The more expensive and 'boutique' devices are the ones most likely to not like being driven into a short.

Apparently the designers believe that these devices will be used with appropriate loads and not operated into a short or into a 'Y' cable connected to another output. But it is true that there is no universal, foolproof solution for muting an audio signal.True, most designers do include some sort of current limiting, either a series resistor or a current limited op amp, but some high-end mic pres do not. Typically we design in series resistance to raise the output impedance and those 'build-out' resistors protect the actual circuit from shorting. I've never encountered a line-level output that wasn't explicitly or inherently short-circuit protected.

Radial Engineering also makes one (the ABi) which includes an option for dropping the signal level (adding a pad) as well as complete latching mute.īuilding your own is a nice, simple DIY project, and might save a few dollars if you don't cost-out the time it takes. SESCOM makes a nice version that can be used for muting or to switch between two sources as an A/B switch. The second schematic is intended for use with Phantom-powered mic inputs, and will mute the audio without causing a switching transient by removing Phantom-power. It will insure that no overload of the output circuit occurs. It's possible to do this with a DPDT switch that breaks the (2) lines and then grounds both of the lines going to the device being fed to eliminate possible noise due to a 'open' input.Īddendum: The first schematic attached is for use with line outputs only. Both signal lines must be broken to mute the connection. A balanced XLR connection does not carry a 'positive and neutral' signal, it carries balanced positive and negative signal(s) with a common or 'neutral' for both plus a shield. Will this work and is there a better way you know of to do this ?If it's a balanced connection (a balanced line feed but not a phantom powered mic input), you should interrupt both the positive and negative leads.

I'm currently figuring to solder ground and nuetral terminals direct from XLR male to XLR female and then run the positive line through a SPST latching foot switch. I need to Wire an External XLR On/Off Switch Pedal.

Xlr mute switch