Where to buy XLR cables under a foot?

[trymonlam]

ask anyone here that's near your area to make one for you for a fee. It's very easy to make with the right jack in hand.

[Richard Crowley]

I make my own cables, and I get most of my connectors and wire from Redco. They also make custom cables which you can specify and order right online.

Professional Recording Equipment Accessories: Shop Our Selection of Audio Equipment Accessories, Custom Engraved Panels and Custom Audio Cables - Custom Audio Cables - Design Your Own Custom Cables

I entered your specifications (with 1 foot length, the minimum) and they want $18.50 custom assembled and tested. You can enter special instructions for making it only 3 inches (or 6 inches or whatever) but the 1 foot length is probably the minimum price for the wire.

There are other online vendors who will custom-make cables like this. I don't know of any which have online specification and price web pages, though.

[nnajar]

Best to make them yourself

[loujudson]

Or do an internet search for "short XLR cables" but go to Redco really. They will make them up just as you want them.

[John Willett]

In the UK, Canford Audio make custom cables.

Choose the cable, choose the connectors, state the length and they'll make it for you.

John

[WVUtubadude]

XLR to XLR Cables

[Marlan]

I would strongly reccomend learning to solder. Its a great skill to have and will serve you your whole recording career.


The times I'm too lazy to do it myself, I just order from Redco.com. They can build you anything you can dream up cablewise.

[SampsonNation]

I have an idea... Does anyone make a right angle female to male XLR adapter? That would solve my issue right away.


I also meant in my original post for the angled end to be female. I'm essentially making a remote jack.

I'll attach pictures when I can.

[loujudson]

Originally Posted by SampsonNation

I have an idea... Does anyone make a right angle female to male XLR adapter? That would solve my issue right away.


I also meant in my original post for the angled end to be female. I'm essentially making a remote jack.

I'll attach pictures when I can.

I have been looking for a right angle XLR solid adaptor for some time - my new mixer has the talkback mic jack on the back instead of the top. But I have not been able to find one yet - if you find one, please post the link here!

[tourtelot]

Originally Posted by loujudson

I have been looking for a right angle XLR solid adaptor for some time - my new mixer has the talkback mic jack on the back instead of the top. But I have not been able to find one yet - if you find one, please post the link here!

Like the guys say, learn to build your own. I built the T/B adapter that you describe out of Neutrik parts.

D.

[SampsonNation]

Originally Posted by tourtelot

Like the guys say, learn to build your own. I built the T/B adapter that you describe out of Neutrik parts.

D.

How do you build an adapter without any wire in the middle?

On a side note, I'm a DJ, not a sound engineer :D.


B&H, Markertek, they both don't have what I need. Redco, I'll have to call and ask, but they don't say they go under 1'.

Maybe I should just convert the XLR to 1/4" instead? That way, I can buy a 90 degree angled adapter coming out of my mixer.

[DCtoDaylight]

Originally Posted by SampsonNation

B&H, Markertek, they both don't have what I need. Redco, I'll have to call and ask, but they don't say they go under 1'.

If you ask nicely, they will make any length you want. I have some 6-inch word clock cables from them.

[SampsonNation]

Are these going to be over $24 a cable? I need two of them...

[Richard Crowley]

Originally Posted by SampsonNation

Are these going to be over $24 a cable? I need two of them...

This is why people learn to make their own. It is not rocket surgery.

If you went to the Redco page I cited, you could see for yourself what the price will be for your choice of wire and connectors. Are you asking us to do your homework for you?

[SampsonNation]

I strongly suggest I don't learn how to do it. I am not good at all when it comes to power tools and things of this sort. I can use crimps, and make splices, but not solder.

No, I was not suggesting that .

[zoom]

It makes sense or is an useful investment to own a good soldering station and some other tools for customizing cables or repair.
Making XLR-cables for your own needs, is not so difficult - just a little training or someone who shows you how it works.

...and let's be happy that XLR and not Lemo is the standard! Soldering Lemo cables is a nightmare - this is what I wouldn't do by myself. ;-)

[Masaaki]

If you just need two, and you don't want to learn soldering, Redco will make them probably around $20-25 a cable, then pay shipping like $10. That's easiest way, if you are willing to pay $50 for a couple of adapter cables.

A few years back, I made bunch of XLR-XLR, and TRS-TRS cables in various length (1, 5, 10, 25, and 50 ft) with various colors, using mogami cables and neutrik connectors. Next year, I made short "conversion cables", so that I can change one end from XLR to TRS, or vice versa, including male/femake conversion and right angle/straight conversion. When I juggle my equipment, I can always find out solution---well, I made these to give myself the solution.

I probably spent more than $1000 just for these custome cables, but if you buy them, like Mogami Gold, the price is riduculous (a 50ft mogami gold xlr cable is like $110), so I feel very good about what I did.

What you need is something like this? (the one on the left----sorry. they are not for sale, btw).

[SampsonNation]

I don't think I have enough room for what I am talking about doing. I'm going to order a 1' cable with the male end angled. Pics attached.

The XLR's on the left are the outputs. I was hoping with a direct adapter I would be able to get it to fit in the case and come out of the panel above... There's not enough space.. My second option I can do is purchase a 1 foot xlr to male angled cable and make it come out on the right side of the panel. You'll actually see where I put an XLR end to mark where I want it.

Not that it matters, but I have to angle the end of the cable because my laptop shelf sits above the panel and there's only about 3-5" of room.








