How to make DIY Low Profile XLR

[@mrjono999]

UPDATE: If you don't mind the cables not looking so pretty then just fill with hot glue (this means you still get all the durability of epoxy but means you can just cut the cable, pick out the glue and re make the cable should it fail, or need chaning in the future).

[@simonbellemare2289]

I feel that remake a hot glue filled connector would make a big mess, make challenging (and weaker) re-soldering, and time consuming to make it clean. I'd rather pay a 5$ new connector, but I like the idea of a the possibility of re-making connectors.

[@ivan9ef]

Not so durable with hot glue! Looks like it's not standard neutrik connector, Where did you get circuit board?

[@pbalazeiro]

@@ivan9ef i believe it's these connectors. www.neutrik.com/en/product/nc3mxx-emc?c=audio

[@ShadowImageBand]

I cannot understand for the life of me why so very few companies make connectors like this and why those that exist are so expensive.

[@48snapper]

A first class video. No need to re-shoot at all. Thank you.

[@perrywright1555]

Make a slot instead of a hole, then you can solder before assembly instead of down inside the thing. Use a 3/4" leg tip trimmed down as a cap on the back. Use the cable clamp, trimmed down, to hold the insert in place instead of all the gluing mess. Yes…I should post my own video…right ?

[@jeffchristianson-ziebell7727]

Yes you should... I see you havent yet and its been a year as of the time Im replying but Id definitely watch and value such a video if ur still considering or know of one already made. Ive not found one. Especially for standard 3 pin mic XLR balanced cables but any XLR would be great to see & learn to do, etc.. Ive been making all my own mic, snake & home studio cables using mostly neutrik connectors with Mogami cables...of all types not just Neglex quads as theyre only necessary if in a noisy environment (noisy as in electronic etc interferences) its redundant & counterproductive to quality to use only quad cables I've learned the hard way plus its a fairly expensive lesson(s) to learn Lol. Anyway just thought I"d chime in after reading your comment here... Again, yeah please DO make the video! :-) cheers! :-)

[@perrywright1555]

@@jeffchristianson-ziebell7727 How the time flies. So I guess I have not needed such a low profile XLR since then. Actually I can’t understand why no one is making such a thing. (I did see one that is stupid expensive.) [www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1296514-REG/cable_techniques_ct_lpxlr_3m_r_low_profile_xlr_3_pin_male.html/?ap=y&smp=y&msclkid=af1d99673b4a1eb82fbdc673fb9a926e] If it wasn’t so late in the weekend I would start right now.

[@hat2flat]

Excellent improvement idea. As I was watching, I had the same thought about using a slot rather than a hole. I was also think about Epoxy running into the insert, and make using a layer of hot glue before the epoxy. I like your trimmed down cable clamp idea. I might try this soon, as well as the low profile, Good quality right angle plugs are expensive, but I will continue to use them in visible situations (drum mics!)

[@hat2flat]

He does do the hot glue first, I need to watch to whole video before mouthing off!

[@Galenfitzpatrick]

Thank you for showing this. This will buy me some space on my pedalboard.

[@ankitcho]

great video i found a random company that makes these low profile connectors for like 500% the cost of a single xlr connector, $3ish for a neutrik vs $15 for the other brand, thank god neutrik and rean make epic product that diy just makes sense..

[@mrjono999]

My thoughts exactly. Why on earth would you pay for this kind of thing when you work in the industry is beyond me. A little paitence and a little bit of VERY basic electronics/soldering and bobs your uncle you day off work turns into an enjoyable day producing rock solid cables that you know were made well.

[@petestyles8911]

cheers for this. I was really struggling with my cable management in my bag. This will really help me out

[@HarleyMace]

Great idea. I have been doing this with mine. If you buy the premade connectors they are $15 each, $40 for a 1 foot cable! :-/

[@rootvalue]

Great work Jono. Super creative thinking. Never seen something like this before.

