Db25 multicore cables are very common at any studio, a lot of standard audio gear interfaces use them, but maybe you don´t know how to make them. Here a small tutorial if you prefer to build them and save some money.
I must say you have to spend some time and work, but it’s not difficult. You will need the appropriate tools and a little patience and skill for making a professional work.
Most used multicore are Tascam pinout, followed by Yamaha pinout:
Follow the above diagram picture for making your pinout multicore.
Audio Interface Pinouts
Digidesign/Avid: Analog Tascam | Digital Tascam
Lynx Aurora: Analog Tascam | Digital Yamaha
Solid State Logic: Analog Tascam | Digital Yamaha
RME: Tascam
Mackie: Yamaha
Apogee: Analog Tascam | Digital Yamaha
Antelope Orion: Analog Tascam
SPL Audio: Tascam
Metric Halo: Analog Tascam | Digital Tascam
Tools needed for making your DB25 multicore cables
Soldering tin (I use WTB tin with 4% silver, great quality, and sound), soldering iron, multimeter, lathe, tweezers, wire stripper, cutter, shrink tubing, and of course quality multicore cable.
You can use a magnifying lens to see better welding.
Connectors and cable for making your DB25 multicore
We will choose the connectors. XLR, Jacks, bantam or bare wire for soldering in a patch bay. I like black Neutrik pin gold connectors, great quality, and sound, and they look cool.
It is preferable to use quality DB25 metallic hood connectors than plastic housing.
All these materials count for better sound quality. I tested more expensive commercial snakes vs mine and I prefer the sound of my Gepcos. I can really hear better small nuances on my Lipinski and Amphion speakers.
Some recommended componenets to make your cables:
Neutrik NC3FXX-BAG 3-Pin XLRF Cable Connector, Black Metal Housing with Silver Contacts
The procedure of the DB25 snake
Stripe the side of db25 connector:
Once stripped soldering all wire tips with a drop of tin. After that enter a shrink tube on each channel cable, 4mm shrink tube fits fine.
Now repeat the previous step with the XLR or Jacks connectors side. On this side, shrink tube is not needed.
Now, will begin with DB25 soldering, put the connector on your lathe, we soldering the top row.First fill the pins with a drop of tin, after that solder the cables following Tascam or Yamaha pinout, see below picture.
When finish turns the connector, we will repeat the above step with the bottom row.
After soldering all db25 pins we will test the snake with the multimeter. It is important to ensure that the work done is correct.
This will save time and errors,
If your testing it´s OK we will solder the other side. Solder your XLR, Jacks or Bantam connectors.
After finish check again with your multimeter. After some hours of work, you will have your DB25 ready.
Don´t miss another great cables, Grimm TPR and Sommer Carbokab 225.
2 thoughts on “How to make db25 multicore tascam snake cable”
Hi,
I’m making a similar project now, do you experience some kind of noise problem with this connection, thanks and best regards.
Juan Medina.
No. DB25 is a professional connector in a lot of High-end studio converters. If some noise appears could be a failing gear or a bad cable connection.