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STAGE PRACTICES / SOUND 1
Michael Drolet -- 2017
My Home CONNECTORS FOR AUDIO


XLR 
RCA (PHONO) 
TRS
TS
1/4 INCH PHONE 
T NEUTRIK TRS

  1/8 INCH (MINI) STEREO PHONE 


SPEAKON



XLR CONNECTOR:
Probably the most common professional audio connector is the 3-pin XLR connector. These are often referred as Cannon connectors, after their original manufacturer; even though today they are also made by Switchcraft, Neutrik and others.
CANNON
CANNON
SWITCHCRAFT
SWITCHCRAFT
NEUTRIK
NEUTRIK
3-pin XLR connectors are used for balanced, analogue audio circuits -- both microphone and line level.
Clearcom "party-line" intercoms use 3-pin XLRs for interconnection between belt-packs.

3-pin XLR connectors are also used for AES/EBU professional digital audio interconnections.{3-pin XL}
Pin 1 is the ground pin and protrudes past Pins 2 and 3 in the female connector so that when inserting the male; the ground makes contact first. This helps to avoid annoying buzzes and pops when connecting live equipment.

Recently, the AES (Audio Engineering Society) standardised the pin-out of the 3-pin XLR connector, specifying that Pin 2 should carry the "HOT" or "in-phase" signal and Pin 3 the "LOW".
4-pin XLR connectors are used for the headset on Clearcom intercoms.{4-pin XL}
5-pin XLRs are also used for stereo or 2-channel analogue audio interconnections. 5 and 7 pin XLRs are used to interconnect control signals for various pieces of lighting equipment (AMX and DMX).{5-pin XL}
mini_xlr
A Mini, 4-pin version of the XLR is used as the input connector on wireless microphone body packs.
 



 
   
TIP-RING-SLEEVE (PHONE or 1/4 INCH):
The Tip-Ring-Sleeve (TRS) or Quarter-inch phone plug  is often used in place of  an XLR connector on audio equipment.  The TRS is  less expensive and takes up less space on the front or rear panel.
 
Tip-Ring-Sleeve (TRS), Stereo or dual-circuit phone plugs are used for:
NEUTRIK TRS
  • balanced inputs and outputs on audio equipment, like consoles, equalisers or power amps.
    • TIP corresponds to Pin 2 of the 3-pin XLR connector;
    • RING to Pin 3
    • SLEEVE to Pin 1 (ground).
  • stereo headphones
    • TIP left earpiece
    • RING right earpiece
    • SLEEVE common (return).
  • Many consoles use a TRS connector for the channel insert.
    • TIP is used for the send signal
    • RING for receive
    • SLEEVE common (return).
Tip-Sleeve (TS), Mono or single-circuit phone plugs are used on consumer and semi-pro equipment. They are found on:PHONE
  • microphones
  • electric guitars
  • some semi-pro processors (e.g. SPX-90, 900)
  • passive loudspeakers


 

RCA (phono):
RCA plugs, also known as phono plugs are unbalanced connectors used on consumer audio and video equipment. More expensive, high-end models may use nickel or gold-plated versions.

 
Originally used to connect microphone-level outputs of a phono cartridge to the preamp; they are more commonly used for line-level signals today --
RCA
  • audio inputs and outputs of audio and video tape players/recorders
  • video in/out connectors on VCRs and cameras
  • SPDIF digital audio interconnections on consumer gear.
 
RCA to RCA cables are a common cause of ground loops -- which can cause hum.

The shield of the cable serves as the ground return for the audio or video signal. The chassis at each end of the cable can be at different AC potentials because they are plugged into different AC circuits or mounted in different racks. This can cause 60 Hz AC to flow in the shield. This 60 Hz signal is superimposed on the audio or video signal.

Depending on the gain in the rest of the system, even a few micro-amperes of current can result in an audible hum or visible rolling "hum bars" in the video picture.

 
1/8 INCH (mini) STEREO PHONE:
The eighth-inch or mini stereo phone plug is a smaller version of the 1/4 inch stereo phone plug. It is used as:EIGHTH-INCH STEREO PHONE
  • headphone connector for Walkman and Discman players
  • microphone- and line-level in/out connectors on computer sound cards (Sound Blaster for instance).