A six-pickups system wiring scheme through ethernet

[hum9797]

Alenxandr Misko is an acoustic guitarist famous for his multi pickup system, which is connected through 1 single ethernet cable, from the guitar to an ethernet breakout box.

1. How do 6 pickups wire to the ethernet output, at the same time splitting the signal for six individual backup output jacks?

2. Would transmitting the signal through ethernet cables deteriorate the pickup audio quality?

3. Shield Twisted Pair should be used for the transmitting cable, shouldn't it?

I understand those are lots of questions, I would appreciate everyone's help if any of those can be answered.

--------------------------------------------------

Here is the video Alexandr Misko talking about how Klotz helped him developed this system:

 

[AnalogSteph]

I presume that what they did is not exactly going to be purist-approved but functional. My guess is the pickups are active (or have some sort of external buffer circuit) with an output impedance of no more than a few hundred ohms, low enough to keep the inevitable crosstalk at bay over the relatively modest length required (which probably isn't a major issue to begin with when all pickups are on the same guitar and treble response only has to extend to 6-10 kHz). Then you can just use 3 of the 4 twisted pairs to route 6 single-ended signals (I assume the cable is STP of some kind so the shielding is adequate) and have another left over for a pickup / buffer power supply or something.

This is about the simplest solution I can think of that would get the job done. Sure you could go digital with a 6-channel ADC and DAC pair or something, but out in the field simple = reliable = good.

 

[EERecordist]

Dave Rat is a sound engineer with many discussions of data on Ethernet cables for baseband audio. Guitar pickups have more voltage than microphones. The higher CAT Ethernet cables have individual shielding for their twisted pairs and the pair twists are glued in very good geometry. There are very good quality etherCON connectors by companies like Neutrik. Finding portable cable, rather than in-wall IT cable, takes work. In-wall IT cable is inexpensive and may be fine mechanically.

1. Ethernet cable is 4 pairs, so for 6 channels 2 cables. I would not try to put 6 channels on any Ethernet cable.
2. Shielded twisted pair is more then adequate for audio
3. Yes