Handbook for Sound Engineers

1482 Chapter 39

that connector will be allowed for AES3-MIC as well. If
a connector different from the XLR is desired currently,

then that connector must be the XLD, Fig. 39-18.

The black-white-black-white pattern on the zebra

ring and associated wiring and the bumps on the surface

of the ring serve to identify a connector that carries an

AES3 digital audio signal, and that may be carrying

DPP, Fig. 39-19. It also indicates that associated

circuitry will not be damaged by the application of DPP.

Cables so marked are designed to carry AES3 digital

signals.

39.6 IEC 60958 Second Edition

This standard is based on three different sources, the

AES3 and EBU Tech. 3250-E professional digital audio

interconnection standards, and the consumer digital

interface specification from Sony and Phillips (SPDIF).

The standard is broken into four parts, 60958-1 Ed,

which contains general information on the digital inter-

face; 60958-2 (unchanged from the first edition) on the

serial copy management system: 60958-3 Ed2, which

contains the consumer interface specific information:

and 60958-4 Ed2, which contains information on the

professional interface.

Since the professional interface is covered under the

section on AES3 above, in this section we will only

review how the consumer interface specified in 60958-3

differs from AES3.

Table 39-4 is based on Edition 3 of IEC 60958. It is

always advisable to obtain the latest revision of the

standard.

Figure 39-17. AES42 proposed XLD connector of the fully
coded female chassis variety. This is a modified XLR type of
connector with removable keying that could be used to
prevent accidental interconnections between analog and
AES3 or analog and AES3-MIC circuits. It will only mate
with a fully coded male XLD.

Figure 39-18. AES42 proposed XLD connection logic
showing which varieties of XLD and XLR will mate. Note
that if the fully coded varieties are used, it will not be
possible to mate them with ordinary XLR connectors. If the
keys are removed resulting in the half-coded variety, then
the XLD will mate with either the XLR or the fully coded
XLD. This was designed to satisfy those who insisted on
maintaining compatibility with the XLR.

2 1

3

Push

Figure 39-19. FAES42 proposed XLD zebra coding ring.

The standard requires that if the XLD is used for AES3-MIC

or AES3 signals the zebra ring also must be used. The zebra

ring has black and white stripes and a bumpy surface to

provide tactile feedback to the user. The grounding spring

shown provides better grounding at RF frequencies and

helps prevent RFI from entering or leaving the connector.

Special (circumferential)

grounding spring

Zebra coding ring

(removeable)