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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

mini xlr cable interest?

Hi I have two questions for some of the knowledgeable chaps here. I've been meaning to try making cables for a while and this gives me an excuse to give it a go, so I apologize if these are stupid questions.

What are the breakaway connectors for audio snakes called, and who makes them? I been searching for ages and am still coming up blank...

Also, I want to make a Y-cable XLR-F to 2x TA3M to connect a camera mounted mic (so I can record two channels one hotter than the other).

I was going to use two lengths of mogami mic cable and wire them both to the XLR-F (1,2,3) pins then each to the corresponding TA3M's (1,2,3) pins.
Will that work correctly? Or should I wire them XLR-F pin 1 to right TA3M pin 2, XLR-F pin 2 to left TA3M pin 2, XLR-F pin 3 to both TA3M's?
 
Ed Watkins said:
What are the breakaway connectors for audio snakes called, and who makes them? I been searching for ages and am still coming up blank...
Click to expand...

There could be many different ones, depending on how many ch you have etc... For some of the smaller mixers, PSC, Cooper, Sound Devices, you could use a Neutricon Connector, or HIROSE. For multi ch snakes, with A/V, you may want to look into EDAC.

Ed Watkins said:
Also, I'm making a Y-cable XLR-F to 2x TA3M to connect a camera mounted mic (so I can record two channels one hotter than the other).

I was going to use two lengths of mogami mic cable and wire them both to the XLR-F (1,2,3) pins then each to the corresponding TA3M's (1,2,3) pins. Will that work correctly? Or should I wire them XLR-F pin 1 to right TA3M pin 2, XLR-F pin 2 to right TA3M pin 2, XLR-F pin 3 to both TA3M's?
Click to expand...

I'll leave the second question to someone that can actually test this on a RED. I awaitng the local unit to return from being X'd as is the owner.
 
We have tried to provide the basic cables but are happy to make cables for more specific uses.

Robert Kennedy
Sales Manager, Coffey Sound[/QUOTE]

Can you make the miniXlr side of the cable at a right angle so that the cable naturally goes down ?
 
Who makes the best quality TA3 connectors?
Does anyone on this thread have a Mogami catalogue?

I'm happy with my Mogami Multichannel Mic snake (Part No. 2602: 2 channels + camera headphone return) but I will need to upgrade this to a 4 channel + headphone RTN equivalent).

Great to learn mini-XLR = TA3 which is compatible with the Sound Devices line.
 
Wouldn't the ideal be a breakaway cable that could send all four channels from an SD442? SD442 has four TA3M outputs, RED has four TA3F inputs, so design something that provides for four channel direct recording plus return and headphone and make it a breakaway design, probly need to make two versions so that the mixer can send two channel fullsize XLR output mixed for use with any mixer, or four channel mini XLR for use with a dedicated output like the 442.

Coffey or Pana-Tech, make that cable and that's all we need.
 
what lengths? seems a one size won't fit all here. one wants this one wants that. Ideas on lengths and wants??
 
Take the cue from the betasp FP33 breakaway snake, we need that same functionality but updated for Red/SD442. So a reasonably short camera cable with headphone return and four mini-XLRs and a decent run length to the mixer with either four mini-XLRs or maybe we want the option of taking the two-channel out and also the four raw outs so maybe the mixer side is four mini-XLR and two full-size, and the camera side is six mini-XLR (four direct, two full-size-to-mini) plus appropriate headphone return and boom op/camera op headphone output.

But take the design cue from the existing ENG-standard beta snake, we need the same thing but just brought into 2008.
 
I'm not sure if some of this posting should be in another thread. Please excuse me if it seems I'm rambling...


In the short-term I'm not ordering a 4 channel + camera headphone monitor snake with TA3m for the Red-side and 2 XLR + 2 TA3m on the mixer side. I'll wait another month or two and see what solutions other companies present.

A Documentary Perpective with SD 302
It looks like most of us are on a quest of an elegant, strike that, a working solution that avoids the sync trials of a dual recording system...

I currently own an SD 302. It’s an elegant slim, form factor, but only has 3 adjustable inputs with 2 outputs. For that matter the 442 is still has only adjustable 2 outputs. I love the bright proprietary LED display in the shape of VU meters and am loath to give it up for a lowly USBpre –(which has the same dimensions, minus the ‘wings’). The SD 442 is more than twice the size & mass of the SD 302.

