XLR audio splitters enable two-way routing of a single output source to two input devices. Commonly employed for connecting an XLR-equipped microphone or musical instrument with two audio mixers, they are also used for other signal-splitting needs for stage and recording studio applications. Intermediate soldering skills are required, and parts are readily available at local music or electronic supply stores.
Instructions
Preparing XLR Plugs and Cable
1. Cut the microphone cable in half with wire cutters. You can increase the length by purchasing longer cable length, but standard XLR cables are normally daisy-chained to splitters for length adjustment to avoid cable clutter.
2. Remove the XLR connector block from the male and female plugs by inserting a small screwdriver into the set-screw hole at the bottom side of the plug. Turn the screw counterclockwise to insert the screw into the block -- the screw is reverse threaded. Grasp the block gently with needle-nose pliers and pull outward to extract from the connector. A free-floating plastic or cardboard insulation cylinder should fall out of the plug when the block is removed; you'll use it for assembly.
3. Insert two ends of the cable into the top of the female plug's rubber cable hole. Depending on the cable width, you may need to widen the hole by inserting and filing with a round tapered rasp file until you get a snug cable fit, with 2 inches of cable protruding from the plug opening.
4. Insert the two remaining cable ends into each of the male XLR plug cable holes until 2 inches of cable protrude from the plug opening. No widening of the cable hole is necessary.
5. Slide the cylinder insulators onto each cable and into the XLR plug housing. The insulators are designed to fit loosely, so attention is required in subsequent steps to prevent them from falling off the cable; if they do, simply reinsert them.
6. Strip 1/2 inch of outer insulation from each exposed cable end with wire strippers to reveal the inner white and black insulated wires and bare ground wire. Some cable manufacturers substitute red insulation for white and blue for black.
7. Separate the three wires of each cable with fingers and strip 1/4 inch of insulation from the white and black wires with wire strippers. Some cable brands may interlace strength-enhancing fabric or twine with wires which must be removed by snipping with wire cutters. After insulation is removed from all wires, pinch and twist wires, including the bare ground wire, with thumb and forefinger to compact the wire strands
Soldering and Assembly of XLR Splitter
8. Touch a heated soldering iron to each of the six exposed wires and apply a small amount of solder until the wire circumferences are lightly coated. This soldering step is known as "tinning."
9. Apply heat from the soldering iron to each of the three solder terminals on all plugs, and apply a small amount of solder to fill the hollow terminals.
10. Heat the terminal marked "1" until the solder re-melts, insert the bare ground wire into the terminal and remove the heat until the solder solidifies within a few seconds. Repeat for the remaining plugs.
11. Heat the terminal marked "2" until the solder re-melts, insert the white or red wire into the terminal and remove the heat until the solder solidifies within a few seconds. Repeat for the remaining plugs.
12. Heat the terminal marked "3" until the solder re-melts, insert the black or blue wire into the terminal and remove the heat until the solder solidifies within a few seconds. Repeat for the remaining plugs.
13. Slide the cylindrical insulator over the terminals, push the terminal block into the plug housing and turn the set-screw clockwise with a screwdriver to lock the block in place. The XLR splitter is now complete and ready for use.
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