Extending Firewire and SPDIF using cannon Type connectors

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Hey all,

I just found something that could theoretically make setting up at my
live recording gigs much easier. I found panel mounted cannon type
connectors that will alow me to mount firewire jacks on my cases. The
theory goes like this: The firewire cable will go from my computer to
one cannon jack on the outside of one case, from that connector on the
inside of the case to Lacie hard drive from that lacie hard drive to
the lacie burner to another cannon jack on the inside of that same
case. Then I can plug an additional firewire cable from the outside of
that case to the next case which houses my Metric Halo ULN-2. This
will hopefully allow me to setup quicker and without finding my
flashlight under the gun. I do a lot of this stuff! I am wondering if
anyone has used these and can come up with any solid issues with audio
on firewire making 5 extra connections. I still think I would be able
to keep the total cable distance under 6 feet.

I would also like to do the same thing with very short SPDIF cables
from RME Digiface or ULN-2 to CD Safety burner using panel mounted RCA
to RCA canon connectors. Again, does anyone forsee any issues.



Thanks in advance

Cameron

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

cwiley wrote ...
[presumably re: Neutrik RJ45 connectors in "XLR"-style shells]
> I am wondering if anyone has used these and can come up
> with any solid issues with audio on firewire making 5 extra
> connections.

You want to clarify this statement/question? You want to run
firewire signals through RJ45 connectors (the simple plastic
comptuer LAN kind or the Neutrik "XLR"-style)?

What do you mean by "5 extra connections"?

> I still think I would be able to keep the total cable distance
> under 6 feet.

Maybe a factor and maybe not. But dependent on clarifying
what you are proposing to do.

> I would also like to do the same thing with very short SPDIF
> cables from RME Digiface or ULN-2 to CD Safety burner
> using panel mounted RCA to RCA canon connectors. Again,
> does anyone forsee any issues.

Explain what you mean by a "RCA to RCA canon connector"?
Citing make/model numbers would be extraordinarily helpful.

I have just used BNC for this application. Cheap, reilable,
readily available, positive locking, etc. etc. etc. I have known
people who even used BNC to replace RCA connectors for
these same benefits.

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

In article <1115705337.349108.137290@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com> cwiley@newenglandconservatory.edu writes:

> I just found something that could theoretically make setting up at my
> live recording gigs much easier. I found panel mounted cannon type
> connectors that will alow me to mount firewire jacks on my cases. The
> theory goes like this: The firewire cable will go from my computer to
> one cannon jack on the outside of one case, from that connector on the
> inside of the case to Lacie hard drive from that lacie hard drive to
> the lacie burner to another cannon jack on the inside of that same
> case. Then I can plug an additional firewire cable from the outside of
> that case to the next case which houses my Metric Halo ULN-2. This
> will hopefully allow me to setup quicker and without finding my
> flashlight under the gun.

This is all pretty blurry (without a flashlight). Are you asking about
making a Firewire connector panel using the newfangled XLR-style
housing for a Firewire connector, and putting this panel on the back
of a rack housing your computer?

I suppose you could do that. The Neutrik EtherCon assembly (an RJ45 in
an XLR type housing) is designed to be more break-resistant than a
bare RJ45 connector, but it offers no advantages in making things
easier to find and set up.

> I would also like to do the same thing with very short SPDIF cables
> from RME Digiface or ULN-2 to CD Safety burner using panel mounted RCA
> to RCA canon connectors. Again, does anyone forsee any issues.

I'd use BNCs instead. Reliable, the correct impedance, and 75 ohm
cables with BNC plugs on one end and RCA plugs on the other end are
available off the shelf. I don't know of an RCA (or any coaxial, for
that matter) connector built into an XLR-style shell at this time.




--
I'm really Mike Rivers - (mrivers@d-and-d.com)
However, until the spam goes away or Hell freezes over,
lots of IP addresses are blocked from this system. If
you e-mail me and it bounces, use your secret decoder ring
and reach me here: double-m-eleven-double-zero at yahoo

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

In article <1115737782.661878.292110@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com> cwiley@newenglandconservatory.edu writes:

> The firewire jacks have nothing to do with RJ45 connectors. The
> markertek part number is Switchcraft EHFW2. It is 6 pin firewire on
> both sides of the panel mount jack.

> The SPDIF connector is sold by markertek. Again it is RCA female to
> RCA Female panel mount.

Oh, OK. So what does "cannon" have to do with all of this?


--
I'm really Mike Rivers - (mrivers@d-and-d.com)
However, until the spam goes away or Hell freezes over,
lots of IP addresses are blocked from this system. If
you e-mail me and it bounces, use your secret decoder ring
and reach me here: double-m-eleven-double-zero at yahoo

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

cwiley@newenglandconservatory.edu wrote:

> Mike,
>
> "Cannon" is simply what they Markertek calls the connector in their
> catalog.

They do ! ? Hmmmm.

Graham

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

cwiley wrote:
> Thanks again for your replies,
> The firewire jacks have nothing to do with RJ45 connectors.
> The markertek part number is Switchcraft EHFW2. It is 6 pin
> firewire on both sides of the panel mount jack.

The page shows XLR-style "Switchcraft Barrel Connectors":
female panel-mount shells with various kinds of connectors
mounted within and recessed to protect them from road-rash:
* Firewire (6-pin version)
* USB-A
* USB-B
* 4-pin Mini-DIN (for Y/C video)
* BNC
* RCA
* 3.5mm (1/8 inch) mini-phone.

In answer to your original questions:

Yes I would think that using these connectors on your road
cases for quick setup is exactly what they were made for.

It should make no difference whatsoever whether the data
going through the Firewire cable/connectors is audio or
anything else.

The downside of the arrangement is several more connectors
in the path which have the effect of reducing the reliability of
the system because you are adding potential points of failure.

I'd still use BNC for SPDIF as it is more rugged, reliable and
positive-latching than RCA would ever hope to be.

Nevertheless, if you use good-quality cables (NOT necessarily
"premium", "boutique" ,"snake-oil", "famous-name" cables)
then the overall benefit is positive IMHO. I would do it, but
I would carry spare cables (both internal and external)

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

Mike Rivers wrote:
>
> Neutrik (and I believe at least one other company) has made an insert
> for the XLR style connector shell (like a standard microphone
> connector, in case you're not sure what I'm talking about - these
> are sometimes called "Cannon" from the original manufacturer of that
> connector) that holds a standard crimp-on RJ45 connector. The idea is
> to surround this all plastic and somewhat fragile connector with a
> metal shell so that it won't be damaged by careless handling. I've
> heard that this same concept has been applied to the Firewire and USB
> connectors also (I thought Neutrik was making those, but I can't find
> them on their web page), and I thought that was what you were asking
> about.
>
> Here's a link to the Neutrik RJ45 version so you can see what I
> thought you meant (only in a Firewire version).
>
> http://www.neutrikusa.com/content/ [...] 204_170351

And here's a link to the 1394 version (only panel-mount thus far, no
cable ends yet)
<http://www.neutrik.com/content/products/products_group.asp?level2id=204_1440392726>