Leads and Connections Flashcards
(16 cards)
What do TS cables stand for and what are they used for?
Tip-sleeve, used for guitars / line / DI box input.
What do TRS cables stand for and what are they used for?
Tip-ring-sleeve, balanced. Stereo headphones / mics.
What do XLR cables stand for and what are they used for?
Balanced cable used for microphones.
3 pin (ground, positive and negative).
What do RCA cables stand for and what are they used for?
Radio Corporation of America, unbalanced. Used for hi-fi / CD players / DJ mixers.
What are MIDI cables used for?
Data cable, 5 pin.
Used to connect synths and other electronic instruments together.
What does an ADAT wire do?
Data cable. Up to 8 channels, connects audio interfaces and other devices.
What is a firewire cable used for and what does it look like?
Data cable. Used to be used for studio / videos, mac specific.
What is a pre-amp?
Converts microphone level into a workable line level (boosts level).
What does a DI box do?
Converts instrument from high impedance, unbalanced to low impedance, balanced.
What is impedance?
Electrical resistance of a device. Must be matched when connecting equipment.
List 2 balanced cables.
XLR and TRS.
List 2 unbalanced cables.
TS and jack.
Put the following signals levels in order of highest to lowest:
Instrument, mic, speaker, line.
Speaker, line, instrument, mic.
Name the 6 controls on a pre-amp.
- Phantom power
- Gain
- Pad
- HPF
- Polarity
- Clip / activity
How do balanced cables work?
Run an inverted signal in parallel to reduce noise. 3 connections (hot(+), cold(-)).
What is a ground loop?
Electricity finds quickest way to ground, creating hum unless forced down one way to ground.
