Sonnect Introduces the SoundWire - October 2023

Find out more 👉 shorturl.at/psEM1
00:00 - Intro
00:25 - Playing music
01:00 - Audio interface
01:22 - 3.5mm to XLR
02:09 - Dangers
03:00 - DI boxes
03:23 - Streamlined solution
03:57 - Product reveal
04:09 - USB-C DAC specs
04:21 - Transformers in XLRs
04:42 - Compatibility
04:50 - Adapter
05:00 - Plug-and-play
05:07 - Cable-tie
05:18 - Pouch
05:36 - How to get

[@aaronaustin7760]

You had me at the "WINK" ;)

[@Sonnect]

😂😂😂

[@jaycarrie1]

Super cool. Definitely gonna order and use one. It would be even cooler if there was a 6 output one for 5.1 playback

[@Sonnect]

Amazing! Well, careful what you ask for... 👀

[@crud118]

I actually love this, I've been using the Native Instruments Traktor Audio 2 Mk2 for compact playback but this will be more streamlined and higher quality.

[@Sonnect]

Yup, this is more of one line between the playback device and the console. Hope you'll enjoy this!

[@biggbrass1]

In the 3.5mm-dual xlr config, You could also cut the ground/pin 1 connection inside the xlr’s.

[@limesandstripes]

Ok now this is an amazing addition to keep in the gig bag! Gonna order 2! Maybe 3!

[@Sonnect]

Glad you find this useful. Better hurry up, they are running out soon 👀

[@16LiveRecords]

Guys! You rock! Fantastic device 👍

[@Sonnect]

Thanks! ❤ glad you enjoyed this 😊

[@32Domi]

That's awesome. Would've been cool to charge a phone or tablet with the 48V phantom power... 🥵

[@Sonnect]

That's a brilliant idea, and it would be so convenient! The issue is, Phantom only gives you 10mA, so it would take days to charge your phone or laptop 😜

[@audionimus]

Nice Idea!

[@Sonnect]

Glad you find this useful 😎

[@kristapsziemelis]

Interesting whether it has inside Conexant chip CX31988.

[@aaronm9353]

Granted this is certainly more niche than plain old analogue connections, but is there any chance of seeing an AES3 version of this in the future? My thinking is that you could create a bidirectional stereo sound card, thus permitting two channels of recording in addition to the existing playback capability, while maintaining this exact same miniature form factor, since no additional physical connectors would be needed. Since AES3 caters for digital transmission of two channels down a single cable, one XLR would still serve as the output connection, but instead for both channels, into a console equipped with an AES3 input, while the second XLR would instead be female and function as a pair of inputs to the connected USB device. I imagine less electronics would need to be squeezed into each of the connectors since all signals would already exist in the digital domain, thus negating the need for the DAC plus an additional ADC (as would be the case for an analogue counterpart). Also, a variation of your product with a Lightning connector instead of USB-C would be very handy to eliminate the need for an intermediate Apple USB3 Camera Adaptor to facilitate using the SoundWire with an iPhone. I know FINALLY Apple are phasing out the Lightning connector on their latest devices, meaning we no longer need to invest in a rats nest of adaptors and peripherals dedicated to Apple products, but older iPhones will still doubtlessly be around for many years to come yet, so being able to connect this directly to those models without other dongles precariously hanging from the Lightning port would be desirable. Great work on designing such a sleek product nonetheless. I look forward to getting my hands on a SoundWire one day and testing it out.

[@Sonnect]

These are definitely the kinda comments we love to read! 🫶 As for the AES3: Sonnect Santa always says "careful what you ask for..!" 👀😅 you are not the first person asking, and the idea behind the SoundWire is that it is a line of niche cabling solutions :) so who knows what might come out next 🙈 Re Lightning, we investigated that realm and found too many hiccups, the size for a start is considerably smaller than the USB-C on the SoundWire, and the PCB inside the plastic housing is crammed with tons of components (51 to be exact). Furthermore Apple doesn't make it easy to get the MFi (Made For iPhone) certification; beside costing $ks, they can revoke it at any point, which is not fun for a small company like ours 😬 ANYWAY, good news is, you don't need the notoriously bulky Camera Adaptor, any OTG USB-C to Lightning will work with the SoundWire. We also tried a USB-A to Lightning and it worked perfectly. Just it needs to be OTG: which means it transfers power supply back the connected device

[@celilo]

It's a nice option if your mixer doesn't already include a USB interface. Not sure why I would otherwise use it, except for no configuration requirement.

[@DJURBANBG]

but if you use this cable to output digital signal directly to your monitors, how do you adjust the volume.. digitally ?

[@Sonnect]

That's a good point! It's David in the video replying today. I'm a live sound engineer. I've noticed you can use desks like an X/M32 as audio interface (probably many more), however most gigs I've done with desks like DiGiCo's, Midas Pro series, Soundcraft Vis didn't seem to have this feature - and what I see most engineers do it dedicating an actual pair of channels to the playback. This is worth investigating tho, thanks for pointing it out! ✌️

[@celilo]

@@Sonnect Yes, I'm on Allen and Heath which supports a USB interface. I do think that this is especially appropriate in the case where you do not already have a USB interface or for simplicity when you don't want to mess with a 3rd party desk. Sometimes simplicity wins.

[@sarhtaq]

@celilo Even when I am using my A&H SQ, I prefer a seperate USB DI for "guest music" and still have the console USB for multitracking on my own computer. (that is unless I use Dante for recording, still in the habit of giving guests the external USB though) ;)

[@beachsidetech]

Cool! You could use this for keys vsts too as a live dac. Can i suggest a 3.5mm version so you can use ipods, phones or mp3 players.

