XLR to RCA Question

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commonman

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I'm using an Otari 5050MX 4 track reel to reel and a Tascam M508 (not sure if these are the exact model numbers but I'm too lazy to go look).
Since these items are ancient, I decided to replace some of the cables. I had 4 female XLR to RCA cables for the outputs of the Otari to the "tape ins" of the console.
The old cables were working OK but being on the verge of an analogue recording project, I wanted to improve the system so I ordered 4 new cables.
I installed the new cables and NOTHING. So, I put the old ones back. The only thing I can think is that the new XLR connectors are wired differently.
What a pain.
I'm not sure if I can get into inside the XLR part of the connectors to switch the wiring of the pins - even if I knew which pins go to what wires.

Nevertheless, I am hoping someone has some suggestions (other than just sending the new cables back).

Why would the wiring not be standardized on such cables?
 
Hi there

This isn't an answer to your issue, but I have also experienced non-standard wiring on insert cables (or stereo single TRS to dual-mono TS jack plugs) where the L & R
ends have been reversed. Damned annoying when you have crawled around the back of the desk and patched everything together and either the stereo image is flipped or the compressor isn't working!

I think that some companies really pay attention to the quality of the products they produce, whereas others just bang out as much stock as they can and by the time anybody in quality control realises that there's a problem, hundreds of dodgy items are already on the ship.

There's a few sites on the net which can help you with identifying which pins are what on the XLR cable (+ve, -ve, shield) and what coloured wires go to which pins if you want to try resoldering, but it could also be the RCA end which has been incorrectly wired.

It's a real bugger when this type of thing happens.
Can you return the cables you purchased, or is it that once the bag is opened no returns are possible?

Dags
 
The usual way to go from balanced XLR to unbalanced RCA (phono) is to wire XLR pins 1 and 3 together and take them to the outer sleeve of the RCA with Pin 2 on the XLR going to the centre pin of the RCA. If somebody has mistakenly wired Pins 2 and 3 together and taken them to the centre pin of the RCA, this could result in the signal cancellation that might cause your "nothing".

You'll probably find the connectors are labelled inside the XLR but, if not, the Wikipedia article on "XLR connector" has an accurate diagram of the Pin numbers. Don't forget, though, that the diagram is looking at the outside of the XLR. When you're inside for soldering, you're looking at it the other way around (if you see what I mean!).
 
I think the old Otari had the XLR's wired with pin 3 hot, The old standard. The standard now is pin 2 hot, so there could be a problem if the XLR outs on the Otari have a link internally between pins 2 and 1, this will short the signal.

Check the cables you bought to see if they are wired the same as the old cables.

Alan.
 
Ah, if it's a pin 3 hot device that could indeed be the issue. Good thought Witzendoz.
 
To All:
Thanks - this helps very much. I will compare the wiring of the old cables with new (if I can get inside the XLR unit of the new).
Thanks much :)
 
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