AES Cables
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As digital audio devices began to appear on the market, professionals and consumers identified a significant issue — incompatibility. At this point in history, the digital audio market was like the wild west. Every manufacturer created a proprietary digital protocol, saturating the market with pieces of equipment that couldn’t talk to each other. In fact, there were so many protocols and standards that musicians couldn’t use gear from multiple manufacturers in their setups. In the late 1970s, the Audio Engineering Society (AES) partnered with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to develop a standard for digital audio interconnect cables. In 1985, the AES3 standard was published and became known as AES/EBU. AES cables are digital cables and are still commonly used in studios around the world.
AES Cable
Generally speaking, AES cables use standard XLR connectors and can carry up to two channels of digital audio between audio devices. The most common AES/EBU cable configuration is terminated with 3-pin XLR connectors. Since it transmits digital data, an AES cable with XLR connectors can achieve long cable runs with ease. With a properly built cable, AES/EBU can send data down a cable with a length of about 300 feet! While this is undoubtedly the most popular configuration, AES cables can also use BNC connectors and 75-Ohm unbalanced cables. An AES cable with BNC connectors can transmit data more than 2,500 feet. And as an added bonus, you can use your AES cable with all-analog gear too! When it’s not transmitting digital signals, an AES cable will act exactly the same as a standard XLR/microphone cable. Please note that a non-AES/EBU XLR cable will not work correctly with AES gear due to impedance issues.
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Want to learn more about AES cables? Sweetwater put together a handy Cable Buying Guide! It covers all the cable-related topics, including shielding, conductors, connectors, protocols, and more! If you’re not sure what cable you’re looking for or need some help finding new gear, give Sweetwater a call at (800) 222-4700. Your Sales Engineer will be happy to talk about your current setup and which cables will work the best for the gear that you use.
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What are the most popular brands for AES Cables on Sweetwater.com?
What are the most popular AES Cables on Sweetwater.com?
Why shop AES Cables at Sweetwater.com?
With a massive selection of AES Cables, free shipping, a free 2-year warranty, 24/7 access to award-winning support - and more - Sweetwater gives you more than any other retailer! If you have any questions about AES Cables, make sure to give your personal Sales Engineer a call at (800) 222-4700.
