XLR to RCA cables - info needed

[The Black Adder]

Hi all.

I'm about to take another step back in to the reely world which is exciting.

I need some cables around 2.5m for playback and record.

Can anyone recommend some cables? I need some pretty sharpish but they don't have to be expensive for the time being.

Many thanks
:)

[Sherwood]

Hi all.

I'm about to take another step back in to the reely world which is exciting.

I need some cables around 2.5m for playback and record.

Can anyone recommend some cables? I need some pretty sharpish but they don't have to be expensive for the time being.

Many thanks
:)

I should ask for commission from Designacable! Seriously, they do very good cables for budget prices.

https://www.designacable.com/studio-leads-312/rca-phono-leads/gold-plated-rca-to-male-xlr-lead-flexible-van-damme-cable.html

Geoff

[Sherwood]

Or maybe these depending on "gender"

https://www.designacable.com/pseudo-balanced-mono-jack-to-male-xlr-lead-pair-van-damme-starquad-cable.html

https://www.designacable.com/pseudo-balanced-rca-phono-to-female-xlr-lead-pair-van-damme-neutrik-cable.html

Read the info on how they wire this cable and their willingness to wire it to the buyer's specs

Geoff

[Barry]

There a numerous suppliers of ready made cables, including balanced XLR to unbalanced RCA.

I would make up my own, using either twin core screened cable or simple coaxial cable.

If you wish to use twin core cable, connect the screen to pin 1, the red coloured inner to pin 2, and the second inner wire (usually coloured either black or white) to pin 3 of the XLR connector. At the other end connect both the screen and second black/white wire to the outer part of the RCA connector, and the red wire to the centre pin.

If you use coaxial cable, connect it to the RCA plug as normal, and connect the inner conductor to both pin 2 and pin 3 of the XLR, with the screen connected to pin 1.

Another option would be to buy ready made RCA to RCA interconnects and use RCA to XLR adaptors.

[The Black Adder]

Thanks guys.

I've not seen that place before, Geoff so thanks for that. :)

Barry.. Would Vandamme cable be okay to use? I'm looking at HFC for the parts.

What do you think?

https://hfc-fs.s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/oem_avp010_350_1.jpg
RCA's

https://hfc-fs.s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/switchcraft_aaa3mbauz_350_0.jpghttps://hfc-fs.s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/switchcraft_aaa3fbauz_350_0.jpg
XLR's

https://hfc-fs.s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/vandamme-twin-core-350.jpg

Cable

Would this be okay or would you recommend other types?

Kindest Regards
Josie

[The Black Adder]

BTW... which is preferable? Single core or twin core?

Or doesn't it matter?

[Sherwood]

Thanks guys.

I've not seen that place before, Geoff so thanks for that. :)

Barry.. Would Vandamme cable be okay to use? I'm looking at HFC for the parts.

What do you think?

https://hfc-fs.s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/oem_avp010_350_1.jpg
RCA's

https://hfc-fs.s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/switchcraft_aaa3mbauz_350_0.jpghttps://hfc-fs.s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/switchcraft_aaa3fbauz_350_0.jpg
XLR's

https://hfc-fs.s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/vandamme-twin-core-350.jpg

Cable

Would this be okay or would you recommend other types?

Kindest Regards
Josie

You're welcome. To be honest, I doubt if you could make up your own cable much cheaper than these as they are buying the parts in bulk. I found that I could not buy the connectors and cable for my BNC to RCA phono i/c cheaper than the assembled cable (about £12 including postage).

Geoff

[The Black Adder]

Hi Geoff.

Yes your right... HFC come out a little more expensive actually.

Hhmm.. okay. Two good options.

[Barry]

BTW... which is preferable? Single core or twin core?

Or doesn't it matter?

It doesn't matter. The only advantage of using twin core cable is that at a future date you could replace the RCA connector with an XLR connector should you want to use blanced-line interconnects.

Regarding costs, it is likely that ready made items will be cheaper to buy than to procure the components and make up you own. I prefer to make my own as I then have complete control over the choice of cable and connectors and of the quality of the soldering and construction.

Given the choice, go for XLR connectors with gold-plated pins (Neutrik, Switchcraft and Cannon are all good). Cables from Klotz, Van Damme, Gotham, Proel, Sommer, Belden, Times Wire, BICC and Huber & Suhner are all good and well worth considering. Regarding RCAs, well I don't hold them in high regard as a connector, but when I have to use them I prefer to use Neutrik 'Profi' type; though I'm in a minority here.

