DIY DB-25

Ever gone shopping for DB-25 cables? Did you get sticker shock?
Did you know you can save a lot of money and build them yourself? Well you can!
In this video I’ll tell you everything you need to know about assembling your own DB-25 cables. I share TONS of tips and tricks to help you get the best results.
SOLDERED PRTS LIST
Male Connector - www.redco.com/Redco-1125P.html
Female Connector - www.redco.com/Redco-1125S.html
Metal Housing 4/40 or Metric - www.redco.com/Redco-DB25HM-4-40-or-Metric.html
DSUB Panel Mount Kit - www.redco.com/Redco-DSUB-MOUNT-KIT.html
Cable - www.redco.com/Redco-TGS-08.html
Extra Thumbscrews - www.redco.com/Redco-DSUB-SHELL-THUMBSCREWS.html
CRIMP PARTS LIST
Crimp tool - www.redco.com/Eclipse-300-015-D-Sub-Closed-Barrel-Contacts-4-Way-Indent-Crimp-Tool.html
Male Connector - www.redco.com/Pan-Pacific-DH-25HP-D-Sub-25-Pin-MALE-Crimp-Style-Connector.html
Female Connector - www.redco.com/Pan-Pacific-DH-25HS-D-Sub-25-Pin-FEMALE-Crimp-Style-Connector.html
Female Crimp Pins - www.redco.com/Pan-Pacific-DH-PIN-F-MCH-Machined-FEMALE-Dsub-Crimp-Pins.html
Male Crimp Pins - www.redco.com/Pan-Pacific-DH-PIN-M-MCH-Macined-MALE-Dsub-Crimp-Pins.html
Thanks for watching!
Jason
alphatone.com
reverb.com/shop/alphatoneaudio
alphatoneaudio

[@HarrisCodini]

What temperature do you solder at to not move the pins? Thanks for the video!

[@hakangurdol]

I made for my Aurora converters (2*16) for extra analog outputs, my municipality don't give enoufe budget, so i have to figure out my self. But i forget how i did it, so it’s nice to watch again, thank you.

[@AlphatoneAudio]

Glad I could help! And nice converters!

[@equessen]

Do you think the parts you used in the video would be fine for basic audio microphones to connect to like maybe bare wire from your your cable to a 3.5mm female input.. Thinking for a cctv nvr that has a db25 audio connector on it for more channels of audio input.

[@tapes9784]

It would be really great if you could make a video that goes through the testing of a cable like this. I have a cable tester but it doesn't have a DB25 port. I do have a multimeter but don't know how to use it in this context

[@AlphatoneAudio]

I just use a multimeter set to continuity test and go pin by pin. Just go slowly, and make sure to check adjacent pins to make sure there are no shorts.

[@FiscalWoofer]

Agreed just put the meter to measure resistance OHMs and test output pin to input pin post soldering, I also test to make sure there is no connection bridging pins 2-3 and visa-versa of each this takes a bit longer with a DB25. Cross connection contact is really only a problem if the wire is damaged, the solder is bridging the connection the xl or jack end or there is some tiny bridge of solder or wire thread. This should not be a problem if taking to slow and very methodical. Great video

[@dj_JotaErre]

Hello! a question please. How do you know if the db 25 connector is suitable for digital audio? In my country I only get standard connectors, what do you suggest I do? Thank you very much for your work and your videos, greetings from Argentina!

[@BrianOuellette19]

Thanks for the video and source for materials!

[@musafirsalam6108]

Brother Allahpak keep you healthy so that you can give more videos like this. Brother, I liked the videos very much, something good like learning - thank you very much brother

[@AlphatoneAudio]

Thanks for the well wishes and for watching!

[@seansmit]

Fun fact, Cannon also developed the XLR connector

[@AlphatoneAudio]

Yep!

[@Theophanes68]

Thanks for the excellent tutorial! Have you made any digital cables for pro audio interfaces? It seems these days it's hard to have a studio where all the digital connections are the same. I'm seeing more often where S/PDIF is through an optical input whereas the other piece of gear is an RCA or even AES connector. Is it possible to make cables that can utilize these different input/output connectors? Thanks for your time!

[@AlphatoneAudio]

Digital cables are easy enough to build as long as you use the properly rated materials. However, if you want to convert between formats, you need a hardware converter to do that.

