Mini XLRs

[ef37a]

Wow! Very wee aren't they?

Strangely. even having been involved with audio all my life I had never had hands on a mini XLR until CPC sent me two sets yesterday.

I am doing a power supply mod to two Berry mixers (will give C&V when finished) and standard XLRs would be too clumpy. I had imagined 'minis' to be about the size of a DIN plug? Not! They are smaller in diameter than my left little finger. These are going to be a real challenge to my significantly attenuated soldering skils!

Dave

[Hugh Robjohns]

Yes, they are very wee indeed... not a big fan, but they have their uses in things like headphones and portable recorders.

[ef37a]

Yes, they are very wee indeed... not a big fan, but they have their uses in things like headphones and portable recorders.

I hope these will be reliable Hugh, they will be carrying about 650mA 50Hz per pin. I would have preferred something like a 3 pin male and female locking DIN line connector but thought they would be a bit of a pain to find?

Dave.

[Hugh Robjohns]

Plenty at CPC. I like the screw threaded Lumberg DINs...


https://cpc.farnell.com/lumberg/sv30/pl ... dp/CN16845

https://cpc.farnell.com/lumberg/kv30/so ... pd-mi-acce

But there are also latching and bayonet types.

[Arpangel]

Mini XLR's
I inherited some of Mike Skeets kit, and it’s got them all over it, including mic leads, and adaptors, I’ve spent loads of time rewiring things,I just find them irritatingly inconvenient. He liked them because they are space saving, and they improve the look of complex mic rigs, all right, I must admit they do that at least.

[James Perrett]

I always liked the Lemo circular connectors. They're not cheap so probably overkill for a Berry mixer but they are extremely reliable and available in a very wide range of sizes and configurations.

They also make a cheaper range with plastic shells which seem fine.

Just checked a couple of data sheets for the mini XLR connectors and they have no problems with 650mA as the Cannon ones are rated at 3A per contact and the Rean ones claim 5A per contact.

[MOF]

These are going to be a real challenge to my significantly attenuated soldering skils!

You won’t want to try soldering the 4pin Lemo connector that Sound Devices use for their Timecode socket then. The pins are so close to one another that solder just bridged the very small gap no matter how careful I was. I ended up threading a strip of paper around the pins I didn’t want to solder cable to.
Sound Devices also use TA3 (mini xlr) connectors to save space on some inputs and outputs.

[ef37a]

These are going to be a real challenge to my significantly attenuated soldering skils!

You won’t want to try soldering the 4pin Lemo connector that Sound Devices use for their Timecode socket then. The pins are so close to one another that solder just bridged the very small gap no matter how careful I was. I ended up threading a strip of paper around the pins I didn’t want to solder cable to.
Sound Devices also use TA3 (mini xlr) connectors to save space on some inputs and outputs.

Ah! My trick with DINs and D subs was to run silicone sleeving over each pin as I wired it. Also I did not try to solder the wire TO the pin bucket. 'Tin wire, flood bucket, heat bucket, poke in wire, sleeve.'

Dave.

[Folderol]

These are going to be a real challenge to my significantly attenuated soldering skils!

You won’t want to try soldering the 4pin Lemo connector that Sound Devices use for their Timecode socket then. The pins are so close to one another that solder just bridged the very small gap no matter how careful I was. I ended up threading a strip of paper around the pins I didn’t want to solder cable to.
Sound Devices also use TA3 (mini xlr) connectors to save space on some inputs and outputs.

Ah! My trick with DINs and D subs was to run silicone sleeving over each pin as I wired it. Also I did not try to solder the wire TO the pin bucket. 'Tin wire, flood bucket, heat bucket, poke in wire, sleeve.'

Dave.

Ha! Pretty much my approach to minute plugs and sockets.

[MOF]

These pins were so close that one slight false move and I’d soldered two pins, hence my strip of paper.

[ef37a]

These pins were so close that one slight false move and I’d soldered two pins, hence my strip of paper.

Whatever floats you boat! My technique relies on a 'dry' solder iron tip and I touch it to the side of the 'flooded' pin then poke the wire in PDQ. Still a bloody fiddle mind!

I now have to gear up for the job. No good first thing in the morning. Too bleary. No good after about 8pm, knackered. So round about 'pre lunch' is favourite.

BTW I use a mini vice but always use the opposite gender connector to hold the actual 'job'.

Dave.

[Kwackman]

always use the opposite gender connector to hold the actual 'job'.

