Tag: XLR

If you have outboard gear or a mixing console and need to break-out balanced XLR inputs, this could probably help you to order your studio workspace.

Some years ago I started a side project which had nothing to do with Eurorack modular synths.
I needed a breakout box for the input channels of analogue outboard gear and a small mixing desk which only had DSUB connectors. When I started the project, I also thought about breakouts for the outputs of the outboard gear to be able to patch things, but that proved as more or less useless, as there are too many solutions available for patching signals in a studio. But there are not too many breakout solutions available. So I thought I’d give it a try.
I also tried two different formats of front panels, 1U 16 slots and 2U 24 slots. The 1U format did finally win.

When I did the research back then I found a very similar product, I guess it was on ebay classified or similar. It was just a front panel with the XLRs and a double sided PCB with a connector on the back. Obviously from an old SSL Avant Pro console.

I used this as a blue print for my own product. Basically it is a PCB with 8 XLR connectors on the front and a DSUB/DB25 connector on the rear. All screwed in a 1U 19 inch front pannel for two PCBs, hence 16 XLR female input sockets. Yes, you will still need multicore looms to connect all the different inputs with the DB25 connector on the breakout. So the win is to not have 16 XLRs flying around in your recording room/studio.
Most of the modern outboard equipment has the inputs all on the rear panel especially the API 500 racks (or SSL X-Rack format), so the breakout box brings them to the front of you desk.

The older I get the more I like the idea not to crawl on the floor behind my recording desk to connect a cable to a specific peace of gear. And I also like to have things in order and not having endless cables flying around.

The PCB is double sided, one layer for ground and one for the signals. It has thicker copper layers of 70μm. The XLR connectors are Neutrik NC3FD-V, each of them mounted with two countersunk 3 mm screws and nuts to the front panel. The front panel is an Adam Hall, 19 inch u-shaped rack panel (item no. 872225).
The DSUB connector is from Harting (Part number: 09 66 351 6513)
All parts are UL and RoHS certified.

Following configurations are possible, please get the latest price list.

• PCB only
• Complete board soldered with 8 Neutrik female sockets, and DSUB harting socket
• PCB, 8 Neutrik female sockets, and DSUB harting socket, as DIY kit
• 2 boards mounted with 19 inch front panel
• 2 boards, with 19 inch front panel, as DIY kit

Small side project from wiring my studio

As I was asked several times, yes I am back on business since mid January, lots of orders shipped, continuing…

Which doesn’t leave much time for other things. One of the “other things” is my small studio.
Having a lot of analogue gear, outboard, working with microphones, guitars etc. and also prefering an analogue workflow requires some thinking when it comes to wiring it all. I am also more the type of guy who prefers not to have cables flying around all over the studio.
Most of the modern studio equipment (mixers, interfaces) use DSUB25 or DB25 connectors. Of course you can use so called DSUB looms with XLR or 1/4 inch plugs. But when you use modular equipment like the 500 series, or single channel strips it sometimes gets tricky to change the setup, especially when everything is installed and most or all connectors are on the rear. This means you need breakouts to patch things or flip the mic from one to the other channel strip.

You can buy ready made breakouts like the RME BOB or from Mamba.
But I personally like the DIY approach. So I decided to make my own PCBs for XLR to DSUB (AES/EBU Tascam pinout). The first PCB prototypes will be delivered in the next weeks, so stay tuned if interested.