Topic: 1/8" attenuator cable

[nulldogmas]

What's the best source these days for an 1/8" stereo attenuator cable? I plugged my A10 into the board at one of my favorite venues this weekend, and got brickwalling even at the lowest possible gain.

[guitard]

What's the best source these days for an 1/8" stereo attenuator cable? I plugged my A10 into the board at one of my favorite venues this weekend, and got brickwalling even at the lowest possible gain.

I am guilty of plugging a cable from my pre-amp into my A10 and not paying close attention to whether it was set for "mic-in" or "audio-in."  It should have been "audio-in," but I screwed up and somehow set it for "mic-in."  The result was that no matter how low I set the input, I couldn't stop it from overloading the A10.

So just in case this might have also happened to you - I'll offer this as a possible explanation.

[nulldogmas]

What's the best source these days for an 1/8" stereo attenuator cable? I plugged my A10 into the board at one of my favorite venues this weekend, and got brickwalling even at the lowest possible gain.

I am guilty of plugging a cable from my pre-amp into my A10 and not paying close attention to whether it was set for "mic-in" or "audio-in."  It should have been "audio-in," but I screwed up and somehow set it for "mic-in."  The result was that no matter how low I set the input, I couldn't stop it from overloading the A10.

So just in case this might have also happened to you - I'll offer this as a possible explanation.

Good thinking, but I checked at the time, and it was audio in. The soundperson had me plug into some soundboard onstage (which required going up there while the band was soundchecking, that wasn't awkward at all), and I think it just had a crazy-hot output.

It may be this was a one-time glitch, but I'd still like to have an attenuator cable handy just in case, for if something like this happens again.

[fireonshakedwnstreet]

I've definitely seen them on Amazon.

[vanark]

I have Shure XLR barrel attenuators. I typically go SBD > XLR > attenuators > Hosa dual XLR to 1/8" stereo mini plug > recorder.

Granted, not I haven't tried into an A-10, but I have a similar situation with my 60D channel 3/4.

[lsd2525]

I got a -20dB cable from Len years ago back in the minidisc days

https://www.core-sound.com/products/attenuator-cables

[nulldogmas]

I have Shure XLR barrel attenuators. I typically go SBD > XLR > attenuators > Hosa dual XLR to 1/8" stereo mini plug > recorder.

Thanks! So I would buy a pair of these, say, and plug them into the board's XLR out, then plug my XLR-to-1/8" cable into the other end?

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/A15AS--shure-a15as-switchable-attenuator

Have you ever run into any trouble fitting all that into a tight space around a board? That would be my main concern.

I got a -20dB cable from Len years ago back in the minidisc days

https://www.core-sound.com/products/attenuator-cables

That could work, too, thanks!

[vanark]

I think it would be pretty rare board to have enough room to plug the attenuators straight in. I plug my usual XLR cable into the board and then attenuators and then the xlr > 1/8" stereo cable.

[nulldogmas]

I think it would be pretty rare board to have enough room to plug the attenuators straight in. I plug my usual XLR cable into the board and then attenuators and then the xlr > 1/8" stereo cable.

Ohhhh, I getcha. That makes more sense.

Since I don't have XLR-to-XLR cables, I should probably get the Core Sound 1/8" cable then, or something similar?

[jefflester]

Since I don't have XLR-to-XLR cables, I should probably get the Core Sound 1/8" cable then, or something similar?

Sound Pros has them too.

[vanark]

I think it would be pretty rare board to have enough room to plug the attenuators straight in. I plug my usual XLR cable into the board and then attenuators and then the xlr > 1/8" stereo cable.

Ohhhh, I getcha. That makes more sense.

Since I don't have XLR-to-XLR cables, I should probably get the Core Sound 1/8" cable then, or something similar?

Yes, that is probably what I would do. As jefflester says, Sound Professionals might be a good choice.

[checht]

a10: consumer device
SBD: pro gear

Consumer line level is generally thought of as a signal whose level is at -10 dBV.
Professional line level is generally thought of as a signal whose level is at +4 dBu.
Difference is roughly 12db.

I have had good luck with a -10db 1/8" trs male to 1/8" trs female cable made by Nicky in the beforetimes. The makers referenced in this thread will be great picks too.

Cheers!

[roffels]

What's the best source these days for an 1/8" stereo attenuator cable? I plugged my A10 into the board at one of my favorite venues this weekend, and got brickwalling even at the lowest possible gain.

I am guilty of plugging a cable from my pre-amp into my A10 and not paying close attention to whether it was set for "mic-in" or "audio-in."  It should have been "audio-in," but I screwed up and somehow set it for "mic-in."  The result was that no matter how low I set the input, I couldn't stop it from overloading the A10.

So just in case this might have also happened to you - I'll offer this as a possible explanation.

I've heard this before, trusted and used the advice to use line-in, and still got levels too loud for my A10. Since then, I always have an attenuator cable in the chain.

Either these: https://www.core-sound.com/products/attenuator-cables

or these:
https://www.amazon.com/Whirlwind-IMP-Pad-30-dB/dp/B0006Q9AT0/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3EQJ3YPQ2ZLM7&keywords=30db+pad&qid=1662637551&sprefix=30db+pad%2Caps%2C80&sr=8-2

[roffels]

Have you ever run into any trouble fitting all that into a tight space around a board? That would be my main concern.

Yes, that is an issue. I have a short run of XLR cable - pad - xlr/3.5mm cable.

[asobriquet]

The 1/8" 10db pads made by M-Audio will work, but unfortunately they are discontinued. You might have luck finding one on Ebay or something though. I've used one in between a sbd and my DR2D before with excellent results.

Here's the B&H listing:
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/437136-REG/M_Audio_9800_51795_00_In_Line_10dB_Pad.html