Week 1 Assignment
- 1. Most Common Cables Typeand usage of important Studio Cablescoursera.org Basic information about cables Cable is a piece of wire used to connect two pieces of equipment. All the equipment in a studio is connected with different types of cable. Because cables are often connected and disconnected often break causing a loss of signal or adding unwanted noise. The most signal problems are from broken cables. When troubleshooting loss of signal or noise, always start by checking the cables. A good idea is to have spare cables and try them in place of current cables. Audio TS ¼“ Audio RCA XLR Control USB Midi (DIN) SP/DIF Coaxial Toslink W E E K 1 A S S I G N M E N T Hi fellow reader I am John Soulakellis from Greece Athens. This presentation is for the course of Introduction to Music Production from coursera.org I will cover the topic of types and usage of important studio cables Thank you, in advance for having the time to read my assignment TRS ¼” 1/8” Headphones
- 2. 2 TYPE & USAGEOF IMPORTANT STUDIO CABLES WEEK 1 ASSIGNMENT Audio Cables In a studio we will use cables for audio signal and the most common types are ¼” TS & TRS, 1/8” Headphones, XLR and RCA. We will have cables for control signal like usb, midi, sp/dif coaxial or fiber optics. There are many other types for audio and control signals but these are the most commonly used. TS ¼” (Tip & Sleeve) This cable will carry a mono audio signal and the electrical ground. It doesn’t have good noise rejection and it is important to use this type of cable as short as possible. The most typical use is for connecting instruments like electric guitars and basses and it is often called an instrument cable. It has the ring as an additional part. We can use it with two options. 1st to carry a second audio channel and use it as a stereo cable. 2nd to carry the same channel twice and eliminate noise on the other end. This is called a balanced cable and is used in situations when we need to carry the signal in longer distances. 1 Sleeve 2 Ring 3 Tip 4 Insulated Rings TRS ¼” (Tip, Ring & Sleeve) TS & TRS Components
- 3. 3 TYPE & USAGEOF IMPORTANT STUDIO CABLES WEEK 1 ASSIGNMENT Audio Cables 1/8” Headphones cable In general is a smaller TRS cable that sometimes makes it less robust that ¼ cable. TRRS (a/v or stereo + control ) In some devices the connector has two ring parts instead of one making a TRRS cable. The extra ring is used to carry video information in multimedia cables or control information like volume control on headphones. XLR Balanced When used for microphones it can also carry the phantom power which can provide the necessary power for some microphones to be able to operate. The first cable of this kind that was manufactured was called Cannon X. Then the manufacturer added a locking mechanism to prevent the cable from getting disconnected accidentally and named it Cannon XL. Then started producing a plastic version and a rubber polychloroprene insulation, which extended the prefix to XLP and XLR. Nowadays is called XLR regardless manufacturer and material. The most common variation is the 3 pin mono balanced. Although there are more pins the 3 pin XLR is most used for connecting microphones but can also be used as a general balanced cable to carry a signal over long distances that unbalanced cables cannot.
- 4. 4 TYPE & USAGEOF IMPORTANT STUDIO CABLES WEEK 1 ASSIGNMENT Audio Cables RCA It was originally produced by the Radio Corporation of America as an inexpensive cable for easily connecting a phonograph to a radio that was used as an amplifier. For this reason it is also known as a phono cable. It is unbalanced and typically used in parts where there is a stereo signal or multimedia equipment. It is color coded with a different color used for a different signal white left channel, red right channel , yellow compass or video, red green blue for component video. They are often used in audio equipment of consumers grade like cd players, synthesizer modules, recording devices. Converts signal between balanced and unbalanced and provides attenuation or amplification before two pieces of equipment can be connected properly. Using a direct box will allow us to have a very short instrument cable connected to the direct box and a longer cable to send the balanced signal to the longer distance. Direct Box
- 5. 5 TYPE & USAGEOF IMPORTANT STUDIO CABLES WEEK 1 ASSIGNMENT Control Cables Midi (DIN) Midi (DIN) Common use for connecting keyboards and synthesizer modules Used in all kinds of computing equipment also for keyboards and synthesizers USB Toslink Instead of copper the cable is made of optical fiber. This type of connectors can be physically the same as RCA audio cable in shape and size. We should not mix them up. SP/DIF Coaxial
- 6. Cable Tester Cable Testersare not expensive and can be very convenient for periodically checking all the cables or for quickly testing a cable if we are not sure if it is working. -Use good quality cables. -Start troubleshooting by checking cables. -Always keep spares. Thank you for your time! TYPE & USAGE OF IMPORTANT STUDIO CABLES WEEK 1 ASSIGNMENT PICTURES http://prysmiangroup.com/images/business_markets/markets/MMS/Bradpoint/studio-cables- 330x189.jpg http://images.esellerpro.com/2225/I/555/1/lrgscaleRIMG0285.jpg http://austinmusicmanifesto.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/trs3.png http://images.esellerpro.com/2225/I/499/8/lrgscaleRIMG0147.JPG https://c932213.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/sz-600x416-zaolla_trs_new.jpg https://dlnmh9ip6v2uc.cloudfront.net//images/products/1/1/5/8/0/11580-02.jpg http://shop.digisound.ie/Images/Cables/XLR%20Mic%20Cable.jpg http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/90/RCA_Connector_(photo).jpg http://paklebs.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/ultra-di-di20.jpg http://images.esellerpro.com/2225/I/292/7/lrgscale23003-2.jpg http://cdn1.bigcommerce.com/server4500/f0474/products/916/images/1014/usb__73836.132 8756237.1280.1280.jpg http://www.dataclean.ca/store/images/PremiumTosLinkCableMetallic.jpg https://www.brucetambling.com/w/images/2/2a/Spdif_connectors_med.jpg http://www.behringer.com/assets/CT100_P0133_Left_XL.png