Combi XLR Jack extension cable?... i hope

[GS797]

On the back of my preamp / converter i have these combined XLR - 1/4 Jack or Mic - Line connectors.


Since im switching them a lot, i was wondering if extension cables exist. That would allow me to change the connection without having to get to the back, and also save the connectors on the machine itself.

So far i didn't find any. The DIY approach has me confused though:
- I know how to wire XLR to Jack (balanced), but if i would wire a combi connector (female obviously) to a Jack, my mic signal would go 'line in' (wrong level/impedance, no phantom power etc). And with Combi to XLR it would be the other way around.

Is the non existent Combi Male connector the only option?

DOH!

[David Kulka]

First you need to determine whether or not the XLR and 1/4" connections are wired in parallel in your preamp. The pins on these connectors are separate, but usually they are linked by jumper wires or foils on the PC board.

If they ARE in parallel, you could make an extension by mounting a combi connector in a small box and running normal mic cable from that connector to a male XLR.

If the connections are NOT in parallel it's harder and maybe impractical. You'd have to use 2 channel mic cable and wire directly to the inside of the unit, with one set wired to the XLR side and one set to the 1/4" side. The other end would go to the combi connector, wired in the same way.

[JohnRoberts]

+1, IIRC there may be switch contacts inside too. There is no way (I know of) to extend this with a male plug in.

A similar remote connector, hard wired to where the original jack was soldered, could deliver full functionality, but not neat or pretty.

JR

[Bill@WelcomeHome]

You would really have to cobble something together... probably pretty ugly.

If you know that you have to have what you have where you have it, you might be able to tap the wires off to a 1/4" jack and install it somewhere on the back panel of your interface. Then you could use a mic cable and a 1/4" cable as extensions.

Might it not be easier to just reposition the hardware to make it more accessible?

[GS797]

Originally Posted by Bill@WelcomeHome

Might it not be easier ...

Aw yes, the easy way.. now where is the fun in that ?

No, joking aside. I think you guys are absolutely right about this. I was kinda hoping that I was overlooking something here, but its looking pretty hopeless.

@Kulka: Sadly they are not 'in parralel'.. thats where my headaches started

I guess, like John and Bill said;
For functionality i think wiring the same (but external) connector to a cable and the contacts/wires on the inside of the machine would be my best option. Thats actually pretty easy, but that kinda defies my goal of not tempering with with the machine itself.

Im looking at a datasheet / drawing of the connector, to see how it functions.. but a frankenstein hybrid seems to be out of the question ..


O well, I will do some more staring and headscratching and report when hell froze over.

Thanks for the help guys!

[Sanchez]

Hmm came here looking for exactly this info. re: a Metric Halo ULN2....if it really isn't possible...that's really a PITA! Very surprised that with so many boxes using these connectors there's no kind of solution, even on a maker-by-maker basis.

[Bill@WelcomeHome]

Originally Posted by Sanchez

Hmm came here looking for exactly this info. re: a Metric Halo ULN2....if it really isn't possible...that's really a PITA! Very surprised that with so many boxes using these connectors there's no kind of solution, even on a maker-by-maker basis.

I guess it is a case of 'damned if you do..', because these manufacturers provide access to a mic pre and a line input in one space, and the users aren't happy about it. Which makes one ask why they bought it to start with, if it does not do what they want it to do. I think that these connectors are a great idea on the little 'couple of channels in a portable box' products, but on the rear panel of a rack mountable piece, not so much. Which would be a deal-breaker for me if I needed constant access to the rear panel but had no practical place to put the chassis to allow such access.