When I learnt this many years ago, it changed my soldering life for ever! Especially making MIDI cables.

[Folderol]

always use the opposite gender connector to hold the actual 'job'.

When I learnt this many years ago, it changed my soldering life for ever! Especially making MIDI cables.

I used to have a block of wood with holes for just about every plug imaginable - it mysteriously disappeared from my tool box one day

[Martin Walker]

I used to have a block of wood with holes for just about every plug imaginable - it mysteriously disappeared from my tool box one day

I really ought to have a go at making one of those for my own use, as those seemingly clever workmates with magnifying glasses and adjustable crocodile clips have an infuriating habit of dropping the plug at the least provocation

Martin

[Hugh Robjohns]

I use one of my ART DTI boxes. There's always one kicking around the studio and it makes the perfect solution for holding a connector in place while I'm soldering.

[DGL.]

These are going to be a real challenge to my significantly attenuated soldering skils!

You won’t want to try soldering the 4pin Lemo connector that Sound Devices use for their Timecode socket then. The pins are so close to one another that solder just bridged the very small gap no matter how careful I was. I ended up threading a strip of paper around the pins I didn’t want to solder cable to.
Sound Devices also use TA3 (mini xlr) connectors to save space on some inputs and outputs.

Yes the 4 pin Lemo, I have a few Trantec wireless systems that use a 4 pin Lemo, not the easiest things to wire at all. My dB units that use a custom locking 3.5mm TS are much easier, though it requires a specific model of beltpack transmitter if you don't want power present.

As for mini XLR, I was going to use one of the 5 pin Rean connectors for replacing the 5 pin unobtainum connectors on some very old TOA transmitters but haven't got around to it yet, in reality all 5 pins are not needed for most uses but I wanted to maintain the pinout.

Anyone who has had any experience with wireless systems will be experienced in a few different tiny connectors and they are all a bit of a pain!

[Funkyflash5]

I've got a rig I built for regular xlrs and 1/4" jacks that includes a toggle clamp to hold the cable and adding additional connectors wouldn't be too hard, but I'm still tempted by https://www.austinmics.com/hot-holder-pro/

[MarkOne]

I use one of my ART DTI boxes. There's always one kicking around the studio and it makes the perfect solution for holding a connector in place while I'm soldering.

I've found the Behringer cable tester has all the needed sockets in a handy steel lump that makes cable making a lot easier.

[Mike Stranks]

I use one of my ART DTI boxes. There's always one kicking around the studio and it makes the perfect solution for holding a connector in place while I'm soldering.

I've found the Behringer cable tester has all the needed sockets in a handy steel lump that makes cable making a lot easier.

Good call! I use a vice whose jaws can be tilted left/right and front/back to give the best 'approach angle' for the iron, and an illuminated magnifier. The problem I have these days is a slight tremor in my 'soldering' hand... which is why I'm turning more to 'made-up' cables if I can find them...

[Hugh Robjohns]

Yep. I've used a StudioSpares cable tester as a soldering base too...

[ef37a]

Hugh, you said "not keen". I am absolutely hissed OFF with the things!

Not just tiny (actually the solder buckets are pretty good) but the bits fly all over the shop. One pin assy' got lost under the settee. Because they fly apart I got the tiny intermediate plastic spacer the wrong way around first shot.
Then, despite THE most ernest concentration I got the wires wrong for the mixer end. The 'VU' LEDs lit up like a Christmas tree! All props to Behringer! I did that twice and it still works, listening to Schoenberg Verklarte Nacht through it atmo. (before he went atonally mad I think?)

The connectors can also only accept the smallest of cables. I had to drill out the back end to take the ~4.5mm power cable and even the 3mm mixer 2core + drain wire was a struggle.

Not going to use the others pair! This was a nice tidy job for son. The other mixer stays here and it is getting clunky XLRs on it!

Dave.

[Folderol]

Once again I'm reminded of a comment made by 'Henry' in Practical Wireless in the mid 1960s
"... but if it's smaller than the knob that turns it on, what's the point?"

[Martin Walker]

Once again I'm reminded of a comment made by 'Henry' in Practical Wireless in the mid 1960s
"... but if it's smaller than the knob that turns it on, what's the point?"

[Martin Walker]

I've got a rig I built for regular xlrs and 1/4" jacks that includes a toggle clamp to hold the cable and adding additional connectors wouldn't be too hard, but I'm still tempted by https://www.austinmics.com/hot-holder-pro/

Wow - now THAT's a thing of beauty!!



Bit pricey at $59 though