How to Solder XLR Connections to make a new XLR cable

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Did you bust an XLR cable? Need to make a new one? Here's a demonstration on how you can solder new XLR heads on an XLR cable.

[@ColettaHughes]

A good electrician's trick that will make your finished XLR cable like a pro-tech did them: Crimp all the connections first, then solder them all. You get two things from this, great insulator alinement to the cable stress crimp and double the strength with solder and crimps on all connection. :)

[@FilmmakerIQ]

Great tip!

[@NikolaOric]

Not only did you help me train my XLR cable craftsmanship, but you also helped me learn to use the exact same cable tester I recently bought. You, Sir, are a scholar. Thank you for this great video! +1

[@EgoShredder]

I think many of the tutorial makers on KZbin should have a look at your video, because it is damn near perfect. You talk at the perfect speed, not like others who fire words like a machine gun or at the other extreme where you fall asleep. Next your camera angles are good and do not move about too much while viewers are trying to look. You also do not constantly back-track on what you have just said like others do, so you avoid confusing people. So to summarise your video is excellent!

[@sammiesoul5]

I made my first XLR cables following this videos and its 100% correct I did not even have a cable tester. Thank u

[@brianmorris8045]

I was once told by my Dad never to blow on the solder, it just might cause a dry joint as it dries too fast. He was a rad/tech in the airforce of the old days...learnt a lot from him. Otherwise your instructions are pretty down to earth.

[@thomassegaert]

I personally blow on the solder to blow away the toxic fumes and to make sure I don't inhale them.

[@danielleheight6064]

There’s air extractors for a reason hehe 😉

[@Mackie244]

Just an FYI..I have always heard that blowing on solder can lead to a "Cold Solder" joint because it makes the solder solidify too quickly. Just let the solder joint cure naturally. Beside that a good video.

[@cardbored_]

Came here to say that same thing!

[@mikep6967]

Always heard the same but I appreciate the vid

[@lovewillwinnn]

“Don’t forget” encourages people to forget. Isn’t it easier to say “remember to”?

[@candrasniper3404]

Agree... Blowing will make the cold joint.

[@dmwagnersalisbury]

Thanks for the clear instruction! I've got a pile of cables needing a refresher. I have a Pyle cable tester and love it. Thanks again! Much appreciated.

[@sneary71]

You should put the boots on the cable first - before stripping your wire. Sleeving the shield is also a good idea. For a clean shield, you can cut the braid down to about a 1/4", then tack-solder a piece of ground wire on to the remaining braid. Takes more time, but it's cleaner. I like the way you stand the iron and work the wire and connector. Good video.

[@jontaylor9298]

What a well-done video. Thank you for sharing in such a down-to-earth way!

[@georgescolaro4283]

Thanks for explaining the 3, 2, 1 numbers on the male and female connectors! Great job on the tut

[@westsideken]

Dude, thanks sooo much! saved me 75% of buying separate ready made cables. Works perfectly.

[@1crazynordlander]

I put 3 male and 3 female connectors on some wire that was already ran through conduit in our church building. I showed up with a soldering gun and some rosin core solder. That's it! I found a knife to cut and strip the ends and started to tin both the wire and the connector. I had no third had so I found a piece of metal that was on the back side of a cabinet door lock was just the right thickness that I could slightly jam the male pins onto it and it was my holder. The next thing I did was solder #3 first then the rest of them. The middle conductor help hold the other two wires steady. A piece of masking tape held the unstripped portion of wire in place. I had the best luck not tinning the connectors. I tried not tinning anything and that worked also. For the female end I just taped that and the wire down to a piece of wood that was used as a communion bench. Perfect! Thanks for the video!

[@editorialbrain]

I used this video to remind myself how to make one! Thanks! Mine I was having some crossed lines (it’s a very very small/ tight 90 degree angle connector on both sides) so I ended up adding hot glue to keep the wires nearby separated . Also added shrink wrap with a heat gun to protect the wires as well. I tested it out, works like a charm.

[@MixmanD28]

Great tutorial!! So clear, well explained and easy to follow along. Thanks!

[@patflynn]

Thanks for this - super helpful!

[@Kroeber38]

Very helpful video with kind and easy-to-understand instructions. It is very nice to see people trying to be helpful to others.

[@vnladico]

This was great, thanks for posting this and taking the time to explain everything clearly!