[@Sonnect]

You absolutely could! 3.5mm? 🤔 careful with what you ask for 😊😅

[@bolupona]

Take my money now 😂😂😂

[@Sonnect]

🎉🎉🎉

[@WeaselFace]

look, it is pretty cool...but a dual 6.5mm to 3.5mm cable deals with the phantom power risk, and that's been around for yonks...

[@Sonnect]

Yup absolutely! Nothing wrong with the 3.5 to 6.35 mm cables :) they work fantastically with many consoles, like A&H SQ series. Most of the times though consoles don't have jack inputs, so you'd need to resort to DI boxes, or "wing it" with a 3.5 to XLRs. What we hope to do is helping sound engineers having just one straight connection between their laptop and the desk, without any boxes in between and uncompromised audio quality 🤙

[@vernharurjosefsson7758]

@@Sonnect "Most of the times though consoles don't have jack inputs". I've never found any. Been using 3.5 to 6.35 for ages. Sometimes with DI box in chain. Have never used 3.5 to XLR, would never do exactly because the risk of a Phantom power accident. Nice product though and keeps up with evolution. Does it work with phones as well?

[@Sonnect]

@@vernharurjosefsson7758 it does work with smartphones and tables with a USB-C or laptops with USB-A with the adapter 🎉

[@DJURBANBG]

So, i can use this cable to output digital audio signal from my PC through it, directly to my monitors ?

[@Sonnect]

You definitely could do that. The SoundWire wasn't conceived to be a "studio device" but it would work depending on your setup and requirements

[@circuitAHDSR]

Would it work with a tinny adaptor from USB-C to Lightning? We can purchase from you, or if you guys dont like the idea, would it work with a normal one buyed on the web? (as long as if the adapter just connect the data pins from one connector to the other). Cheers.

[@Sonnect]

The SoundWire definitely works the the Apple Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter. Theoretically it should work with any cass compliant adapter. As Sonnect online shop we don’t have one in stock but sure you can buy one wherever you wish :)

[@Sonnect]

We just tested this actually, and it worked perfectly with a (non-Apple) Lightning to USB Type-C and a Lightning to USB Type-A

[@unnamedXDUruvilo]

just connect the laptop to the aux input on the mixer and save all the channels for the musicians, what kind of mixer doesn't have aux input?

[@Sonnect]

Totally! :) many small format consoles offer 1/4” inputs, like on Behringer X32 or Midas M32, A&E SQ series even have a 3.5mm inputs. You’ll be fine using the aux input on those, and your only small compromise would be the headphones output of your laptop/phone. Larger format consoles however like Soundcraft Vi series, or DiGiCo SD/Quantum series, Midas Pro series, Yamaha CL/QL, Avid S6L, etc only have XLR inputs. A device like the SoundWire is proving to be a great solution in those situations. Furthermore, with the SoundWire, you are using a high quality DAC instead of a headphones port optimised for headphones usage ✌️

[@Pip2andahalf]

Ok I mean. That’s sweet. At first I was like *shrug* I like my Radial PCDI Buuuut…. this sure is slick.

[@Sonnect]

Nice one! Glad you dig it! 🤙

[@Blackhawk40k]

Fuck yeah!!

[@Sonnect]

😎😎

[@syafiqzailan]

Can we use it in reverse? mixer to DAW?

[@Sonnect]

That'd be cool! The DAC embedded in the USB-C is only configured as output, so you'd be in no luck using it in reverse :/

[@syafiqzailan]

@@Sonnectin future product updates maybe :) it would be amazing.

[@TinoSchulz1990]

Since it's usb anyway, give us a cable that we can use in reverse, either via a switch or via software. That'd be awesome. On some gigs i need my laptop only to playback some music / intros, on some days i use it as a 2-channel recorder for the client. @@Sonnect

[@Sonnect]

@syafiqzailan would it be better if that was done over AES3? 👀

[@morgansprouse2562]

Ok. Hear me out. Make a 4 channel version of this. Keys players would eat it up. 1 pair for piano, another pair for pads… etc.

[@Sonnect]

You aren't the first person suggesting this ..it's gotta happen! 😎 You know you can plug multiple SoundWire units to a laptop? On macOS is really easy to aggregate audio devices natively. Send us an email to [e-mail] and we'll send a little guide we made ✌️

[@noahwaddle6138]

@@Sonnect I literally sent a message on the website a few mins before finding this video about a 4 channel cable lol 😂 I would be all over a 4 channel version of this! I currently have an aggregate device setup that I use but it can be a bit unstable in Ableton. A 4 channel version of this cable would be game changing!

[@Sonnect]

@@noahwaddle6138 😎😁😎😁

[@aaronho4242]

Can y’all just sell the transformers also?

[@Sonnect]

Why not?! 😎

[@AlexisGitarre]

150 BUCKS!!!!! Well... I'm out. Sirus DI USB/BT does all of it even wirelessly for half the money.

[@Sonnect]

The Sirus DI USB/BT is a great product, the Bluetooth is a very handy feature! The SoundWire has different benefits, primiraly being a single connection between laptop and console without boxes in-between. Being phantom-safe and so compact inplies great engineering and manufacturing efforts behind a seemingly simple cable 😊

[@aaronm9353]

Certainly more expensive than the product you’ve mentioned, but I prefer the Radial BT-Pro v2 myself.