help me find online TRS mono and stereo, XLR wall plates for church

[mike c]

help me find online TRS mono and stereo, XLR wall plates for church preferably from one online store as i would be requesting somebody in the US to do this for me.

ok here's what i need to do (apparently they think i'm an expert because i'm an audioholic)

currently, our church uses really long cables to connect musical instruments et al to the mixer. such musical instruments use a stereo TRS and some mono TRS.

for future proofness, i'd like to set up a wall plate system (hidden wires) of
two pairs of stereo female PL's/TRS
about 4 mono PL's/TRS
about 2 female XLR (for mics?)
on both ends

i'm seeing the last two on monoprice/radioshack. but i have not seen a dedicated stereo PL female wall plate. does this exist or do i need to just use two mono's for this?

bonus question, i don't need this online, should be available locally:
also, i know i need RG59/RG6 coax cables for the mono PL's
balanced cables for the XLR's
what cable do i need for the stereo PL?

 

[Murrel]

Mike,

For years now the female side of the 1/4-TS/TRS jacks are made to accept either the mono or the stereo jacks. You decide the male side and wire the receptacle accordingly. As far as wall plates are concerned I buy a lot of my gear from Pro Acoustics. They have a ton of pro audio and commercial sound gear and accessories.

Heres a link http://www.proacousticsusa.com/category.php?cId=37

good luck!
Murrel

 

[highfigh]

help me find online TRS mono and stereo, XLR wall plates for church preferably from one online store as i would be requesting somebody in the US to do this for me.

ok here's what i need to do (apparently they think i'm an expert because i'm an audioholic)

currently, our church uses really long cables to connect musical instruments et al to the mixer. such musical instruments use a stereo TRS and some mono TRS.

for future proofness, i'd like to set up a wall plate system (hidden wires) of
two pairs of stereo female PL's/TRS
about 4 mono PL's/TRS
about 2 female XLR (for mics?)
on both ends

i'm seeing the last two on monoprice/radioshack. but i have not seen a dedicated stereo PL female wall plate. does this exist or do i need to just use two mono's for this?

bonus question, i don't need this online, should be available locally:
also, i know i need RG59/RG6 coax cables for the mono PL's
balanced cables for the XLR's
what cable do i need for the stereo PL?

Is there any way the mixer can be located closer to the instruments? Honestly, long runs cause all kinds of problems and unless the instrument has a low impedance output, the signal loss and lack of noise rejection isn't a good thing.

Switchcraft has all kinds of plates with any kind of jack you want. ProCo and Sweetwater are two other companies that sell similar items.

 

[TLS Guy]

Is there any way the mixer can be located closer to the instruments? Honestly, long runs cause all kinds of problems and unless the instrument has a low impedance output, the signal loss and lack of noise rejection isn't a good thing.

Switchcraft has all kinds of plates with any kind of jack you want. ProCo and Sweetwater are two other companies that sell similar items.

I agree, you do not want to do long high impedance cable runs.

I would use all balanced XLR plates and convert Hz to balanced Lz with a transformer before connecting to the wall plate.

 

[mike c]

the mixer is in the audio room, about 30 feet away from the instruments.

they're already using the long cables with no problems, they just want convenience and shorter "Exposed" cables (limit people tripping over them and less of a need to roll and unroll the long cables every time).

but i don't think any of the cables exceed 50 feet.

the balanced cable is about 4-5x more expensive than the mono coax cable so i'd like to limit that. (all this will come out of my pocket as i would not like it too look like i made any amount of money from the purchase)

 

[highfigh]

the mixer is in the audio room, about 30 feet away from the instruments.

they're already using the long cables with no problems, they just want convenience and shorter "Exposed" cables (limit people tripping over them and less of a need to roll and unroll the long cables every time).

but i don't think any of the cables exceed 50 feet.

the balanced cable is about 4-5x more expensive than the mono coax cable so i'd like to limit that. (all this will come out of my pocket as i would not like it too look like i made any amount of money from the purchase)

Oh- I thought you meant long, like 100', not 30'. It's still a bit long for high impedance but not too bad.

Can you post photos of the area, or some good diagrams?

The cable you need doesn't need to be expensive. Do you have a way to route the new cable under the floor?

What suppliers are available to you?

 

[mike c]

it will go under the floor (stage actually) but cross a doorway (so it would rainbow around the door jamb) no measurements yet, i'm still trying to get all the stuff before i measure what i need in cable length.

i can get belden coaxial cables. (the balanced cable really is a lot more expensive than the ordinary rg59 cable)

 

[highfigh]

it will go under the floor (stage actually) but cross a doorway (so it would rainbow around the door jamb) no measurements yet, i'm still trying to get all the stuff before i measure what i need in cable length.

i can get belden coaxial cables. (the balanced cable really is a lot more expensive than the ordinary rg59 cable)

Cable of this type isn't really special- it's a twisted pair with foil shield and a "drain" wire, used for Pin 1. The other two wires will be for Pin 2 (Hot, inverted) and Pin 3 (Cold, or non-inverted). It doesn't have to be Belden, it just needs the correct configuration.

Do you have UPS, as a shipper, there?

