How to Make an XLR Cable

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  • Select a little more than the amount of the XLR cable needed (in case you mess up).
  • Place the metal shield on the XLR cable FIRST
  • Strip the XLR cable. Make sure that you do not strip off too much length, otherwise the metal shield will not cover the Red and Black wires once they are exposed!
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-Hint: When stripping the XLR cable, DO NOT CUT TOO DEEPLY!!! If you do, you may sever the wires underneath and have to start all over again!
  • To create a Ground, wind the copper shielding surrounding the Red and Black wires into a tightly wound wire.
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  • Peel off the paper underneath the ground and surrounding the red and black wires.
  • Strip the red and black wires, so that their metal cores are exposed. Do not strip off too much (no more than 1/4"), otherwise the three cables will cross-connect with each other.
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  • Thoroughly cover the three exposed wires with solder.
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  • Next, connect the three wires to the three XLR connections (labeled 1,2, and 3). Solder the Ground wire (Copper) to 1, the Positive wire (Red) to 2, and the Negative wire (Black) to 3.
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-Hint: It is best to solder these three connections in numerical order for the sake of soldering simplicity.
  • Let the solder cool for about a minute.
  • Screw on the metal shield.
  • Test the cable.

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