[The Black Adder]

Thanks for that...

Oh, gosh. It's getting confusing. LOL

Would you put that in laymans terms as to what I'd need to ask Designacable for? They seem to be open to suggestions.

[Sherwood]

Thanks for that...

Oh, gosh. It's getting confusing. LOL

Would you put that in laymans terms as to what I'd need to ask Designacable for? They seem to be open to suggestions.

Absolutely, just give them the details and they will wire accordingly. They seem to be pretty knowledgeable so it may be worth giving them a call and explaining your requirements.

Geoff

[Bigman80]

Thanks for that...

Oh, gosh. It's getting confusing. LOL

Would you put that in laymans terms as to what I'd need to ask Designacable for? They seem to be open to suggestions.I'd avoid Van Damme.

Mogami for cheaper cables. Much better.

[The Black Adder]

First thing to specify is male or female XLR. I'm still not sure which you need.Hiya.

Sure.

I need a pair of both... One pair for recording and one pair for playback. Is that what you mean?

[emoji3]



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[Sherwood]

Hiya.

Sure.

I need a pair of both... One pair for recording and one pair for playback. Is that what you mean?

[emoji3]



Sent from my 9001X using Tapatalk

What are the sockets at each end? I am guessing that one end will be two pairs of RCA phono sockets. What are the sockets on the XLR side: both male, both female, or a mix of the two?

Geoff

[topoxforddoc]

Josie,

I have used these (£12.95 for 3 m IN/OUT pair), as well the same company for my XLR-XLR leads. They work fine with my Studers, Otari and Sony machines. This company's RCA plugs are narrow and so they make RCA-RCA cables too, which will fit Revoxes. Studios don't spend a fortune on cable, so I'm happy to save my pennies too.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Revox-Set-of-3mtr-XLR-to-Phono-Leads-for-Revox-Studer-PR99-B77/321109832407?hash=item4ac3a332d7:g:W8EAAOxyyF5RQXw ~

Charlie

[Barry]

Pins 2 and 3 should be carrying opposing phase signals. Why link them together? If it's a male XLR going to an input, the balanced circuit will be looking for the voltage difference between pins 2 and 3 - but there won't be one. If it's a female XLR coming from an output, linking pins 2 and 3 could damage the output circuit.

Oops - I should have said connect the inner conductor to pin2 and the screen to both pin 1 and pin 3. My mistake!

Yes on female XLRs (as used to connect to the source output) you will be shorting the -ve going output to ground, but as I said in my reply to Dennis, I have used such leads to connect the balanced output of my preamp to the unbalanced input of a power amplifier on several occasions without a problem (such an arrangement is recommended by the manufacturer in the operating instructions).

[Primalsea]

This document from Rane is useful, if you are looking to make your own cables. http://www.rane.com/note110.html

[Sherwood]

I would simply ask the people at designacable to advise you on what you need. They have a returns policy that will mean you can send the cables back if they d not meet your requirements.

Geoff

[Barry]

This document from Rane is useful, if you are looking to make your own cables. http://www.rane.com/note110.html

That's a very useful guide Paul. Thanks for the heads up.

[The Black Adder]

Thanks guys.

I just need a stop gap for the moment so the ones Charlie suggested is a no brained for the time being. Thanks Charlie.

I am however still interested in buying some upgraded ones either having some custom made or the designacable ones.

So wiring methods are great, thanks guys.

The designacable ones do look good so maybe can send them the specification.



Sent from my 9001X using Tapatalk

[mikmas]

Thanks guys.

I just need a stop gap for the moment so the ones Charlie suggested is a no brained for the time being. Thanks Charlie.

I am however still interested in buying some upgraded ones either having some custom made or the designacable ones.



I would definitely go for ready made or made to measure.

I recently made up a pair myself to use with a mixer (male XLR to male RCA) and got both confused by online info re. wiring and also bought quite thick cable (Klotz microphone cable)
I ended up in a right old shit pickle - despite years of experience making up 'straight-forward' 5 pin Din and RCA combo cables. ...... never again, I vowed

[kambo_z]

I'd avoid Van Damme.

Mogami for cheaper cables. Much better.

What Mogami cable is good to make rca cable?

[Bigman80]

What Mogami cable is good to make rca cable?http://www.mogamicable.com/category/bulk/microphone/quality_balanced/

Neglex W2549 is good.