Adapter Kits

Do you have an adaptor kit at your church? I find that having a well stocked adapter kit is worth it’s cost to insure that you can manage the unexpected requests and needs that pop up occasionally.

Over the years, I have found the adaptor kit I have, has provided me with solutions to solve many of the unexpected requests both professionally, or as a volunteer at a conference or at my church.

I regularly volunteer at an annual conference and always take the kit with me because most years I make extensive use of it. The most extreme example was when I had a request to get the sound from a laptop to the pa and only had the 1/4” left right inputs left unused. At first glance this seems to not be a problem, however,  it was more than 50ft from the laptop to the mixer.  I had everything I would typically use for this application in use already, so it was time to get creative. 

I started with my 3.5mm extension cable which got me 10ft closer, 

then used a 3.5 trs male to 1/4”trs female adaptor, 

then used my 1/4” male to xlr adaptor. 

This combo allowed me to cover the rest of the distance with an xlr mic cable. 

But I still had a problem.  Although it was xlr it is was not a balanced signal. 

So I took my xlr to 1/4” female adaptor then used my 1/4”  trs male to 3.5mm trs female adaptor 

This allowed me to use my 3.5mm trs to double rca cable. 

Now the board only had 1/4 left right inputs left so I used a pair of rca to 1/4” adapters and I was finally into the sound board. 

How did I know all that would work? Well based on understanding the pinouts for all the adaptors I used, I knew that it would, but what I didn’t know was how it would sound.  Thankfully it was relatively short run and it sounded good. By this point I was praying that I wouldn’t have anymore special requests like that for that session.

Would I do that on a regular basis? No way!  Normally I would use either one of my multipurpose di’s and go, balanced mic level into the mixer.

If I hadn’t had my adapter kit with all the extras in it, I don’t know what I would have done.

I refer to the kit as my crash kit.

I have two cases where I store all my adaptors and other equipment in.

For all the small adaptors I use an UK (Underwater Kinetics) case model Ultrabox 408.

For everything else, including the case my adaptors are in, I have an UK case model AMRE2600 HPRC. Everything in the kit can serve multiple purposes and applications.  I choose to go this route to minimize how much equipment I have in my kit.

For my needs the two cases work excellently. Once you have determined what you need for adaptors and emergency extras, find some way of storing them where they are easy to get to and easy to find what you are after. Whether that be a drawer in a cabinet with dividers or a case like I use.

Below is a list of my kits contents with make, model and a brief list for some of the pieces and what I have used it for.

 

In the Ultrabox408

• 2 FXLR turn arounds (female xlr to female xlr) these may seem useless at first but it is surprising how often I use them, particularly with splitters and my 1/4” to xlr adaptors.
• 2 MXLR turn arounds(male xlr to male xlr) same reason as above
• 2 1/4” male trs to male XLR adaptors for devices that are only 1/4” output to connect to devices that only have xlr inputs 
• 2 1/4” male trs to female xlr adaptors xlr outputs to 1/4” inputs.
• 3 1/4”female trs to xlr male for connecting a 1/4” trs cable to an xlr input.
• 2 3.5 male to 1/4” female adaptors 
• 2 1/4” male to 3.5 mm female adaptors
• 2 rca female couplers 
• 2 rca female to 1/4” adaptors
• 1 3.5 mm to double rca adaptor
• 1 1/4” ts to double rca female 
• 1 rca female to double rca male

Everything else is in the AMRE2600 case

Equipment 

• 1 On-Stage DB1050 multi-media di. (This di has a 3.5 stereo input rca stereo input with thru 1/4” inputs with thru 15db pad xlr line level switchable hi-z line all to a single xlr output with ground lift.) I use this for attaching any consumer grade audio source to connect to a mixer. Can be used for a guitar di as well. 
• 1 Radial JDI di box (This di has 1/4” input with thru switchable to stereo merge 15 db pad, 30db pad, phase reverse switch and ground lift ) I use this for connecting a keyboard with stereo output to a signal mixer channel when inputs are limited. Can also be used with the right cable to connect a laptop or similar source to a mixer mic input. With the two pads you can also connect it inline between a guitar amp head and speaker cabinet.
• 1 Rolls MS20c  Splitter Combiner Isolator. 
• 1 Behringer Tube Ultragain MIC100. I have used is as a mic preamp and an active di
• 1 Behringer Shark DSP110. I have used all the features of in.I have also used it as a mic preamp line level to mic converter 
• 1 Mightybright dual head led light with magnetic base.

Cables

• 2 3’ xlr cables several times I have found I needed a little more length on a xlr cable
• 2 6’ xlr cables 
• 1 10’ xlr cable
• 1 25’ xlr cable
• 2 rca to 1/4” male cables 
• 4 1/4” trs to female xlr cables
• 2 1/4” trs to male xlr cables
• 2 12’ single 1/4” trs to double 1/4” ts cables ( insert cables)
• 2 12” 3.5mm trs to 1/4” ts cables
• 1 3’ 1/4” ts instrument  cable
• 1 6’ 1/4” ts instrument cable
• 1 10’ 1/4” ts instrument cable
• 2 6’ 1/4” trs extension cables
• 3 6’ double rca cables (soon to be retired) 
• 2 10’ 3.5 mm trs extension cable (recently added the second one)
• 1 single xlr female to double xlr male y cable.

• I also have a sleeve with some common screwdrivers, pens, highlighters and sharpies.

Hopefully this list will give you some ideas on what to include in an adaptor kits for yourself or your church.

Please comment about adapters you have found helpful that are not on my list. Also if you have any thing you would like me to cover let me know in the comments as well.