Instead of using several dozen individual microphone cables, sound engineers use short cables to plug microphones and other devices into a snake's input box, which condenses down into a single cable. On the other end, the snake fans out into individual cables again, which engineers can connect to a mixing board. However, engineers often have to run a signal back to the stage in the opposite direction, such as when they're using on-stage floor monitors. These channels are called "returns." Although some snakes have built-in return channels, it is also possible to modify a send channel to be a return.
Things You'll Need
1 male-to-male XLR connector
1 female-to-female XLR connector
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Instructions
1
Black markers and white gaffer's tape are the best way to label sound equipment.
Pick any unused channel to be modified as a return and label it so it is not mixed up with the other channels. Many engineers use the last channel on a snake to avoid confusion.
2
Connect the male-to-male connector to the designated return channel at the snake box.
3
Connect the female-to-female connector to the designated return channel at the fan end.
4
Repeat this process with additional connectors on more channels to convert additional send channels to returns.