Stage box

A stage box is an interface device used in sound reinforcement and recording studios to connect equipment to a mixing console.

It provides a central location to connect microphones, instruments, and speakers to a multicore cable (snake), which allows the sound desk to be further from the stage and simplifies setup.

[1] Stage boxes typically consist of a rugged metal enclosure, with XLR connectors on the front whose signals are routed through a snake.

[1] Another feature of some stage boxes is integrated DI interfaces for direct connection of instruments.

This allows all the signals to be transmitted over a single twisted pair cable rather than a bulkier and more expensive analog multicore.

[2] Digital stage boxes are typically easier to set up and more reliable than their analog counterparts, and their cables are much more compact.

Many manufacturers use proprietary standards for the transmission of digital audio, for example Behringer's ULTRANET, Digigram's EtherSound or Allen & Heath's dSNAKE.

They are commonly rack-mounted or mounted on walls in studios, in contrast to the portable method of installation used for live sound.