[@ezrashanti]

You can get 2ch 2 way spdif to adat converter by hosa for under 100 bux

[@francispoon5576]

Thanks for sharing this, saves me lots!

[@AlphatoneAudio]

Glad I could help!

[@Ronrossmusic]

Where do you get your parts? I've never looked into converting everything to Dsub but am definitely considering it now. There are a lot of options online so I'm pretty confused. Thanks. Ron

[@AlphatoneAudio]

All the links in the video description are exactly what I used for this build.

[@headwaystudio]

If I just solder the drain wire like you recommended at the end, how far down should the shield wire be clipped? Should it still be twisted around the drain wire, and only cut down a little?

[@AlphatoneAudio]

If you just go with one wire, feel free to trim the other one as short as possible.

[@fl7645]

Hello great video. Can you make a video using that 25 pin and puting on the other side a BNC male conector.

[@AlphatoneAudio]

You can, just make sure you're using the correct cable.

[@clovell23]

What solder would you recommend for this type of project? Thank you for the excellent tutorial btw!

[@AlphatoneAudio]

Thanks! I used Kester 245 no-clean for nearly everything. Part number 24-6337-8800.

[@SeverityOne]

Very interesting, thanks. As it happens, there's a MOTU 24Ai on its way to me, and I need to connect it to five 19" rack synths, a 19" drum module, and at some point, a desktop synth and two keyboard synths. Now, these all have unbalanced 1/4" jack outputs, which means that buying a ready-made loom is probably not the best of ideas, because they're all balanced. If I were to build my own cable (and I have soldered DB25 in the past, when they were still used on computers, so go figure), would it suffice to solder the cold and ground wires together inside the jack? Or would that cause problems? Soldering the could and ground inside the DB25 plug looks a little fiddly, that's why.

[@AlphatoneAudio]

I would keep everything separated inside the DB-25, but not connect the ring conductor on the instrument side. It's pretty standard for unbalanced to balanced connections.

[@SeverityOne]

@@AlphatoneAudio Thanks! It does make choosing a cable simpler, if instead of soldering I'd purchase one. (Right now, sitting down to solder stuff is impossible for me.)

[@AlphatoneAudio]

@@SeverityOne You could always try a standard, pre-built TRS cable, and simply snip the ring conductor if you have a noise problem. This way, you can do it channel by channel. And you can always solder it back together if it makes it worse, haha. Most of the time things will just work out. Good luck!

[@SeverityOne]

@@AlphatoneAudio Thanks, I really appreciate your help and insights.

[@TheStudio49]

Hey great videos I was wondering if you could possibly do a cat5/cat6 cables 4 channels of balanced over ethernet Thank you

[@AlphatoneAudio]

Thanks! I've never used CAT5/CAT6 cable for analog audio, but I know there have been many variations of it over the years. Good idea for a video, not sure I'm the best one to do it, haha.

[@boydlittou9446]

Needing a 25db to 44 dB adapter. Anyone know we're to get one or how to make one?

[@danielev2762]

Many thanks for this tutorial !

[@AlphatoneAudio]

Glad I could help!

[@erkinkaratas903]

Is it possible to use DB-25 Cable for power transmission? I want to use it to power up different items with 24VDC.

[@AlphatoneAudio]

Yes, but you have to check the voltage and amperage limits for each part. Check the specs when you buy!

[@erkinkaratas903]

@@AlphatoneAudio thanks for the swift reply. Unfortunately there is not much info on the market about the items. The max amperage would be 0.33A and the voltage 24VDC.

[@AlphatoneAudio]

@@erkinkaratas903 www.mouser.com/datasheet/2/18/1/RR_HR_Rear_release-1501097.pdf

[@AlphatoneAudio]

@@erkinkaratas903 That should be well within the specs for most DB-25 parts. The main source of confusion regarding the specs is if the amperage is per connector or per pin.

[@greganikin7003]

Thank you’ it’s gonna save me 600$

[@AlphatoneAudio]

Great! Good luck.

[@victorharbach2051]

Hi! In my home studio (audio), while recording my interface (Antelope Orion 32 - "old") I'm having problems to monitor from it's Analog output (DB 25 to P-10 stereo). Could it be a DB 25 pinning issue to the p 10's? Thank you!

