Charlotte_R Posted June 28, 2017 Share Posted June 28, 2017 Hi all, A while ago, I built up a load of adaptors for both sound and DMX. Unfortunately, they were involved in a rather catastrophic incident a few years ago, where they melted. I'm in a position where I'm starting to feel that it would be useful to build my stock of special cables back up and I wondered if you could look over my list and see if you have any comments. I'm thinking of building the following:- 4 off 1/4" phono to convertcon- 4 off m-f earth lift cables- 2 off m-f phase change cables- 4 off "spiders" (m-m-f-f) - 2 off 3-5 pin DMX- 2 off 5-3 pin DMX- 1 off DMX combiner (M5-F5-M5 with one male wired to pins 2&3 and the other wired to pins 4&5)- 1 off DMX splitter (the opposite of above)- 2 off DMX terminator- 1 off DMX tester I intend to use coloured boots to denote function:- black for normal audio signals- green for earth lift- red for phase change- blue for DMX, with a yellow ring for 3 pin and green ring for 5 pin (these mimic resistor colour codes). I also have various 3.5mm jack leads to XLR and 1/4" jack; and similar with 1/4" jack to XLR and 1/4" jack. Is there anything that I've missed, have too many or too few of? Thanks, Charlotte Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuart91 Posted June 28, 2017 Share Posted June 28, 2017 That looks fairly comprehensive to me. The only thing I'd maybe increase in quantity is the DMX terminators, simply because they go missing so easily. Might be worth getting some speakon couplers too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnhuson Posted June 28, 2017 Share Posted June 28, 2017 Re-read the OP after posting and missed something so my original post was wrong! But to add it might be worth having some 5-pin gender changers as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timsabre Posted June 29, 2017 Share Posted June 29, 2017 What is the "DMX combiner" (2x3 pin to 5 pin) for? Even 5 pin DMX cable normally only has pins 123 connected. I have seen the other way round used on older avo desks which have 2 universes on one 5 pin socket but I can't think of any other use. Unless of course you have DMX cable with all 5 pins wired. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shez Posted June 29, 2017 Share Posted June 29, 2017 The "DMX combiner" is also useful for comms when mixing one and two channel systems ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cedd Posted June 29, 2017 Share Posted June 29, 2017 Most useful leads I've ever owned (aside from the stuff used every day like 3-5 pin converters etc.) were some funny hybrid xlr adaptor cables that I made up myself. You need some nice and thin cable to make them work though. Wired as follows, with the middle 2 connectors having 2 cables going through the strain relief. 3 pin XLR; Male XLR------Female XLR-------------- Female XLR------Male XLR The whole lead is about a 1.2m long, with most of that on the middle length. This lead then serves the following functions;1m ish patch leadMale-Male adaptorFemale-Female adaptorMale - 2 x Female split/combineFemale - 2 x Male split/combine With the small cable diameter it doesn't take up much more space than the 4 connectors would. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kgallen Posted June 29, 2017 Share Posted June 29, 2017 with a yellow ring for 3 pin and green ring for 5 pin (these mimic resistor colour codes). <pedantic>3 is orange; yellow is 4</pedantic> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuart91 Posted June 29, 2017 Share Posted June 29, 2017 Male XLR------Female XLR-------------- Female XLR------Male XLR We call these "Z-adaptors" because they can take that shape if you wire them right. Definitely worth having. I tend to make mine up shorter, each link is less than 15cm. It's also possible to make them up with 3 and 5 pin DMX connectors: 5 pin Male XLR---- 3 pin female ------ 3 pin male ------ 5 pin female Which can be useful for certain bits of bodgery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkPAman Posted June 29, 2017 Share Posted June 29, 2017 Many baby audio desk still use TRS for outputs, so TRS > M-XLR is often useful.Others in my kit are: "Z" adaptors as above, but with an additional TRS plug on one end (and an appropriate sized plastic pen cap taped on, to stop it shorting when not in use). "Sniffers" that have TRS at one end with the T&R joined and go to a TS at the other end. Used to "sniff" unbalanced audio from a channel insert without interrupting the signal. Simple mic splitters with one of the M-XLR having no pin 1 connection - also serve a my earth lift cables. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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