XLR vs DMX Cable | What's The Difference?

[@printerpr0n]

Great video. I always explain it like so: "Audio is mainly sine waves, 75 ohm cable. DMX is square waves, 110 ohm cable. Those square waves are encoded data packets with strict timing. 75 ohm cable cause the square waves to get rounded edges and deformed."

[@wilrobbins7595]

Calling audio XLR cables simply “XLR” isn’t clear, concise, or definitive. Lots of people do it (including seasoned touring folks), but like you said XLR is the connection type, not the intended use/spec. I always use the term “mic/line” for XLR audio and “DMX” for XLR DMX 512. I think this can avoid a lot of confusion, especially using 3 pin DMX and mic/line. Great video!

[@ReverbAndBeer]

Your videos are excellent. I have added this one to my "required viewing" for my volunteers (I do lots of non-profit, non-politics, non-religious benefit shows. My volunteers might be able to take out your appendix or run a company, but hand them an input list and they just stand there).

[@praveen7412004]

Great explanation. Thanks a lot. Is there any difference between XLR cable for microphone and line level signal for audio? If yes can we use these interchangeably?

[@kettnercreative]

You can use them interchangeably!

[@pjames12345]

Actually they both are XLR. DMX it's just a protocol that runs down a 5-pin XLR or sometimes at 3-pin XLR. However XLR connectors come in many pin counts. Such as 3-pin 4-pin 5-pin all the way up to 8 pin XLR. So as an educator myself in the profession always tried not to confuse the word XLR because when I ask someone to get cable for lighting for DMX I asked people to go grab me a 5-pin XLR for our DMX hookup. Just wanted to correct that a little bit EDIT: After reading this I noticed the person right behind you at the same thing :-) while I guess redundancy in this is helpful. Take care

[@theoutsiderjess1869]

I didn't even know dmx cable existed it makes sense as I don't have a lighting situation but this is good to know

[@jerrodmcdaniel2043]

Yes more dmx vids please

[@nunununenene678]

Thank you!

[@BestByBoris]

Cool branded jacket! ;-)

[@reyzuna]

they are the same, the DMX cable that you may want to call it a DMX cable is the one with a Resistor connecting it to the final end Loop so that no delay will be present when controlling the light. The DMX cable thru the line for Data is just the same as a normal XLR

[@kettnercreative]

This is absolutely not true. The impedance and shielding are different on XLR and DMX cables.

[@Matthew_T24]

Is there a rule on how long a dmx cable can be?

[@sankarn.s5645]

If i connect both xlr and 6.5 mm input in anallog mixer,which input takes the priority??

[@kettnercreative]

Test it

[@hanneskaufmann8878]

Great thank you

[@cyberdefenseddi]

I learned somthin new. Good stuff 👊

[@itoznachoz]

I just need help with which type of cable is better cause I'm planning to buy a new one. Planning to get Ernie Ball brand (xlr) for my mic since that's the best one I can get (on a budget) and I'm not so sure whether to get the braided ones or the classic. Any input on this would be much appreciated!

[@kettnercreative]

I've never liked braided cables. I'd buy the classic.

[@itoznachoz]

@@kettnercreative Is it due to the fact that braided ones is not that flexible? Guess I be taking the classic one it is. Thanks man! 🙏

[@avijitbhattacharya5528]

Can you make some videos on light mixers as well? 🙏🏾

[@kettnercreative]

What do you want to know?

[@avijitbhattacharya5528]

@@kettnercreative Just like you had explained in one of your videos, basic working principle of a standard sound mixer, similarly can you display something similar on a light mixer?

[@CadePedersen]

love the video, one correction though... 5 pin cables, all pins are soddered. The two extra pins is for what is called RDM. That is a way we communicate to the light from the console. We can change things such as pan / tilt offset, dmx channel mode, dmx address, Etc. other wise everything else is correct.

[@kettnercreative]

Weird, I’ve only done RDM over ethernet based protocols - I never knew it was possible over 5 pin! All the 5 pin cables I own only have three cores, but maybe I just bought cheap ones.

[@kettnercreative]

I found this while googling it: While the DMX protocol originally left pins 4 and 5 of the XLR connector open for “future use”, RDM actually doesn't use them either! This is one of the most common misconceptions of RDM.

[@CadePedersen]

@@kettnercreative hmm that’s odd. I use RDM with my onyx console with 5 pin Dmx. Let me do some digging and I’ll let you know. I’m curious too and want to learn more!

[@Socapexxx]

RDM actually doesn't use pins 4+5. A lot of premade cables don't actually use two pair cable either, which is why a lot of 5 pin cables don't have pins 4+5 wired.

[@CadePedersen]

@@Socapexxx oh thats weird thanks for the info

[@Faziejastin01]

Naiss

[@kenethdelmundo8946]

✌️✌️ thankyou sir

[@djphillmp]

The difference is impedance