FIELD GUIDESource-led reference

Professional audio discovery

Mini-XLR pin numbering vs device wiring

Use the represented 3-, 4- and 5-position Mini-XLR / Tini-QG contact designations for orientation, while keeping actual signal functions device-specific.

Question this page answers

Does knowing the Mini-XLR pin number tell me what that pin carries on my microphone, beltpack, headset or other device?

What the current evidence can establish

The engineering sidecars identify manufacturer-supported front mating-side contact designations for the represented Mini-XLR forms.

Those contact numbers are not a universal signal assignment. Device wiring, conductor colors and rear-side orientation remain separate questions.

Engineering sidecars already available

Permanent side-by-side distinctions

What to verify on the exact system

Stop line.

A Mini-XLR contact number is an identifier, not a universal microphone, headset, power or audio wiring function.

Existing evidence, stronger route.

These V52 guides reorganize facts and explicit unknowns already present in the atlas. They add no new hardware claim, universal pinout, measured performance result, compatibility verdict, installation approval or fabrication approval.

Evidence behind this page

Scope first. Source second. Approval separate.

8 linked sources · 14 scoped claims · 0 sources with inspection/access flags.

Page scope: A Mini-XLR contact number is an identifier, not a universal microphone, headset, power or audio wiring function.

Assessment 2026-10-22 · earliest scheduled source review 2026-12-30. This is a recorded-date assessment, not a live source check. Page-level independent review is not established by this panel.

Inspect 8 source scopes, access limits and dates

S028 · NC3MXX XLR cable connector

Neutrik · Manufacturer / product-owner domain · inspected 2026-10-01 · due 2026-12-30

Within inspection window

Scoped support: 3-pole male XLR physical example; no universal signal or power promise.

Not established / limitations:

Locator: Product identification

S192 · XLR FAQ — 3 pole wiring

Neutrik · Manufacturer / product-owner domain · inspected 2026-10-05 · due 2027-01-03

Within inspection window

Scoped support: Three-pole XLR audio contact roles: pin 1 shield/ground, pin 2 live/hot/positive, pin 3 return/cold/negative.

Not established / limitations: Functional wiring convention only; V35 does not publish connector mechanical dimensions or infer every device’s circuitry.

Locator: How do I wire my cable onto my 3 pole XLR?

S350 · Switchcraft Tini-QG Mini-XLR 3-conductor product

Switchcraft · Manufacturer / product-owner domain · inspected 2026-10-06 · due 2027-01-04

Within inspection window

Scoped support: Product-specific identification of a 3-conductor Switchcraft Tini-QG Mini-XLR form only.

Not established / limitations: Source-backed identification does not establish universal wiring, protocol generation, device compatibility, safe installation or fabrication approval.

Locator: Configuration: number of conductors, product line and standard connector type

S351 · Switchcraft Tini-QG Mini-XLR 4-conductor product

Switchcraft · Manufacturer / product-owner domain · inspected 2026-10-06 · due 2027-01-04

Within inspection window

Scoped support: Product-specific identification of a 4-conductor Switchcraft Tini-QG Mini-XLR form only.

Not established / limitations: Source-backed identification does not establish universal wiring, protocol generation, device compatibility, safe installation or fabrication approval.

Locator: Configuration: number of conductors, product line and standard connector type

S352 · Switchcraft Tini-QG Mini-XLR 5-conductor product

Switchcraft · Manufacturer / product-owner domain · inspected 2026-10-06 · due 2027-01-04

Within inspection window

Scoped support: Product-specific identification of a 5-conductor Switchcraft Tini-QG Mini-XLR form only.

Not established / limitations: Source-backed identification does not establish universal wiring, protocol generation, device compatibility, safe installation or fabrication approval.

Locator: Configuration: number of conductors, product line and standard connector type

S359 · Switchcraft sealed Tini-QG Mini-XLR customer drawing

Switchcraft · Manufacturer / product-owner domain · inspected 2026-10-06 · due 2027-01-04

Within inspection window

Scoped support: Manufacturer-example front mating-side numbering and latch context for 3-, 4- and 5-position sealed female Tini-QG connectors.

Not established / limitations: Numbered contact positions do not establish universal audio, power, microphone, intercom or device-specific signal wiring.

Locator: Front mating-side views for TA3FS, TA4FS and TA5FS with numbered contacts

S707 · ISA Two User Guide

Focusrite · Manufacturer / product-owner domain · inspected 2026-10-18 · due 2027-01-16

Within inspection window

Scoped support: Exact named pinout variant only; not capability or compatibility approval.

Not established / limitations: Source scope and unresolved evidence are preserved in the engineering variant.

Locator: p. 9, Appendices > Connector Pinouts > Mic Input, Pin/Signal table

S708 · M-5000 Power Amplifier Owner's Manual

Yamaha · Manufacturer / product-owner domain · inspected 2026-10-18 · due 2027-01-16

Within inspection window

Scoped support: Exact named pinout variant only; not capability or compatibility approval.