[@pablocaillaux]

Jono, Exelent Tutorial. Thanks so much for share !! Really Apreciate

[@MickaAfianto-el5bu]

Wow salam saya dari Indonesia .sangat menginspirasi video anda terimakasih

[@22sound]

Great video, I'm just about to make these myself. Thanks so much for your video mate!

[@fullyformed]

Maybe try 2-part epoxy putty (eg Milliput, car body filler or even wood filler) instead of the hot glue + araldite? A lot less mess and faff! I've used Sugru before for this too.

[@RadityoPramAdi]

great idea man! This is great for tight guitar pedalboards!

[@karlwasserman6901]

Nice video, Jono! Which model of Neutrik xlr connector are you using?

[@pbalazeiro]

After 4 years... here it goes. I think it's the EMC series. Not 100% sure. www.neutrik.com/en/product/nc3mxx-emc?c=audio

[@SupertrampPictures]

such a great tutorial ever

[@mbox842]

Thanks alot! The glue gun is a great trick - I had the problem with the epoxy running down into the connector. Next time I will use this!

[@jon4715]

Hot glue eventually absorbs moisture and becomes conductive.

[@MrDCPatterson]

Super helpful - thanks for posting

[@rorysmith3595]

Such a useful video, thanks!

[@mrjono999]

I MAKE THEM FOR PEOPLE THAT SAY THANKS! X

[@rorysmith6351]

It was a little wordy though, but I like your energy!

[@AdamTroup]

Great video :)

[@markowens8255]

Any chance of telling me where you got the connectors from I have looked everywhere but they want like $25-$30 each would be very much appreciated

[@mrjono999]

DO i need to remake this video with it being A- Less long, and B- without the PCB in the XLR? or does everyone 'get it' from this slightly shambolic video?

[@petestyles8911]

I got it all from this. Going to do some myself this week. What is the PCB for on the boom?

[@mrjono999]

It's for the ambient wireless boom. I think it must be a 48v / 12v phantom adaptor of sorts. I don't really know is the honest truth. Ambient has made their own strain relief that fits inside this connector

[@petestyles8911]

ahh cool, I thought maybe you had added a high pass filter before the transmitter

[@Joaquin77]

Jono Cary its good, leave it like that. One thing I noticed, I caught myself blowing the at the screen to dissipate the smoke from the soldering! hahahahaha

[@AnthonyMartinsRock]

@@petestyles8911 The PCB is the circuit board used for continuous RF shield connection from the cable to the chassis connector housing via a circular capacitor around the cable shield. The circular capacitors act as high-pass filter with a cut-off frequency around 10 MHz. An EMI suppression ferrite bead with 24 Ohm at 1 MHz between pin 1 and the cable screen provides a low-pass filter for improved RF rejection.

[@KellyAskam_MindExchangeMusic]

Hi, Jono! Fellow location sound person here and I want to thank you very much for making this tutorial! I'm familiar with soldering XLRs, but it's great to see the low profile version from start to finish. I've used some of the Neutrik EMC connectors as well to help filter out any unwanted RF, ground loops, or Pin 1 problems that are relieved via the internals of the circuit board and the ground shells. I noticed you didn't, or couldn't, use the ground shells inside the low profile shell and connected the ground cable. Have you noticed any issues with the connectors or RF problems since? In case those pieces were missing they look like 2 metal 1/2 domes that the shield is placed around. Just curious! Thank you!

[@mrjono999]

Kelly Askam hey, I haven’t no, I do tend to find that with a lot of the pro sound kit pin 1 is often grounded inside the unit anyhow. Since making this video there are a fair few companies producing 3D printed bits of plastic to act as serviceable and replaceable caps to use instead of permanently gluing, I now actually use them more than this technique. Thanks for your content!

[@thotracer996]

@@mrjono999 Hey, great video! Which plastic caps are you now using?

