[BC] RE:The XLR pinout debate

[Tom Taggart]

Most older equipment made in this country (such as Ampex or Scully recorders, older remote mixers, etc.) have pin #3, or the offset pin, hot. Visually, pin #3, being offset, is logically the "hot" pin.

In most instances, it is not going to matter with balanced circuits which pin is hot, 2 or 3. However, it may matter if one is using condenser mikes.  Also when using unbalanced mikes, or adapters to connect unblalanced high-level sources (such as portable equipment) into studio recording equipment, or balanced inputs of remote mixers, where it may be desireable to short one side of the balanced input to ground.

The AES "standard" reflects usual European practice to impose standards contrary to American practice as a kind of back-door trade barrier. Since, in some circles, European-dominated organizations have a certain cachet, what is really a mere annoyance (pin 2 hot rather than pin 3) escalates into a "religious" debate in some circles.


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