how to wire your live-rack?

[George Necola]

somewhat easy question..

I have a live-rack with some XLR ins/outs analog stuff (bss comps, dbx comps) + some jack stuff (spx90).

I want to be prepared for the most stuff except those 80s soundtracks consoles, where the pins are wired differently.. I dont care that much about it.

what do you recommend? is there a maufacturerd product? I am somewhat under time pressure, and am not able to get cables/connectors soldered till the gig.

cheers
George

[bishopthomas]

Depending on how much time you have, you may have to just go with individual cables for now. Ideally you would have a couple of different multipin harnesses (one for your TRS consoles, one for your XLR) and/or some adapters so you can mix/match with consoles with TRS/aux on different connectors. This will not exist as a pre-fabbed product, definitely a custom piece.

[valleysound]

Keep in mind that "pro" consoles have their inserts on separate XLR in/out and "cheaper" consoles have their insert points as a single TRS.

[valthesoundman]

I've been through this many times.
The easiest way I find is to get 2 XLR/XLR Multicores1 one doing all your ins, and one doing all your outs. Use XLR/TRS adaptors where required.

Label everything up and have a box/bag with all your adaptors in your rack.
Don't forget XLRM/XLRF >TRS insert cables...

[George Necola]

Thanx!

Got some trs insert cables for little money and will go the XLR/XLR way with adapters or use the in house cabling. I am doing only single gigs right now snd no touring..

[Rondel]

Originally Posted by George Necola

Thanx!

Got some trs insert cables for little money and will go the XLR/XLR way with adapters or use the in house cabling. I am doing only single gigs right now snd no touring..

I just had the same issue for my personal live-rack.
There are also consoles with TRS combined inserts with tip=send/ring=return, but other consoles are reversed! (I think Mackie vs Soundcraft). So I have now a 4xTRS to 8xXLRm (all male) together with 4 XLRf-XLRf adaptors on my unit (SPL Transient designer4). So I have 1 cable and can reverse ins/outs with the XLR's. For festivals I have a 8xTRS to 4xXLRm+4xXLRf to connect balanced jack inserts.
Never saw a XLR i/o on a desk...

My vocal preamp is also a Jack snake where I changed some TRS for XLR.
Mic in is XLR with a second for split, preamp return is TRS with a XLRm-TRS adaptor.
The spare channels on that 8-way snake connect a delay unit.

It's a bitch to be campatible for all consoles without having a mass of cables...

cheerz