Topic: The end of the XLR connector?

[Mike Stranks]

So I was watching a video on the Rode site of an interview with Tony Faulkner about a recording he was about to do in Sydney using exclusively Rode mics. These included two experimental valve omnis with variable pickup pattern according to frequency and some prototype revisions to the venerable NT5.

Talking about the revised NT5s, TF also pointed out that these incorporate a new connector being developed by Neutrik.

Still from the video here:



Pop over to the Rode website to see the interview video and other linked stuff...

[Bruce Watson]

So I was watching a video on the Rode site of an interview with Tony Faulkner about a recording he was about to do in Sydney using exclusively Rode mics. These included two experimental valve omnis with variable pickup pattern according to frequency and some prototype revisions to the venerable NT5.

Talking about the revised NT5s, TF also pointed out that these incorporate a new connector being developed by Neutrik.

Yes. The XLR connector is quite old -- it was developed for balanced cables, long before the cell phone / pager era. It does a great job keeping the RFI of its day out of the signal. Not such a great job of keeping the RFI of the current day out.

What Neutrik is working on is a modern connector that can better fight cellphone and other radio transmissions.

[voltronic]

I noticed that bit also - thanks for providing the image capture.  While the shell-within-a-shell connection looks great to keep the RFI out, I'm hoping the actually connection points end up being something more robust than what is shown, which looks similar to a Thunderbolt connector.  This reminds me of the currently-produced EtherCon line which puts a relatively flimsy standard Ethernet connector inside an XLR-type shell to beef it up.  Hopefully they are going to be doing more than that here.  I think part of what has made XLR have such longevity is how robust the connection is with those big beefy pins.

[Mike Stranks]

I noticed that bit also - thanks for providing the image capture.  While the shell-within-a-shell connection looks great to keep the RFI out, I'm hoping the actually connection points end up being something more robust than what is shown, which looks similar to a Thunderbolt connector.  This reminds me of the currently-produced EtherCon line which puts a relatively flimsy standard Ethernet connector inside an XLR-type shell to beef it up.  Hopefully they are going to be doing more than that here.  I think part of what has made XLR have such longevity is how robust the connection is with those big beefy pins.

I agree that it does look like an EtherCon. However, I was somewhat reassured by the satisfying 'kerlunk' when it was reassembled, indicating that there is some serious metalwork in the connectors. Doubtless we shall see when Neutrik bring it to market.

I am so old that I predate XLRs. When I started all pro mics were on Tuchel-DINs. XLRs started to appear early/mid 70s and became ubiquitous for mic connectors on desks/boards about 25-30 years ago. Tuchel-DINs have a nice, secure screw thread, but the smaller ones do have flimsy pins that need treating with respect.

[DigiGal]

Neutrik has been making EMC connectors for several years now to fight against today's noises. I use them but I don't see many other tapers out there using them for field recording.

Check the Nuetrik website for detailed info on their EMC connectors.

These are not that same as referenced in the op. I haven't viewed the video above but the capture looks to me like a digital connector. The Neutrik website will likely have details on those connectors too if they are commercially available.

[Cheesecadet]

Neutrik has been making EMC connectors for several years now to fight against today's noises. I use them but I don't see many other tapers out there using them for field recording.

Check the Nuetrik website for detailed info on their EMC connectors.

These are not that same as referenced in the op. I haven't viewed the video above but the capture looks to me like a digital connector. The Neutrik website will likely have details on those connectors too if they are commercially available.

It says the EMC connectors act as a high pass frequency. 

Have you noticed this affect the sound of your recordings in any way, good or bad?

[DigiGal]

It says the EMC connectors act as a high pass frequency. 

Have you noticed this affect the sound of your recordings in any way, good or bad?

Neutrik's EMC connectors are effectively screening out and minimizing radio frequency (RFI) and electromagnetic interference (EMI). The circular capacitors in the connector are acting as a high-pass filter with a cut-off frequency around 10 MHz.

http://www.neutrik.com/en/xlr/emc-series/nc3mxx-emc

[DSatz]

Not specifically intending this as a commercial plug, but Schoeps' XLR-3 cables (KS 5 U = 16.5 ft., KS 10 U = 33 ft., etc.) are made with Neutrik EMC-series connectors on both ends.

--best regards

[voltronic]

Not specifically intending this as a commercial plug, but Schoeps' XLR-3 cables (KS 5 U = 16.5 ft., KS 10 U = 33 ft., etc.) are made with Neutrik EMC-series connectors on both ends.

--best regards

The other thing I really like about those cables are the Hytrel cores so they lie flat / hang straight.  If I ever have need for very long runs, the stereo version of that cable is what I would want, although it seems Neutrik does not make a 5-pole version of the EMC XLR connectors.

[EmRR]

Hmm, I don't see many EMI/RFI cable problems in the field, and when I do they tend to not be cable related, unless the cable is BAD or incorrectly terminated. 

I am so old that I predate XLRs. When I started all pro mics were on Tuchel-DINs. XLRs started to appear early/mid 70s and became ubiquitous for mic connectors on desks/boards about 25-30 years ago. Tuchel-DINs have a nice, secure screw thread, but the smaller ones do have flimsy pins that need treating with respect.

You are in the UK?  Makes sense.  We never had Tuchel here in the USA except on imported mics.  The XLR form factor and mating dates to the 1940's, was definitely in use here in the 1950's, and I believe had entirely taken over the Cannon P, Cannon UA, and Hubbel connectors previously most common by 1960.    I was reading a History of Calrec UK SDC's today, and it was pointed out some used XLR's in the 1960's unlike most.  Here's a set of Cannon 'P' to Cannon 'XLR' adapters for everyones amusement, such as you might need with those 30+ lb 'portable' suitcase mixers made before 1960.