[@wickiitt9877]

Bob Ross of soldering cables!!!! Awesome video!!

[@JasonLaPrade]

I've always struggled with soldering and this should help me deal with the pile of broken cables I'm about to fix. Thanks. One tip about the cable tester. Hit the reset button above the intermittent led lights. They'll only come back on if the continuity is broken. This allows you to wiggle the cable to test the connection.

[@TreVicePhone]

Thank you sir, I appreciate the time you took to share your knowledge. This video has now helped me understand how to more efficiently solder my own cables.

[@Pan3optic3on]

Thanks for making this video. Had an old three meter mic lead and turned it into two xlrs. Saved a packet, they aint cheap new.

[@midzfarmandanganmukarram3596]

Thanks brother, it's something so simple and clearly easy to understand.

[@KC9KEP]

One addition .. I would push the "reset" button on the cable tester. The vertical column of LEDS will be reset and go dark. Then, I should shake the heck out of the cable. IF any sort of intermittent open or short does occur whilst shaking the cable, the corresponding LED in that leftmost column will light .. AND STAY LATCHED ON (until you push the "reset" button again.) This is really handy for testing intermittent suspect cables! Great job on the video though .. :-)

[@anianomislosjr1048]

greàt video,helps me a lot!

[@avigaba1796]

Perfect video.. thanks for creating this.. btw nice photograph on the desk

[@tsibren]

Great video! This really helped me a bunch. From now on I'm just gonna make my own XLR cables or at least repair broken ones.

[@djdavyne5068]

Thanks bud great video... I needed this in my life!

[@Digmen1]

I really enjoyed your series on making movies I learned a lot all about the different terms and roles

[@studio23producer]

Great tutorial which is very informative and super helpful - Thank You!

[@torbennielsen6628]

Thank you for the video!! Time to make some new cables!

[@sevenama8642]

thank you sir. it is really a big help for me in repairing my cables

[@oscaraquino315020]

now that is how you explain things....Thank you very much for making this video..i bet it helped lots of people.

[@zilogiv7663]

wow very nice tutorial! I am feeling pretty confident on future repairs :)

[@awesomejohnnet]

Thankyou for sharing this valuable info. God Bless you bro..

[@davidowner9556]

Brilliant just what I needed to know, thanks buddy

[@RallyDon82]

thank you for this, its gonna help with 1/4 inch jacks also as it also uses 3 connections just smaller.

[@lastwordindicator]

Good video, very well done. I've got some betacam sp stuff, and will forever be in need of some custom xlr cables. Thanks.

[@Osc291]

Interesting as I have used everything you are showing and have repaired XLR and 1/4 Phone cables in the past as an AV Tech. "Very good"

[@simonbmaster]

The only best so far

[@gkniffen]

Good stuff! Making cables is fun lol

[@davidgraham3162]

Thanks bro. Did my first cable then decided to check if it was correct. Trimming the cable lengths to get a neater more compact end makes all the difference. The cable stand / helper is a must. Trying to hold with pliers while leaving the solder iron on the stand is not very effective..

[@udashrampersad5027]

thank you... gr8 info and well explained!!!!

[@harryclark9709]

great job John

[@zarkye0071]

That was great teaching very good.

[@caswellgordon8933]

this was very simple to follow im gonna try now

[@aquagrump]

Very good very concise yet thorough. So these comments aren't meant to belittle this excellent video. 1. Get better strippers, and a separate crimper. You will thank me. 2. Home made cables when done right are far superior than the junk they have at most online and physical music stores. I had to solder all my instrument cables. I watched this because I have the same problems with my xlr cables and I am going to solder new ends.

[@datamasked623]

Multimeters work for checking continuity also, but the cable tester is much more convenient.

[@RocketRaven]

Eric Pederson like checking for resistance ? if its the wrong pin you have put the wire on its going to have overload?

[@QrchackOfficial]

No. A continuity test in a multimeter will beep whenever there's an electrical connection between the black and red probe. You stick a probe into each end of the cable and check the corresponding pins. So, touch pin 1 on each end (you can just slide the probe into the holes in female connector), listen for a beep, repeat for pin 2 and 3. This tester is nice since you don't have to clamp the cable so it doesn't slide around the desk while you try to put your probes in, and it does all the pins at once.

[@jonasnorrman8141]

Great tutorial!