Proposed Audio Modules for Red Camera
In the other Reduser.net > Red Digital Cinema > Audio thread there are numerous gripes about the decision to use the mini-XLR / TA3f;
here's an proposal for future Red camera audio modules: provide one single 4 channel + 4 channel variable connection, ideally, near the camera headphone monitor jack (like that comes out of a A-Format or B-Format multichannel mic). This allows Red other companies to build audio break-out boxes specific to the needs of the documentary community (which seems to be left behind).

Conversation with Sound Devices
I called one of the techs at Sound Devices last week and spoke to them about the form factor of the SD USBpre and the issue that the SD 442 is really only has two controlled outputs (channels 3 & 4 being pass-thru). I told him I was looking for a slim form-factor (302-like) that 4 controllable outputs (currently they only provide this on the SD 744T)

I asked what if they might consider building something specific to the needs of the Red community that was smaller than the SD 442 and how many units do they need to make it worthwhile. I also mentioned it seemed that hadn't released any new products for a long time.

He didn't really answer the question but instead said they have other products under development that compliment their existing line and that alway consider requests from those using their equipment. We should submit these requests to:
support@sounddevices.com

When the conversation ended, I was left with the impression that we should email them with our requests for a small 4 channel, Red-compatible, mixer.

Some size and weight stats for Sound Devices: Mixpre, 302, USBpre, & 442

While the SD302 can be configured to pass thru additional channels 4 +5 (see The “Five Channel” 302 Mixer. )
http://www.sounddevices.com/notes/mixers/302-inputs-4-5/#more-181

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/292980-REG/Sound_Devices_302_302_Portable_3_Channel.html
SD 302 Dimensions 1.8 x 8.4 x 4.5" (47 x 214 x 114mm= 1146 cubic centimetres) (HxWxD) Weight 1.8 lbs (0.85 kg)

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/292988-REG/Sound_Devices_MIXPRE_Mixpre_Portable_2.html
Dimensions 1.7 x 3.7 x 5.5" (43 x 94 x 140mm= 566 cubic centimetres) (HxWxD) Weight 2.0 lbs (0.8 kg)

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/428648-REG/Sound_Devices__442_ENG_EFP_Deluxe_Field.html
SD 442 Dimensions 2.1 x 6.5 x 11" (53 x 165 x 279mm= 2440 cubic centimetres) (HxWxD) Weight 4.5 lbs (2.0 kg)

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/292993-REG/Sound_Devices_USBPRE15_USBPre_Version_1_5_.html
 
"For that matter the 442 is still has only adjustable 2 outputs"

I think you've got it backwards. The SD422 does have 2 main (L/R) outputs designed to carry the stereo mix of the four inputs, but it also has four "pre-fader" direct outputs on TA3 connectors whose levels are controlled by the trim pot next to each inputs fader. That means that each input has a dedicated and isolated line level direct output.

You could easily make a 4 channel snake cable to go from the 442 to the Red to record individual tracks.
 
Mike, thanks for the clarification, I was confusing in that post.
Good point.

I know it's not an issue to make a 4 channel snake to got from the SD 442 to the Red. I prefer a field mixer that is smaller though that the 442.

What I was meaning to convey in the previous post is that I'd like to see all 4 channels metered - in a smaller form-factor than the 2.4 litre-sized 442! Anders Holck suggested using two SD 302s in one post to accomplish this.
 
PSC is making me a Red-connectorized "camera-end" for their standard Beta snake. It is being sold thru Location Sound in LA. I told them they could expect a lot more orders for this.

Philip Perkins CAS
 
Jeff Wrote:
"I'd like to see all 4 channels metered - in a smaller form-factor than the 2.4 litre-sized 442!"

Ok, then what you're looking for is basically a 4 channel mic pre with metering. Ganging two SD302's would work, but you might want to think about ganging two SD Mix-Pre's instead. It's much more convenient (from a Sound Mixer's perspective) to have it all in one mixer, but two Mix-Pre's is about as small as it gets.
 
Chris Kenny said:
Any ideas on where to look in New York?
Click to expand...

Chris Stubbs at Redco Audio in Connecticut (www.redco.com, 203-502-7600) can supply them at low cost. They made up four 6-foot XLR-F to mini-XLR-M cables for hooking our TetraMic to RED -- we had them in three days.
 
Is anybody making a Y adapter XLR-F to 2 mini-XLR-M? This way we can record 1 input to 2 channels with different level settings.
 
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