 

[mike c]

i'm sure we have UPS, but anything from the US to the PH, i wouldn't use these air carriers (too expensive). i'll use something that uses a cargo ship

do you have recommendations for the cable?

 

[WaynePflughaupt]

i can get belden coaxial cables. (the balanced cable really is a lot more expensive than the ordinary rg59 cable)

What highfigh said. If you’re running under the stage, you want an installation-grade cable, not the heavier-duty “stage” cable you’re used to seeing for guitar cords and mic cables. Installation-grade is way cheaper – for example Parts Express sells a 250 ft. roll of install cable for the same price as a 100 ft. roll of “stage” cable. This cable will be two conductor + shield; for TS jacks (the ones you called “mono”) you can just use only one of the two conductors.

What are you going to do at the mixer end? More wall plates there, or will you run the cables straight out of the wall to the mixer? The latter is how things are typically done, with the proper connectors installed directly to the cable. Naturally the wiring will have to be terminated to the wall plate jacks and/or cable ends. You can solder, right?

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

 

[mike c]

i see. if that's the case, please recommend the under the stage cables

yes wall plates to wall plates.

i have minions that can solder

 

[WaynePflughaupt]

Just ask your vendor for installation-grade mic cable.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

 

[highfigh]

i'm sure we have UPS, but anything from the US to the PH, i wouldn't use these air carriers (too expensive). i'll use something that uses a cargo ship

do you have recommendations for the cable?

Unfortunately, I don't know who is in your general area but since a lot of cable comes from Asia, I have to think something is available to you at less than 3-4 times the cost of coax.

I'll check with Parts Express to see if they have decent shipping rates- maybe we can do a drop-ship at a better price than retail.

 

[mike c]

US based online stores are perfectly fine

i have a US address i can send it to.

i just need a lead on the brand or what they call the "installation grade" cable

 

[highfigh]

US based online stores are perfectly fine

i have a US address i can send it to.

i just need a lead on the brand or what they call the "installation grade" cable

West Penn (now owned by Belden but less $$$), ProCo, Carol (I would avoid small diameter spools because once it has been pulled off, it wants to coil itself up again) and Genesis (part of Honeywell) are some of the other brands. I'll check with some of my suppliers to see their prices and availability.

 

[mike c]

so for the stereo cables, is it as simple as getting the "dual" coaxial cable?

http://www.parts-express.com/wizards/searchResults.cfm?searchFilter=&srchExt=CAT&perPage=99&sortBy=1&layout=grid&page=1&srchPrice=&srchCat=474&srchMfg=&srchPromo=&srchAttr=

what about XLR tipped (balanced) cables?
which of those are "balanced" for mic use

 

[WaynePflughaupt]

No, coax is for cable TV and satellite.

I don’t recall you mentioning that anything stereo was needed, and indeed nothing stereo should be needed on a stage – unless perhaps you’re running a headphone connection from the mixer to the stage?

what about XLR tipped (balanced) cables?
which of those are "balanced" for mic use

All XLR cables are balanced.


Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

 

[mike c]

No, coax is for cable TV and satellite.

which brings me back to the question: what keyword do i need to search on radioshack/monoprice/parts express to find the cable i need for this.

I don’t recall you mentioning that anything stereo was needed, and indeed nothing stereo should be needed on a stage – unless perhaps you’re running a headphone connection from the mixer to the stage?

it's at post #1

it's a keyboard using the stereo PL connection.

it's currently using a DIY cable, stereo PL on one end for the keyboard which is split into TWO mono cables for connection to the L and R on the mixer.

All XLR cables are balanced.

yes i know, i just put the balanced there for more info.

the use for now is for a microphone, this is locally available:
http://www.newark.com/belden/8422-060500/multiconductor-microphone-musical/dp/15B3318

for approximately USD3.25/meter

do you have links for the same cable (but under the stage) that's substantially cheaper than 3.25/meter?

 

[WaynePflughaupt]

which brings me back to the question: what keyword do i need to search on radioshack/monoprice/parts express to find the cable i need for this.

do you have links for the same cable (but under the stage) that's substantially cheaper than 3.25/meter?

Can’t find anything at Monoprice. Parts Express has this. You can get the same stuff in a 500 ft. roll, if needed

it's at post #1

it's a keyboard using the stereo PL connection.

What’s a PL?

it's currently using a DIY cable, stereo PL on one end for the keyboard which is split into TWO mono cables for connection to the L and R on the mixer.

There’s no good reason to use a stereo connection, unless your PA system is configured for stereo. And I hope it’s not...

Or is it for the purpose of doing live recordings in stereo? Cool feature, if your mixer has it...

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

 

[mike c]

Can’t find anything at Monoprice. Parts Express has this. You can get the same stuff in a 500 ft. roll, if needed


What’s a PL?


There’s no good reason to use a stereo connection, unless your PA system is configured for stereo. And I hope it’s not...

Or is it for the purpose of doing live recordings in stereo? Cool feature, if your mixer has it...

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

the link is perfect for mic cable! thanks

you have one for the cable i need for the other normal stuff?

PL = some people call the 1/4" TRS connector PL

the keyboard has a stereo out 1/4" female jack