[@AlphatoneAudio]

It's possible. You can always check continuity of the cable with a multimeter to make sure

[@Rulemer]

This is great, thanks so much

[@AlphatoneAudio]

Glad I could help!

[@fleshwound5149]

So where did you connect the drain wire exactly?

[@AlphatoneAudio]

The drain wire goes to the pin for ground on each channel, along with the spiral shield if you choose not to clip it off. I believe I twisted them together.

[@Thescribler]

damn this is super helpful video thanks

[@AlphatoneAudio]

Glad I could help!

[@theuniverseelectricsoundch7948]

EDAC/ELCO 56 DIY soldering video would be great.

[@AlphatoneAudio]

I already have the parts to make that video, just have to get it into the queue. Not sure how many people are doing multichannel analog audio these days. What do you need it for?

[@theuniverseelectricsoundch7948]

@@AlphatoneAudio I’m practicing my soldering technique so that I can finish wiring up my analog recording console. All ELCO 56 connections.

[@AlphatoneAudio]

@@theuniverseelectricsoundch7948 Very cool, good luck! Reach out if you need any help, I wired plenty of consoles back in the day.

[@slowgaffle]

Thank you!

[@AlphatoneAudio]

You're welcome!

[@JulianFernandez]

thanks so much!

[@AlphatoneAudio]

no problem!

[@titothelegacy]

good job bro!

[@AlphatoneAudio]

Thanks!

[@Bjoronst]

I built my own 1U rack box with the purpose of connecting 24 xlr/ts to 3 DB-25 connectors and I had a lot of help from this tutorial, thanks a ton! I am now probably gonna make my own DB-25 cables as well, for custom lengths, and really want to make them with a 90 degree angle (as commonly found in xlr cables for example) to save some space, but I can't seem to find any housing for DB-25 that does a 90 degree turn upwards or downwards, only to the side, do you know if this exists? Sorry if the english is a bit broken btw, not my first language. Thanks again for the great videos and for replying to all the questions! Björn

[@AlphatoneAudio]

Like this? www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/NorComp/981-009-130R121?qs=k8GluCVb3Mb2kFLo3ug31w%3D%3D&gclid=Cj0KCQiA7qP9BRCLARIsABDaZzi4VpZwCWtrLFV24P0GOk_i9coJKTQuOW-MZmHN3l3wthn4kqK8EEMaAm13EALw_wcB Although they're probably too tall to use on a 1U panel. A web search for "90 degree db-25" will return some adapters that may work for you. Like this: www.amazon.com/L-com-Right-Angle-D-Sub-Adapter/dp/B000FMM8Z8 Good luck!

[@Bjoronst]

@@AlphatoneAudio Thanks alot, it's the second version bend I'm looking for! I will continue looking around for a housing with that kind of turn. Björn

[@SL9SH]

hello, what kind of cable do I need for a DB15 connector? (The big one with just 2 rows of pins, 8 on top 7 below) I see you used the Redco TGS-08, which should be the one I need for mye DB15? Thank you very much for your time and help

[@AlphatoneAudio]

Depends on how many channels you need. The Redco cable, along with many other brands, all come in different channel counts from 2 up to 24.

[@SL9SH]

Alphatone Audio I see, I really don’t know how many channels I need, my plan was to just wire all 15 pins with opposing pins on the other end, is that going to work?

[@AlphatoneAudio]

@@SL9SH If you don't know how many channels you need, how do you know you ned a DB-15? What's the pinout of the devices you're connecting? You really need to know all the details before you start in on a multipin plug.

[@SL9SH]

Alphatone Audio thanks for taking to reply, I don’t know much about this things sadly, one of my guitar amplifiers footswitch ( which has 6 channels) uses this kind of connection from the footswitch to the amplifier, I can’t get the cable in my country (don’t know why they are so rare) but just could get the two ends (like the ones on your video) so my idea as I don’t know how is everything pinned on the amplifier , was to just solder all 15 pins on one end to the other end on the exact same pins, don’t know if I make sense or if would not work at all like that. Thanks for all the advice

[@AlphatoneAudio]

@@SL9SH You really need to get a pinout from the manufacturer.