PreSonus Forums

Just plugged some XLRs into the Studio 2/6. Now they're locked in and I can't remove them. Wouldn't want to break it doing something stupid. What's the fix?

I think I would ask more nicely next time.

Are you depressing the release tab?

Ah, someone! Hi. Thanks for joining in.

Release tab on what? There's none on either the interface or the XLR.

On the Firestudio Mobile I had before the Studio 2/6, XLR plugs just go in and come out really easily - no release tab. That's what I expected the Studio 2/6 to do, but it doesn't work the same way.

So, this release tab you speak of... Where sir, might I find such a thing?

When you plugged the XLR into your interface you should have felt or heard a click. That's the lock to keep the cable safe from being accidently unplugged. There is a button or tab on the XLR body to release. Unfortunately, there are reports of that mechanism working. If that is the case Google "Stuck XLR" for some videos on removal.

Good luck.

Thanks, Skip - that's useful. I'll check them out, try them out, and report.

However, one thing is certain - the very same cables worked flawlessly for many years with my Presonus Firestudio Mobile. The only thing that's changed is the interface, so I'm thinking that the Studio 2/6 design is the culprit.

Okay, I had success removing both stuck cables using the following procedure:

1 Unscrew the XLR housing.
2 Pull out the electronics, leaving just the stuck housing in the interface.
3 With needlenose pliers, twist the housing and remove.

It worked, but two things - first, it didn't do the threads on the housing any good - I could reassemble the XLR. Second, I'm reluctant to try another XLR because I'm afraid it'll get stuck again.

So two questions:

* What should I do?
* Have you heard other complaints about stuck XLRs in this model?

Not sure why the housing would get stuck. I have heard of the cables getting stuck but on a variety of different manufacturers equipment.but not specific to preSonus or your interface.

Have you thought of having a technician take a look?

Good luck.

I made this video a couple of years ago

https://youtu.be/os-tpWad7Uc

If the ‘silver’ piece is removed but not the black piece you’ll get a permanent lock of the xlr shell with almost no means of removing it.

Check to see if they forgot to remove both pieces in the factory.

Yup. Good video. Thanks for posting that.

Skip Jones wroteNot sure why the housing would get stuck. I have heard of the cables getting stuck but on a variety of different manufacturers equipment.but not specific to preSonus or your interface.

Here's the last (I hope) bit of this sad little story. I noticed that using the method I described above, I'd damaged something in the input. (So, don't use that method, obviously.) It came out easily - a small rectangle of metal with a small V bump in the middle - the unit's locking spring for the XLR shell. Now, with the locking spring gone, that input works just fine - things go in, things come out. So, rather than try to remove the spring from the other input, I used a jeweller's screwdriver and bent the spring up a bit so it doesn't clamp so tightly. Now XLRs go in, are tight, but I can get them out.

Skip, if you haven't heard of this problem cropping up with this unit or other Presonus gear, then it must have been my bad luck to get a unit with locking springs that played too aggressively with my Monster cables.

Live and learn. (Ouch.) Thanks for giving me ideas to work with, you guys.

Happy it worked out for you.

Happy New year.