[@EscapeMCP]

John, love your stuff, but I thought you always tried to make the best (whatever) that you can? Neutrik connectors are industry standard and with good reason. They are a very well designed product with excellent strain relief (and therefore VERY rugged). They may be a little more expensive - $4 vs $2 - but it's not going to blow your whole budget if you use Neutrik and they could save you a hundred times that in saved time when you find that one of your connections is dodgy and have to stop everything whilst troubleshooting. They do screw terminals also (although I know some people prefer soldered connections) which makes the whole process easier. I don't work for Neutrik, but I use Neutrik connectors on all my important connections and they are awesome. Can't recommend highly enough. Hope this helps.

[@justinmtsmusic9089]

This is freaking amazing.

[@repellersphiladelphia6619]

Awesome video. Clearly explained and nicely edited.

[@tommyhansen5327]

Thanks for this great video:-)

[@SimAlgyaxSaTun]

...Tryna focus on the knowledge drop but Zooey Deschanel is staring into my soul! D=

[@jdstewart9689]

excellent..very well made...thank you...JD

[@flyfields2]

Just for information on soldering, when you blow on a solder joint you create a cold solder joint. You should always let the solder joint harden by it self without blowing on it.

[@FilmmakerIQ]

I blew it :( thanks for the tip!

[@deekay8311]

nice info!,...love your pics :)

[@Frenchlakegunslinger]

This will be handy to make short run cables/snakes for my monitor rig. I can make a 16 channel snake, with 1 foot lengths using 2 10 foot mic cables, and XLR ends (Neutrik of course). Thanks for the tutorial. Handy to know, especially at the price for GOOD XLR cables!!

[@MfcoolProductions]

Great video, but where can I buy the cabling and connectors

[@bio2020]

dude, great job on your video.

[@wildchild5259]

Great video ,thanks for help....

[@TheDejavuPlus]

Thank you for a lesson! )

[@MaryKeey]

thanks! Great advice!

[@WIStreetKings]

Great video. Thanks!!

[@kevinobrien8803]

Nice video. Tip for checks. It is cheaper to buy or make a simple continuity tester for checking the wiring is correct.

[@FletcherPickering]

Your depth of field got wild there for a second when you shown the xlrs up close.

[@blackdude21]

good teacher...

[@alwaysforwardyt]

Thanks for the video. After watching it, l feel like trying with some of my headphones' cable :-)

[@TobiLeggend]

8 years later so you've probably sussed this by now, that cable tester, if you hit the rest button then wiggle the cables around a bit and those lights come back on there is a fault in the cable somewhere, if they do not come back on then the cable is good :)

[@alphonsodesselle212]

Wow. That was good thx!

[@jwhiteker1]

Great video. Good explanations. The only thing I would have done differently would have been to use Neutrik brand connectors instead of the cheapo's. Neutriks have much better strain relief which makes them superior!

[@MrWathi9UTubes]

hello.. thank you for the excellent tutorial.. Question: Can i use usb at the end instead of the male side?? if yes.. how? please!

[@pluckerpick]

I have a Karaoke mic cable that crackles, I looked that wiring and the coax sleeve is soldered to two of of the terminals , its linked across. I checked the other cable as i thought it could be a mistake but that is the same. I intend to strip back and re wire following your guide but not sure to go with your way or repeat what is there now

[@danishcanel]

Can you use another cable, such as an ordinary cable with no isolation, and two wires inside?

[@lizard_pe]

Muchos thank you. El mejor 🤓

[@BrandonCummingsIsAwesome]

Very helpful

[@ericvarga7692]

what type of wire are you using?

[@Tsamados]

Hi handy video, thanks! Have you any idea if it's possible to change a 5 pin XLR male socket to a 3 pin female XLR socket?

[@FilmmakerIQ]

You can wire the pins together but YOU HAVE TO KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING! Each of the five pins is carrying a voltage, if you combine pins you can blow out what ever it is you're connecting

[@Grizzly01]

Totally agree. The XLRs used in the video look like Switchcraft, and I would only use those if I had no other option. The strain relief is very poor. Always go with Neutrik if you are able, they are considered to be the industry standard in all fields that use XLRs.

[@nachurolenergy]

where did you y your cable from & what gauge are you using?

[@4KibDouglas]

Thank you very much

[@2204sherwood]

Where did you get the reel of cable from??