Not established / limitations: Source scope and unresolved evidence are preserved in the engineering variant.

Locator: pp. 8 and 10, PHASE selector and Balanced connection diagrams

Trace 14 claims to their source records

C026A · P026

Three-pole XLR connectors are a distinct keyed, latching circular family.

Claim scope: Consumer identification / documented standard or product class only

Source links: S028 · Evidence trail → (private workspace)

C026B · P026

For the documented three-pole XLR audio convention, pin 1 is shield/ground, pin 2 is live/hot/positive, and pin 3 is return/cold/negative.

Claim scope: Three-pole XLR audio wiring convention only; not universal device-circuitry or mechanical-dimension approval

Source links: S192 · Evidence trail → (private workspace)

C026C · P026

Neutrik NC3MXX is a three-pole male cable connector with nickel housing, silver contacts and a latch-lock interface.

Claim scope: Exact XLR component identity; not a device signal, microphone-bias or electrical compatibility assignment.

Source links: S028 · Evidence trail → (private workspace)

C309A · P309

Switchcraft’s cited Tini-QG product is identified as a Standard Connector Type Mini-XLR with 3 conductors.

Claim scope: V50 identification fact only; no wiring, protocol compatibility, installation or fabrication approval is inferred.

Source links: S350 · Evidence trail → (private workspace)

C309B · P309

Switchcraft’s sealed TA3FS Tini-QG drawing numbers three contacts as viewed from the front mating side.

Claim scope: Contact-designation/orientation context only; numbered positions do not establish a universal Mini-XLR audio or power wiring scheme.

Source links: S359 · Evidence trail → (private workspace)

C309C · P309

Switchcraft TA3MLX is a three-conductor male Tini-QG Mini-XLR cord connector with solder-cup termination and no flex relief.

Claim scope: Exact TA3MLX configuration. Shared conductor count with full-size XLR does not establish interchangeable housings or wiring.

Source links: S350 · Evidence trail → (private workspace)

C310A · P310

Switchcraft’s cited Tini-QG product is identified as a Standard Connector Type Mini-XLR with 4 conductors.

Claim scope: V50 identification fact only; no wiring, protocol compatibility, installation or fabrication approval is inferred.

Source links: S351 · Evidence trail → (private workspace)

C310B · P310

Switchcraft’s sealed TA4FS Tini-QG drawing numbers four contacts as viewed from the front mating side.

Claim scope: Contact-designation/orientation context only; numbered positions do not establish a universal Mini-XLR audio or power wiring scheme.

Source links: S359 · Evidence trail → (private workspace)

C310C · P310

Switchcraft drawing TA_FS series revision B identifies F as female, S as sealed, and cable-size suffix 11 as the 2.54–3.05 mm range in its ordering code. The four-contact front view is labelled TA4FS series.

Claim scope: TA_FS customer drawing, one page, revision B dated 18-Dec-2015; no IP rating, exact suffix exterior difference or microphone pin assignment is inferred.

Source links: S359 · Evidence trail → (private workspace)

C311A · P311

Switchcraft’s cited Tini-QG product is identified as a Standard Connector Type Mini-XLR with 5 conductors.

Claim scope: V50 identification fact only; no wiring, protocol compatibility, installation or fabrication approval is inferred.

Source links: S352 · Evidence trail → (private workspace)

C311B · P311

Switchcraft’s sealed TA5FS Tini-QG drawing numbers five contacts as viewed from the front mating side.

Claim scope: Contact-designation/orientation context only; numbered positions do not establish a universal Mini-XLR audio or power wiring scheme.

Source links: S359 · Evidence trail → (private workspace)

C802T · P026

Focusrite ISA Two microphone input: original contact normalization. Statuses distinguish comparison agreement, source limits and named-device wiring.

Claim scope: Pinout variant only; see comparison and per-contact status. Not fabrication approval.

Source links: S707 · Evidence trail → (private workspace)

C802U · P026

Yamaha M-5000 BAL input — PHASE NORMAL: original contact normalization. Statuses distinguish comparison agreement, source limits and named-device wiring.

Claim scope: Pinout variant only; see comparison and per-contact status. Not fabrication approval.

Source links: S708 · Evidence trail → (private workspace)

C802V · P026

Yamaha M-5000 BAL input — PHASE INVERTED: original contact normalization. Statuses distinguish comparison agreement, source limits and named-device wiring.

Claim scope: Pinout variant only; see comparison and per-contact status. Not fabrication approval.

Source links: S708 · Evidence trail → (private workspace)

Prepare this page for review → (private workspace)Read the evidence method →

Recorded evidence only. An inspection date, publisher label, source link or generated packet is not independent technical review, hardware testing, fabrication approval or a compatibility verdict.