[@Gregg0Palmer]

Nice job! Ever thought about a metal cap to extend the shield over the connections?

[@mrjono999]

never felt it was needed tbh

[@solidoumido5895]

Amazing! Thanks man.

[@HugoMak]

Thank you so much!

[@BryanDumaguina]

Thank you Sir, for sharing. :)

[@gsixx8fpv499]

Where would I find Neutrik low profile XLR connectors?

[@Veveve1]

nice one bro.

[@officialpoa3171]

WAIT! ........where did the connector come from? did I miss that information? What brand and how much?

[@mrjono999]

Official Poa it’s a neutrik nc3fxx and the male version is nc3mxx

[@bobjerome5390]

hi it's ace job try edac plugs on a audio loom for soundcraft 760 a lot harder i made a set good to see you know you gear

[@perrywright1555]

Try EBXYA plugs. The quality is plenty good enough, and the cost is far more affordable. Just solder quickly and the low temperature insert will not melt. (Is he standing there in socks while drilling metal ???)

[@mrjono999]

Perry Wright Are used this technique and made this video some years ago I no longer use it. And yes I was in socks but I was also in my living room in my flat in central London. I now live in the countryside and have a large workshop

[@perrywright1555]

Excellent. Maybe time for updated video. This is a topic of much interest to audio guys like me, and still quite relevant.

[@Robocopchris]

Thank you very much for sharing! May I ask, which Neutrik connector that is exactly? Out of memory I can just recall the ones with a thread - which would have to be sawed off.

[@mrjono999]

I was using NCFXX and NCMXX glad it's of some use!

[@pbalazeiro]

​@@mrjono999 First of all, thanks for the video. Are these the ones you're using? NC3MXX-EMC I'm asking because of the interior on the connector. It's different from my NCMXX connectors. The EMC-XLR Series is a specifically designed version of the XX series to give enhanced RF screening for critical applications in live performance and recording where there are particular problems with radio transmission or mobile phones.

[@mrjono999]

@@pbalazeiro I just used this as an example but normally I do the NC3fxx. I find them to be easy connectors to work with

[@pbalazeiro]

@@mrjono999 Yeah. Cool. Thanks!

[@christopherdaniel8230]

Which Neutrik jacks were you using?

[@abecoulter18]

20:19. Been there done that but worse......a young school student who was working for me used CA glue...faster setting than epoxy....just as strong....the he plugs it into my stage box on my waves eMotion LV1. A $4000 stage box (nzd)

[@helenmiles104]

Thanks for this video! Which model of Neutrik xlr connector are you using?

[@helenmiles104]

+Jono Cary thanks!

[@pbalazeiro]

​@@helenmiles104 are these the ones that he's using? www.neutrik.com/en/product/nc3mxx-emc?c=audio

[@gsixx8fpv499]

What wire did you use?

[@jon4715]

only problem is that hot glue eventually absorbs moisture. it's really best practice to not use it at all.

[@mrjono999]

I mean, in the applications I'm these XLR's are being used in it's not an issue. I've been using these techniques for years and I'm a documentary sound recordists recording in all weather conditions worldwide. Never been a problem.

[@jon4715]

@@mrjono999 You're probably right, and you use so little. I just know that I've been steered away from hot glue when it comes to certain applications (AC power applications, where shorting the ground could be dangerous).

[@Benoitbarraud]

Which cable are you using? What diameter? Thanks!

[@mrjono999]

+Benoit Bd Van Damme Install cable www.van-damme.com/15.html 3.5mm

[@Benoitbarraud]

Thanks!

[@perrywright1555]

In 26 minutes he failed to show how the connector was cut off. Soldering down inside the housing is dumb. The soldering should be done before assembly. It is totally astonishing that Neutrik, or Switchcraft, or someone is not making a simple version like this. There are a few low profile right angle XLR plugs, but the price is out in space. Any more that a dollar and a half for a plug is too much.