Building Balanced XLR Cables

Hi

XLR cables should have two conductors and a shield. NOT 3!
Do not use the 3rd conductors for GND.
Use the shield.
Shield is significant to protect from EMI/RFI. use it as GND.
Two ground lines (3rd wire and shield) may cause a ground loop and add hum.
Not to say it is not the standard XLR.
XLR (Balanced line) is a long lasting standard, used in so many applications and configurations.
It works.
Why change?
Just because you purchased the wrong cable with a 3rd conductor?

Mr. auxinput

XLR should be by STD. No exceptions. Salt and pepper are from another recipe.
I used, built, tested and opened XLR cables. Many for the VOA (Voice of America) projects I was involved (including a winning bid for a station proposal. I wrote book No.4: Audio and time base sub system).
As a part of that rol, we had an Audio expert from the TV broadcast station in Jerusalem. None of your ideas was Kosher.
Powering a mic?
The XLR cables are not for mics. They are for interconnecting home audio equipment.
I would put more attention on the connectors and pick Nutric.
Swiss made, the best in the industry.
Adding a wire (except the shield) is never used in unbalanced (RCA) interconnects, because of the ground loop problem. Why to use it with XLR?