AES/EBU DB25 Pinout Guide

DB25 pinout guide

Many audio interfaces, AD/DA converters, digital mixers, and other devices use DB25  connectors to carry eight channels of AES/EBU.  Typically these cables “break out” into XLR connectors (four male connectors, four female connectors) to accommodate individual stereo AES/EBU connections.

DB25 pinout diagram

Note: This does not apply to analog DB25 connections, only digital AES/EBU DB25 connections.

The tricky part is making sure you have the right type of DB25 connector. There are two standard pin arrangements for DB25 AES/EBU connectors. One DB-25 connector is commonly known as the Tascam pinout, and the other DB-25 connector is referred to as the Yamaha pinout. While they use the same DB25 connectors, the 25 pins are used for entirely separate channels.  If you connect two devices, one DB-25 connector using the Tascam pinout, and the other using Yamaha, they simply won’t work together.

If you’re not sure what pinout your device uses for AES/EBU DB25, check the manual for a pinout diagram and compare it to the diagrams above.  Here’s a list of some manufacturers and the AES/EBU DB25 pinouts they use.

Tascam DB-25 connections

• Avid/Digidesign
• Universal Audio
• RME
• PreSonus

Yamaha DB-25 connections

• Apogee
• Mackie
• Lynx
• SSL

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