Does this look about right, or do you think I should try elsewhere as far as price is concerned.

I did find these for $8.95 - http://www.l-com.com/item.aspx?id=25355

l-com is $27 shipped and Redco is $38 shipped (I changed a few things on Reco to make my order a few dollars less).

[Richard Crowley]

The cables from Icom look OK. They don't say what brand connectors (or cable) they use, but frankly, this isn't a critical application and even if those are only Neutrik clone connectors, it probably isn't a big deal inside your road case. Not worth obsessing over.

OTOH, if you order from Redco, you can have them made as short as you want since they are full-custom as you order them.

[Howie J]

You need something like these...only a bit shorter:

I made these for my MC6000 in a slant rack so I don't have to go searching when I setup. Just plug to the labeled cables.

[TC Custom Audio]

Originally Posted by rcrowley

I make my own cables, and I get most of my connectors and wire from Redco. They also make custom cables which you can specify and order right online.

Professional Recording Equipment Accessories: Shop Our Selection of Audio Equipment Accessories, Custom Engraved Panels and Custom Audio Cables - Custom Audio Cables - Design Your Own Custom Cables

I entered your specifications (with 1 foot length, the minimum) and they want $18.50 custom assembled and tested. You can enter special instructions for making it only 3 inches (or 6 inches or whatever) but the 1 foot length is probably the minimum price for the wire.

There are other online vendors who will custom-make cables like this. I don't know of any which have online specification and price web pages, though.

Yup, Redco is the spot for sure. Built to order, or built yourself. Either way, you'll get the best product at the best price.

[JoeDeF]

Originally Posted by SampsonNation

I don't think I have enough room for what I am talking about doing. I'm going to order a 1' cable with the male end angled. Pics attached.

The XLR's on the left are the outputs. I was hoping with a direct adapter I would be able to get it to fit in the case and come out of the panel above... There's not enough space.. My second option I can do is purchase a 1 foot xlr to male angled cable and make it come out on the right side of the panel. You'll actually see where I put an XLR end to mark where I want it.

Not that it matters, but I have to angle the end of the cable because my laptop shelf sits above the panel and there's only about 3-5" of room.



....

Hi SampsonNation,

I might be missing something, but it seems to me that a better solution might be to mount a pair of XLR-M panel-mounted jacks onto the panel, wired permanently to a pair of XLR-F connectors via short cables.

Better yet would be to take your entire rig to a local professional technician/engineer and have them make you a custom patch panel and cabling for your rig. Since your rig is obviously used to make money, you will re-earn any money that you spend on such a panel, hopefully in short order. A pro can also help you to segregate power and audio cables, reduce things like hum and RFI interference with intelligent routing, make sure that your grounding is good, and the like. It need not be that expensive.

And, the peace of mind that you will gain by having a professionally wired rig does have real value. In your picture, I see several cables with plastic connectors that might someday be prone to fail on you during an important show. Replacing them all with intelligently designed professional quality custom made cabling with high quality connectors would be a good investment. Most pros eventually go to custom wiring, sometimes after getting tired of getting burned by cable failures earlier in their careers. Maybe the time has come for you to make that transition as well. Of course, that's up to you.

Sorry if that comes off as "preachy." I know you came here with a specific question, hoping to solve a specific problem. My personal opinion is that a bigger solution to a bigger problem might serve you better in the long run.

Joe

[SampsonNation]

Which plastic connectors are you talking about? The only plastic ones I have are USB outlets. That's just the outer shell. The only jacks on my panel are, RCA, USB, and a right angle 1/4". I have to drill one more hole to put in an angled male XLR end. It can't be a panel jack because I don't have headroom for the cable if it's not at a 90 degree angle.

I really don't have the funds for anything more than just buying a cable. I wish I could say I was making money on my gear, but I haven't even started coming close to breaking even.

It would be nice, but I can't have anything permanent. There's always the possibility I would have to remove the mixer from the flight case as well.

I like knowing that if anything did fail, I just would unplug it from the panel and go directly to the mixer. The panel is just to keep everything convenient and neat.

Originally Posted by rcrowley

The cables from Icom look OK. They don't say what brand connectors (or cable) they use, but frankly, this isn't a critical application and even if those are only Neutrik clone connectors, it probably isn't a big deal inside your road case. Not worth obsessing over.

OTOH, if you order from Redco, you can have them made as short as you want since they are full-custom as you order them.

Thank you, I'll give the Icom cables a shot and see how they do. I'll post pictures when I get them .

[Richard Crowley]

I would use metal, recessed style connectors for RCA and USB (and Firewire, etc .) like these from Neutrik (available at Redco, etc.)

[Rolo 46]

Soldering is front line maintainence
Its easy
Silly not to learn.

[boojum]

Originally Posted by Rolo 46

Soldering is front line maintainence
Its easy
Silly not to learn.

And if you are a heretic, like me, Neutrik makes solderless connectors which I made a bunch of cables with four or five years ago and they are still fine. Neutrik's solderless connectors use a special method which is simple and rugged. The pull weight of a mic on this connector is born by the shell of the connector and the cable, not the wire ends where they attach to the connector.

I've been told all the while I am using these that they can't work. Yeah, and bumblebees can't fly.

[jnorman]

i can recommend Gakables, custom made cables by ted gakadis. lots of the taperssection.com folks use him for all kinds of specialty cables, and his work is superb.

link: Login

[SampsonNation]

I apologize it took so long to make this update... Here's some picture!!!