Question About "Stubbies"

[OmahaAudio]

New to the board with a cabling question. Having seen some great pictures of various set-ups here I'd like to know the point to the "stubbies" XLR connections that folks make? It is a matter of looks? Is it done because they're shorter and don't stick out as much? Is there some performance gain?

Thanks.

[darktrain]

New to the board with a cabling question. Having seen some great pictures of various set-ups here I'd like to know the point to the "stubbies" XLR connections that folks make? It is a matter of looks? Is it done because they're shorter and don't stick out as much? Is there some performance gain?

Thanks.

As one who has done 100's of them, most of the time the ra stubbies are done for space and they help alleviate strain where the regular xlr's come straight out and into the sides of most bags. where as straight stubbies IMO only really help "lighten" the load but at times like with V3's where the cables come off the back offer a lower profile as well and reduce the height needed to not put unnessary strain on the cables. Bottom line if your bag has the room, no need to modify, if its snug and say the in/outs are on the side of the recorder/pre and space is tight....stubbie up

[F.O.Bean]

Well said!

[acidjack]

New to the board with a cabling question. Having seen some great pictures of various set-ups here I'd like to know the point to the "stubbies" XLR connections that folks make? It is a matter of looks? Is it done because they're shorter and don't stick out as much? Is there some performance gain?

Thanks.

I would add only that, depending what mic pattern you're running, not having them stick out of the back of your mics can allow you to spread the mics wider without spacing the mics further apart on the horizontal plane.

In my bag, at least, having shorter connections makes a big difference.  Up top, on the mics themselves, less so... but like many people, most of the time I run a smaller, low-profile mic.  When I run my Schoeps bodies, I like having the right angle connections.

[Fatah Ruark (aka MIKE B)]

I have straight stubbies on my recorder side because that is the direction of the hole out of my bag (Portabrace for DR-680)

I would run right angles at the recorder if I had it in a top loader bag though.

[Gutbucket]

I generally prefer right angle connectors at both ends (either standard RA plugs or custom stubbies).  As others mentioned, they make for fitting things into a smaller bag with less cable stress but also makes the cable run much cleaner and lower profile at the mic side- a plus for both lower visual impact and freedom from cable snags if you are moving the rig around or bringing it in fully or partially setup.  You can do that with standard right angle connectors instead of cut down 'stubbies' without much additional space, but stubbie is the most compact way to go.  Be aware that not all stubbies lock in, some only interference fit.  Also right angle stubbies are built with the cable exiting at a set and unchangable orientation.  Some (not all) standard right angle plugs allow you to change the orientation to fit your equipment, without re-soldering the connection.  That usually doesn't matter at the mic end, but can be important at the equipment input side to get things to fit right, especially if you are using the cables with several pieces of gear which require different cable entry/exit orientations.

stubbie up

[darktrain]

I never saw or read about Stubbies not locking in, specific brand or mod?

[hi and lo]

Just another consideration I haven't seen mentioned but would throw out there... With stubbies, you are giving us some EMI/RFI shielding because there is not complete coverage by the metal xlr housing. A minor consideration, for sure, but certainly worthy of note if you are running cables in interference prone environments.

edit: only applicable to true stubbies w/ hot melt glue. The legitimate RA XLR cables by Neutrik won't suffer from this problem as they have complete shielding.

[Gutbucket]

The ones I have lock (Ted's), and I assume yours do, but I've read here on the board and seen photos of some that just push in without a locking tab.  It could be those were all homebrewed DIY stubbies, but I can't remember.   You're a cable expert though, maybe I'm crazy.

[darktrain]

The ones I have lock (Ted's), and I assume yours do, but I've read here on the board and seen photos of some that just push in without a locking tab.  It could be those were all homebrewed DIY stubbies, but I can't remember.   You're a cable expert though, maybe I'm crazy.

My guess is they were the females and they didnt "shield" the tab thats allows the release button to operate from the epoxy/glue.

[Gutbucket]

Could be, and makes sense.  As I recall they were all females.

[willndmb]

It could be those were all homebrewed DIY stubbies

all stubbies are home brew

[Gutbucket]

I consider DT more of a craft-brewer. 

[willndmb]

I consider DT more of a craft-brewer. 

lol agreed after i posted i noticed it was in response to him

[OmahaAudio]

"I have straight stubbies on my recorder side because that is the direction of the hole out of my bag (Portabrace for DR-680)"

I have the Tascan bag for the DR-680. How do you like the PortaBrace bag?