Analog Snake
The Radial Catapult Rack RX is a 1U passive receiver that carries 12 channels of analog audio from three shielded Cat 5/6 cable runs to 12 XLR outputs. It is the rack end of a lightweight analog snake for IEM, monitor, playback, and touring systems. The signal remains analog end to end, with per-bank ground lift and no AC power required.
Manufacturer product photography — the drawn faceplate stays true to panel layout; these show the hardware itself.
01 · What it does—and what that changes in your rig.
Start with the payoff, then work through how it functions, where it fits, and the details that change a real build.
Catapult Rack RX is the receiving half of a 12-channel analog snakeA multicore cable bundling many channels into one stage-to-console run. A sub-snake collects one corner of the stage into a drop box.: three shielded Cat 5/6 runs arrive at the rack and break out to twelve male XLRThe standard 3-pin locking connector for mics and balanced line signals — pin 1 is the shield, pins 2 and 3 carry the balanced pair. outputs. Each Cat cable carries four channels as balancedCarries the signal on two wires and cancels whatever noise both pick up — why mic cables can run hundreds of feet hum-free. analog audio, so there is no conversion, network setup, clocking, or latencyThe delay between sound entering and leaving a digital system. IEM rigs fight to keep the whole chain down to a few milliseconds. to manage.
The useful planning insight is the cable math. A full twelve-channel path needs three Cat runs and a compatible Catapult TX or breakoutA cable that splits one multichannel connector (like a DB25) into individual plugs — the octopus that turns 8 channels into 8 XLRs. at the source. The three banks remain independent, making four- or eight-channel deployments practical without wiring the entire unit.
This is a direct passive Cat-to-XLRThe standard 3-pin locking connector for mics and balanced line signals — pin 1 is the shield, pins 2 and 3 carry the balanced pair. path with per-bank ground liftA switch that disconnects a cable’s shield at one end to break a ground loop. Lift on DIs and isolators — never on AC safety grounds., not an isolation transformerA magnetic coupling that passes audio between two windings with no wire contact — isolates splits and kills ground-loop hum, no power needed.. Use shielded Cat cable for the intended grounding behavior, label each bank at both ends, and add transformer isolation elsewhere only when the application calls for it.
02 · Know the whole path before you buy.
Learn the route as a block diagram: source, product function, transport, and destination. Select any block to see what enters, what changes, and what leaves.
Each block answers the same three questions: what arrives, what changes here, and what leaves.
The matching send end accepts separate analog sources and assigns them to repeatable cable banks.
03 · What this product asks of the rest of the system.
Treat connector names as the start of the check—not the answer. These are the boundaries that determine a complete working path.
Use it when 1U and 82.55 mm of depth fit the case.
Complete both ends with a compatible sender, receiver, or breakout. Match connector, channel wiring, direction, and shielded-cable requirements.
Documented connectors: etherCON, XLR male. Match connector, direction, and signal type—not shape alone.
04 · Every connector, grouped by job.
Switch the product view and the documented port inventory updates with it—hardware and data stay side by side.
Switch panels to keep the hardware view and the documented port list in sync.
| Port | Panel | Connector | Direction | Signal | Channels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A etherCON 1 | rear | etherCON | input | analog audio | — |
| B etherCON 1 | rear | etherCON | input | analog audio | — |
| C etherCON 1 | rear | etherCON | input | analog audio | — |
| A etherCON 2 | rear | etherCON | bidirectional | analog audio | — |
| B etherCON 2 | rear | etherCON | bidirectional | analog audio | — |
| C etherCON 2 | rear | etherCON | bidirectional | analog audio | — |
| OUT A1 | front | XLR male | output | analog audio | — |
| OUT A2 | front | XLR male | output | analog audio | — |
| OUT A3 | front | XLR male | output | analog audio | — |
| OUT A4 | front | XLR male | output | analog audio | — |
| OUT B1 | front | XLR male | output | analog audio | — |
| OUT B2 | front | XLR male | output | analog audio | — |
| OUT B3 | front | XLR male | output | analog audio | — |
| OUT B4 | front | XLR male | output | analog audio | — |
| OUT C1 | front | XLR male | output | analog audio | — |
| OUT C2 | front | XLR male | output | analog audio | — |
| OUT C3 | front | XLR male | output | analog audio | — |
| OUT C4 | front | XLR male | output | analog audio | — |
Showing 18 of 18 documented physical ports. Scroll to review the remaining rows.
05 · Compare the decision, not just the price.
The rows are organized around fit, power, I/O, and system role so a cheaper unit cannot hide a more expensive workflow.
| Compare |  |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fit | 📐 1U | 📐 Outside rack | 📐 Outside rack | 📐 Outside rack |
| Power | ⚡ 0W | ⚡ Unverified | ⚡ Unverified | ⚡ Unverified |
| Weight | ⚖️ 3.1 lb | ⚖️ 2.2 lb | ⚖️ 2.2 lb | ⚖️ 2.2 lb |
| I/O | 🔌 18 | 🔌 5 | 🔌 5 | 🔌 5 |
| Estimate | 💵 ~$300 | 💵 ~$125 | 💵 ~$125 | 💵 ~$125 |
| Deep dive | Current selection | Full comparison → | Full comparison → | Full comparison → |
06 · Resolve the questions that can change the purchase or build plan.
Short, source-backed answers surface rack fit, power, cabling, and connection details before they become surprises.
It occupies 1U. Its documented depth is 82.55 mm.
It is verified passive and requires no AC power.
18 documented physical ports, including A etherCON 1, B etherCON 1, C etherCON 1, A etherCON 2, B etherCON 2, C etherCON 2.
07 · See this unit inside a real rack plan.
See this gear used in context, outside the catalog.
Human-reviewed, ranked by a dated public activity snapshot, with enough detail to judge the workflow without leaving the product page.
11:43A practical live-rig walkthrough showing how Catapult Rack and Mini units replace several long XLR runs with labeled Cat cable paths.
3:25Radial demonstrates the passive four-channel path, shielded Cat cabling, and the absence of digital conversion in the Catapult system.
08 · Related gear, in the order you may need it.
Analog Snake
Analog Snake
Analog Snake
Analog Snake
Analog Snake
Analog Snake
Planning guides for analog snake systems.
Workflow · 10 min
A plain-English guide to writing the input list, stage plot, and patch sheet that house engineers want — without the jargon, with examples, and with a free way to generate one.
Workflow · 6 min
How to split mic signals between FOH and your IEM rack: transformer-isolated splitters, phantom power rules, and where to place the split in the chain.
Gear Reviews · 2 min
Radial Catapult Rack RX review: a 1U passive 12-channel analog snake receiver at $299.99 — zero watts, per-bank ground lift, and who should skip it.
