Handy Converter Plugs You Should Have

Have you ever encountered a situation where you’re working as a PA engineer or at a rehearsal studio, and the plug shape on the gear didn’t match?
Having a converter plug can be a solution.
Here, I’d like to introduce some converter plugs that I always bring to work!

CLASSIC PRO / AXP212

CLASSIC PRO / AXP222

First, let me talk about these two: AXP212 and AXP222.
These convert XLR (Cannon) to TS (Phone). There are quite a few situations where you can’t use XLR on mixers. In these converters, Pin 2 connects to the Tip (T) and Pins 1 and 3 connect to the Sleeve (S).

CLASSIC PRO / AXS212

CLASSIC PRO / AXS222

Next up are the AXS212 and AXS222.
While the AXP212 and AXP222 convert to TS, these AXS212 and AXS222 convert XLR to TRS. These are valuable when the mixer’s balanced inputs or outputs are TRS-only, or when you’re short on cables.
It’s convenient to have both male and female versions of AXP and AXS.

CLASSIC PRO / ASN221M Converter Adapter

This adapter converts a 3.5mm stereo mini plug to a stereo phone plug. Since many monitor and headphone outputs are 6.3mm, having this converter on hand is a safe bet.

CLASSIC PRO / APR221 Converter Adapter

This converts RCA to phone. It’s essential when heading to a venue with a DJ. DJ equipment often has RCA inputs and outputs, and there have been times when sudden equipment changes meant only using phone connections. RCA, commonly known as the red and white plugs, usually come in LR sets, so it’s advisable to have two converters.

SH / 3 Pin-2 Pin Adaptor

For power conversions, I always carry this 3 Pin-2 Pin Adaptor, which converts a 3-pin plug with a ground pin to a 2-pin plug. Ideally, you want to use the ground, but there are times when the plug shape or situation doesn’t allow for 3-pin connections. This adapter helps get through situations like this.

CLASSIC PRO / APP211

This is a phone-to-phone converter adapter.
In sudden situations where cables are insufficient, having this converter saved me.
By connecting two SpeakOn-phone cables with the APP211, I was able to make a longer SpeakOn-SpeakOn speaker cable. It is something that can be managed with this item.

TOMOCA / MST-1.5

Finally, though not a converter adapter, I’d like to introduce the MST-1.5 Y-cable.
This Y-cable outputs LR signals entered through a stereo mini as RCA LR.
It’s a must-have item when you want to input sound from a smartphone into a mixer.
Additionally, combining this with the previously mentioned ASN221M or APR221 greatly expands its usage. If the mixer doesn’t have RCA terminals, you can convert it to phone to change the input channel and adjust the volume or equalizer on the mixer. Converting mini stereo to TRS phone allows separating LR outputs from the headphone out.

I always bring these nine converters to PA work, and I use two or three types every time. While it’s better to have the right cables, carrying all of them can be cumbersome, so I use converters as a practical solution.
There are other converters, including some I made myself, which I will introduce another time if given the chance.

In conclusion,
“Converter plugs are amulets”

Thank you for reading.