your getting XLR outs of a board they are most likely coming from the group out's. If thats the case, you can take the level back with those faders. Most board I run into do NOT have a second XLR output. Somtimes the house is using a mono out and there will be the left right XLR's available. Other times they might be using a 1/4" out and the XLR's would be available. MOST case in my experience there is no extra XLR to use. If your worried about a hot signal ask the house guy if your output has it's own trim. He is not gonna worry about checking your level to take the trim down, but he might not mind if yu grab the know or fader if you've already asked. If you don't have permission, don't touch the board. No matter how much you know about it.
As for male or female, can someone show me an example where an output on a non custom job is female? Male usually goes out and female goes in, just like god made it. Thats why they refer to it like that. It is early in the morngin and I have had no coffee, so if I'm backward about that let me know.
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I'm going with the XLR outs for the reason that everytime I attempt to get a sbd of this band I am told it is XLR outs. I don't really do to many other boards, and like I said $16 is no big deal to have a custom cable to use when they come around 3 or 4 times a year. I'll just have to get over my "adaptor phobia" . Thanks all.
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I wonderif they have one of those nice bigger Midus boards. The bigger ones have two XLR main outs... Do you know the board?
Again i anyone can show me a female output on a console, please do....
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I'm looking all around for consoles with a female output and haven't found anything. Grantid a lot of them don't have pics of the back panal. This has got me extremly curious. Maybe people meant you need a female connector to plug into it? Is that the case?
Moke, (question for you) why the surprise whn they said it was male out? Do you know a board that isn't?
Thanks...
If I was cat I'd be dead from curiosity OD
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I've only ever seen male outputs. Here's my basic sounboard ready kit http://www.taperssection.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=16338.15#msg377772
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agree with the male outputs...that is what the pour house board has here in town
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Oh okay!
mxlr, and fxlr's -> rca cables
I made a male XLR to RCA but I use it to come out RCA into XLR when needed.
ONE more time. If anyone can aim me to a console with female outputs, I'm dying to see it.
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unless the board is too hot and you need to knock down the signal a bit.
Which is very likely...the XLR output likely runs at "pro" level...much hotter than what a RCA "consumer" input is expecting to see. Unless you can control the output level at the XLRs - you may be taking a risk of brickwalling the RCA input...
I think Pro gear is +4db
Consumer -10db
Is that right? I forget...
oh yeah - forgot. When you take a balanced XLR and go unbalanced RCA with one of those adapters, you're down 6 dB, which helps the 'hotness' (heat?) of the average board signal.
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As for male or female, can someone show me an example where an output on a non custom job is female? Male usually goes out and female goes in, just like god made it. Thats why they refer to it like that. It is early in the morngin and I have had no coffee, so if I'm backward about that let me know.
I would like to see a female xlr that sends a signal as well.
Just follow this very simple rule: signal flows from the male into the female.
To patch an xlr from the board, you hand the foh the female xlr. What you have on your end is up to you. In the original poster's question, fxlr>rca will work just fine.
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No worries...
(http://www.akg.hu/szub/kepek/32simpsons_bart_chalkboard.jpg)
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ive always had this thought about boards and other electronic gear that all the onboard stuff should be female and all cables should be male. male ends are much more likely to get damaged over time than female ends.