[@leskanekuni6310]

Great video! You have made me motivated to make my own cables. I am wondering where you got that metal stand for your soldering iron.

[@FilmmakerIQ]

Les Kanekuni Thanks! It came with a Solder Removal tool (basically an iron with a bulb for sucking up solder). Only think to be concerned about making your own cables is durability - but I guess it's not any different than buying cheap cables.

[@zilogiv7663]

desoldering...great tutorial thanks!

[@peedeewheats]

Nice Job..

[@OCDannyBelanger]

Just one little thing about that tester is that you need to press on reset and wiggle your wire around, if one of the intermittent lights turns on, then you know you have a short somewhere along the wire or at a connection.

[@rigidsecurity6990]

What wire brand and model number did you use?

[@Lexington101]

John, I love you man and I've obtained some great knowledge for you over the years... but dude, you gotta solder a little tighter.

[@drewmorg.]

I was sent an XLR to USB cable from Amazon. It works, but the Dynamic mic I'm using is registering with very low input volume in Windows 10 even with all gains and boosts checked. Lots of reviews on Amazon point to faulty wiring so I pulled back the shield and it looks like the Ground wire is ALSO connected to the Negative wire. The 3 port (ground) is also only connected to the clamp, not an actual wire. Is this normal?

[@FilmmakerIQ]

When wiring balanced XLR to an unbalanced source like phono or RCA, it's typical to wire the ground to the negative side. This sounds like an issue of line/mic levels mismatch - the computer is expecting a line level with lots of power but is only getting a mic signal.

[@jon33gtr]

Apologies, i havent checked all the comments and replies. Is there a suggested make/model soldering iron and also whats a type of solder you'd suggest?

[@FilmmakerIQ]

I don't do that much soldering so I don't have a preference. As for solder I used a 60/40 rosin core solder.

[@djcon-e2641]

If you're doing a lot, buy some mechanical wire stripers - I use them at work. Like pliers and one action.

[@JCBVFMX]

I'm looking for a very weird cable. I bought I Chinese microphone. with a USB to XLR Cable but this have 4 fins. instead of 3. ¿Do you have this kind of product?

[@FilmmakerIQ]

XLR is an analog signal, USB is generally digital data. You could technically send analog audio down the four cables of USB... But I haven't seen it before. Best bet would really try to buy another one. USB is pretty hard to fashion by hand.

[@opinionpeace]

thank you

[@jakirhussain7205]

Nice Bro

[@MegaCienfuegos]

Hello please explain to me how to make an XLR Male stereo to Dual 1/4 TRS Male stereo Y-Cable ... please plesae ... thank you

[@TheMrrubbersoulman]

alpha fry is a good rosin core solder?

[@jonathanscullen]

you did not clamp the cable end. Is solder a good conductor? Why nut put the cable to the connection and solder that?

[@FilmmakerIQ]

That's a tough one and I don't want to give you advice that would ruin your batteries. The tutorial above is really for audio cables. My guess (and this is only a guess) is that you treat it like an electrical cable where as white and black are Positive and Negative. The remaining pin for ground you would leave off. If you have one end that's still connected you could look at it to match the configuration. Be careful.

[@munlive5130]

how to connect regular speaker cable to 3pin xlr? because usually speaker cable has plus and minius only. not ground.

[@FilmmakerIQ]

Depends on your application, you would just short connectors 1&3. Look you wiring diagrams on Google for your application

[@dodonaim2008]

thank you very much

[@brockjohnson4389]

I'm usually pretty pissy by the time I get thru some dummy's video when I'm watching them (in dubble checking my connections just to be sure they are correct) because the LAG ON AND ON!!! HOWEVER... YOURS WAS FREAT MAN!! Killer and edited correctly and your camera wasn't shaking as thou you had parkensins.. (however u spell it) MAD PROPS dude great vid

[@chrisvdsvuurwerkjunky7161]

parkensins is a realy nasty decise,never hope that you get it,maby you can better saying,its like when you drink to much,this is somthing that people do to her own!!parkensins is somthing you get for nothing

[@JediStockTrader]

Howdy- So forgive me as I dont have a clue to electronics or technical names for parts. I have a problem not with The pins or the wires but when you plug in the pins connecting to the female plugs thing that seems to be loose inside and moving .. Is that an easy fix? Thanks

[@FilmmakerIQ]

sounds like something is broken. Replacing the entire XLR head woukd fix that