XLR connectors are used in audio (mic level & line level) and DMX lighting control (DMX) applications.

                             3-Pin XLR and 7-Pin XLR Audio Pinout

The following is the AES industry standard for balanced audio XLR wiring, commonly known as “pin-2 hot”. 3-Pin XLR connectors are standard amongst line level and mic level audio applications. The above diagram shows you the pin numbering for both Male and Female XLR connectors.

xlr audio pinout

3-pin XLR Pinout:
Pin1 = Shielding (Ground)
Pin2 = Hot (Positive), +
Pin3 = Cold (Negative), –

7-pin XLR Pinout:
Pin1 = B+
Pin2 = Pattern
Pin3 = 6 Volts
Pin4 = Gnd
Pin5 = Out
Pin6 = Out
Pin7 = Gnd

Diamond 3-pin XLR connector gold contact chrome plated XLR3F012 diamond shape 3-pole microphone cable XLR connector Gold contact XLR3M012 

                   3-Pin XLR and 5-Pin XLR DMX Lighting Pinout

The ESTA standard known as Entertainment Technology USITT DMX512-A – Asynchronous Serial Digital Data Transmission Standard for Controlling Lighting Equipment and Accessories, also known as DMX512-A. DMX512 data are transmitted over a differential pair using EIA-485 voltage levels.

DMX is the primary method for linking controllers, dimmers, advanced fixtures and special effects devices such as foggers and moving lights. A DMX512 controller is connected to fixtures or devices in a daisy-chain link. Each device has a DMX in and generally a DMX out XLR 5 pin connector – sometimes marked as DMX thru. The DMX out on the controller is linked via a DMX512 cable to the DMX in on the first fixture. A second cable then links the DMX out on the first fixture to the next device, and so on – up to 32 devices. In general, the final, empty, DMX out connector should have a DMX512 terminating plug attached into it, which is simply a 120ohm resistor joining pins 2 and 3 of the connector. Many modern devices negate this requirement as they are capable of auto-terminating the link.The DMX connector including 3-pin XLR and 5-pin XLR.

3 Pin XLR connectors are used primarily in lighting control applications as a DMX signal. This DMX specification allows for one channel over the one 3-pin connector. And another DMX specification allows for two completely separate data channels over the one 5 pin connector.

XLR DMX Lighting Pinout

3-pin XLR Pinout:
Pin1 = Shielding (Ground)
Pin2 = Data 1-
Pin3 = Data 1+

5-pin XLR Pinout:
Pin1 = Shielding (Ground)
Pin2 = Data 1-
Pin3 = Data 1+
Pin4 = Data 2-
Pin5 = Data 2+

3 pole XLR connector black XLR3F011B 3 pole XLR Mic cable connector black housing XLR3M011B

shark shape 5-pin female XLR connector XLR5F004B 5 pin male XLR DMX cable connector shark shape XLR5M004B

XLR connectors are available from a number of manufacturers and are covered by an international standard for dimensions, IEC 61076-2-103. Applies to a range of circular multipole connectors with or without latching device, having a nominal outer shell diameter of 19 mm, with 3 to 7 contacts (type ‘XLR’). They are superficially similar to the smaller DIN connector range, but are not physically compatible with them.

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