About D-type Pinouts and Screwlocks

The screwlocks used for both analogue and digital audio application of D-type connectors by Tascam were originally M2.6 thread rather than the UNC 4-40 commonly used for computers.

This prevents PC printer ports and RS232 ports being connected by mistake, but does not prevent TDIF being connected to audio or AES/EBU being connected to analogue audio.

Care should be taken to distinguish cables in mixed systems--especially when all three may be adjacent on the same equipment, e.g. DA-98!

To add to the confusion some manufacturers have adopted the Tascam pinout without using the difficult to source M2.6 screw posts. Others have implemented a different pinout that can short to ground output drivers connected to it.

Normally Tascam pinout cables are supplied with M2.6 screwlocks, and Yamaha pinout have UNC 4-40 screwlocks, but some equipment is otherwise, e.g. Digidesign use Tascam pinout with UNC threads.