Add DSub Connection to Simplify Snake/Mixer Setup?
Home > Home Recording Forum > Live Sound Reinforcement > Add DSub Connection to Simplify Snake/Mixer Setup?
Posted on Aug 31, 2009 04:02 pm
Doug Babbitt
Sound as good as you play
Member Since: Dec 23, 2008
The worst part of setting up my rig always seems to be sorting through the snake fan and making the connections to the mixer. I've considered leaving the connections intact, but adding the snake and stage box to the console and other rack gear gets too heavy and unwieldy to move easily.
I see where you can buy a premade fan of 8 XLRs going to a DB25. So I could get 3 sets of these, male and female, put them between the snake fan and the mixer, and just have 3 DSubs to keep track of at setup. This would get me 16 stage box sends and 8 returns, which is plenty.
Would this work? Is it worth the money to buy the premade fans or should I buy the DSub connectors, cut the snake cables mid-fan, and solder in the connectors?
Finally, would there be enough room in the DSub housing on the mixer side to solder-in a 1:2 split to give me signals for FOH and live recording?
[ Back to Top ]
Aug 31, 2009 04:52 pm Well, any type of multi pin connector is going to have small pins to begin with. Weather it's DSub, or Mass. So, it's going to be hard to put another set of wires on the same pins.
For ours, we put the split at the stage box end. Gives you a little more room to work with. Plus, you can put the first set of wires to a bus. Giving you more room to work with. Just remember to put a ground lift switch in the middle of the two. That way you can isolate the split side.
And Yes! Multi pin connectors are great! I like the Whirlwind Mass better then the DSub. Just because it has a little more beef to it. And you only need one at each end. As opposed to three of the DSubs. They save a lot of time for the in and out of the show. Plus you don't have to worry as much about someone cross patching the snake on you.
But, price on these is usually the deciding factor. A Mass connector is not the cheapest one on the market. But it is one of the best.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Aug 31, 2009 05:45 pm Yep, making a split at the Dsub is a pain in the arse. And doing the split there also doesn't give you room for the ground lift, or if you do add it, it is a big mess and adds a lot more bulk. But if your willing to have the snake become a bit more of a burden it can be done. It just adds a lot of crud again to the end your trying to clean up.
And I agree with the Mass connector as well. It is a good deal more but as Rob stated it is a whole lot beefier.
Doug BabbittSound as good as you playMember
Since: Dec 23, 2008
Aug 31, 2009 06:45 pm Any suggestions on the best place to shop for both DSub and Mass connectors? Whirlwind doesn't seem to sell direct from their web site.
Aug 31, 2009 09:20 pm Lets see, Full Compass, Zzounds.
You know what. I forgot about Ramlatch. Ramlatch has a great multi pin connector.
www.ramtech.net/ramlatch.htm
They give you a link to companies that sell their connectors. And they are easy to assemble and repair. See if that is a style that interest you.
