Report of the SC-05-02 Working Group on Audio Connectors, of the SC-05 Subcommittee on Interconnections meeting, held in conjunction with the 114th Convention in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 2003-03-22

Vice-chair J. Woodgate convened the meeting.

The agenda and the report of the previous meeting at the 113th Convention in Los Angeles were approved without comment.

Open projects

AES-R3-R Review of AES-R3-2001 TRS connectors
No action was requested or is required.

AES14-R Review of AES14-1992 (r1998) AES standard for professional audio equipment - Application of connectors. Part 1: XLR-type polarity and gender
No action necessary at the time of the meeting. By the next meeting, the IEC standard IEC 61076-2-103 should have been published and should be cross-referenced.

There is an unresolved question - should the connection of pin 1 to the shell be disallowed in AES-14? It was felt appropriate to wait until the AES-X13 document is published.

AES26-R Review of AES26-2001 AES recommended practice for professional audio - Conservation of the polarity of audio signals
No action was requested or is required.

AES45-R Review of AES45-2001 AES standard for single programme connectors - Connectors for loudspeaker-level patch panels
The diagrams need to be rendered in monochrome so that the document can proceed to an editorial revision. M. Natter and will discuss with the Standards Manager.

Development projects

AES-X11 Fiber-Optic Audio Connections - Connectors and Cables Being Used and Considered for Audio
The meeting of SC-05-02-F in Los Angeles was well attended. The results of the Questionnaire originated at the 112th Convention should be circulated as soon as possible.

There is a project request in SC-02-02 on the use of AES-3 over fiber. R. Caine will liase with D. Rottinghaus pending approval of the SC-02-02 project.

A new intent date of 2004 was agreed.

AES-X105 Modified XLR-3 Connector for Digital Microphones
The mechanical design of the new connector is still under study. The keying method for the new connector is still unresolved, but a proposal was discussed. The SC-02-02-F task group is preparing to send a rationale and questionnaire to users. The next step is to acquire drawings or prototypes to accompany the questionnaire.

A new intent date of 2005 was agreed.

AES-X113 Universal Female Phone Jack
The text requires a minor editorial amendment, to delete "M" from the type number of the referenced components, because the metric version has never been made. The document can then proceed to the next stage.

AES-X123 XL Connectors to Improve Electromagnetic Compatibility
The group clarified that its intent is for a single standard, embracing both the low-inductance capacitor plus ferrite bead techniques and the improved shell-to-shell connection. Further contributions to the draft are awaited.

AES-X130 Category-6 Data Connector in a XL Connector Shell
A Project Initiation Form (PIF) is required. The new PIF will be put on the AESSC Web site.

New projects

There were no new projects.

New business

There was no new business. The next meeting will be held in conjunction with the AES 115th Convention in New York, NY, US, 2003-10