XLRs are everywhere and already installed. You could choose cat5 but it's not as common.

That’s my point - reusing an existing connector type for a new and completely incompatible role will not make life easier.

I joked to a friend once that it would be far better if we just used a single connector type for everything in audio and get rid of jacks, XLR, power connectors, MIDI, etc. They liked the idea - I deadpan suggested regular mains plugs and sockets would be good - cheap, ubiquitous and sturdy.

▲

mystifyingpoi a day ago | parent | next [-]

That's fair point - I can imagine someone plugging a digital out into analog in, not expecting the hell that's about to break. Probably it sounds like digital noise, not sure about levels.

But the advantage of reusing cabling that already exists in 100% of the venues, stages and churches cannot be overstated. It is literally a drop-in upgrade, boom, now a single cable carries 32 channels instead of 1.

▲

CaptainOfCoit a day ago | parent | prev [-]

> reusing an existing connector type for a new and completely incompatible role will not make life easier

I don't think it's completely new purpose for XLR, I'm fairly sure I've seen other stuff than audio being pulled through XLR more than once even in professional environments.

	▲	amluto 15 hours ago \| parent \| next [-]
		DMX over three-pin XLR is extremely common, and it’s also rather common for lighting equipment to be right next to the sound equipment.
	▲	javawizard 19 hours ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		Exactly - AES/EBU over XLR has been a thing in the broadcast world for ages. The Behringer WING mixer even has a pair of AES/EBU ports on the back.