Interconnect Basics

Question 1

What are the four types of audio signals?

Answer 1

Microphone Lvl.; Line lvl.; Instrument lvl.; Speaker lvl.

Question 2

Mic Level Stand

Answer 2

Describes the voltage generated by a microphone when it picks up sound, typically just a few thousandths of a volt.

Question 3

Line Lvl. Signal

Answer 3

About one volt, signal traveling from pre-amp to the amplifier.

Question 4

Instrument lvl. Signal

Answer 4

Any lvl. put out by an instrument, commonly from an electric guitar or bass.

Question 5

What is required to bring an instrument signal up to a line level?>

Answer 5

Preamplifier

Question 6

Speaker lvl. Signal

Answer 6

Post amplification signals, much higher in voltage

Question 7

What do speaker lvl signals require for a safe signal trasner?

Answer 7

Speaker Cables

Question 8

Which Audio signal is the weakest?

Answer 8

Mic level

Question 9

Where is a mic-level input typically on?

Answer 9

XLR connector

Question 10

What are the two types of line levels?

Answer 10

consumer and professional

Question 11

What is a typical line-level?

Answer 11

RCA jack; 1/4 inch jack;or 3.5mm phone jack

Question 12

Impedance

Answer 12

The resistance of a circuit to the flow of an electrical current (AC)

Question 13

Z

Answer 13

the abbrev. and symbol used in place of impedance

Question 14

Lo Z

Answer 14

Low Impedance

Question 15

High Z

Answer 15

High Impedance

Question 16

Hot Lead

Answer 16

The wire carrying the desired signal or sound

Question 17

Cold Lead

Answer 17

The wire carrying the desire sound/signal flipped out of phase

Question 18

Braided Shield

Answer 18

Surrounds the hot and cold lead so no electrostatic noise enters the signal

Question 19

Ohm

Answer 19

A unit of resistance to the flow of alternating electrical current

Question 20

Output Impedacne

Answer 20

measures the source impedance that drives the next unit

Question 21

Input Impedance

Answer 21

Measures the load that the unit represents to the driving source

Question 22

When is a D.I. Box used?

Answer 22

When a nonstandard unbalanced output needs to interfere w/equipment w/the standard balanced input of the mixer

Question 23

D.I. Box

Answer 23

Helps match impedances between different connections

Question 24

Microphone Cables

Answer 24

Carry the audio signal to its destination either balanced or unbalanced

Question 25

Unbalanced Line

Answer 25

Audio cable carrying an unbalanced signal using two wires: signal and ground

Question 26

How long are Unbalanced Lines typically?

Answer 26

no longer than 20-30ft. because of RF interference

Question 27

List some examples of unbalanced lines?

Answer 27

Guitar Cables; Keyboard Cables; Pin connectors; "Tip Sleeve Cable"; RCA connectors (DJ's)

Question 28

RCA Cable

Answer 28

unbalanced analog audio connection that sends stereo audio over a right channel

Question 29

TS 1/4"

Answer 29

Most commonly used w/electric guitars, which often output to an amplifier

Question 30

Balanced Line

Answer 30

Has a ground wire, but also carries two copies of the same incoming audio signal.

Question 31

What is a balanced line often referred to as?

Answer 31

A "Hot" and "cold" signal

Question 32

What's the difference between the hot and cold signal?

Answer 32

The two signals are reversed in polarity/phase, so as they travel down the cable, they cancel each other out

Question 33

List Examples of Balanced Lines

Answer 33

Microphone Cable; Powered Speaker Cables; Stereo Guitar Cables; "Mixer Out"; "Tip Ring Sleeve"

Question 34

TRS 1/4"

Answer 34

(Tip Ring Sleeve) Used to send either mono(balanced) or stereo(unbalance) signals.

Question 35

XLR Connector

Answer 35

Designed to keep you from being electrocuted. Sometimes referred to as "earth"

Question 36

What's the difference between a speaker cable and a guitar cable?

Answer 36

1) Speaker cable doesn't require a braided shield | 2) The 2 wires in the speaker cable are usually composed of many thin strands of copper wire and identical

Question 37

What happens when a speaker cable is used for a guitar cable or vice versa?

Answer 37

1) Instruments are susceptible to RF interference, etc. | 2) The 2 wires in the speaker cable are identical, therefore would cause an impedance problem

Question 38

How to tell the difference between a speaker cable and an instrument cable?

Answer 38

Speaker cable- has equalized sized conductors Instrument Cable- Has a braided shield together and a larger center conductor

Question 39

What is a thicker speaker cabling recommended for?

Answer 39

- Long wire runs - Higher Power Amplification - Low Impedance Speakers(4-6 ohms)

Question 40

What is a thinner speaker cabling recommended for?

Answer 40

- Short wire runs - High-impedance speakers(16-18 ohms) - cost effective

Question 41

What are some connector types?

Answer 41

- RCA - Dual Banana - 1/4" - SPEAKON - XLR

Question 42

What is a dual banana typically used for?

Answer 42

Connecting the amp to the speaker enclosure

Question 43

What are 1/4" typically used for?

Answer 43

Instrument or speaker cables

Question 44

What are XLR typically used for?

Answer 44

Mic cables and DMX lighting cables