The next cable we might find in the studio is kind of a variation on that.
And it looks very similar, it's still a quarter inch connector, and we call this
a TRS cable, in that its a two conductor cable with a shield.
So we have the tip, the ring, and the sleeve.
Now, this can be used in actually two different ways in the studio.
The first way, which I think you probably see and you're used to is using it to
connect headphones. And, so you'll see a cable like this
connected at the end of your, end of your headphones.
And in that case, it's functioning as if it was two of these cables kind of
combined in a single package, in that it's two single-conductor cables with a
shield around it. So, in that instance, we might call it a
stereo cable and then it's just transmitting two separate signals, it
still is susceptible to picking up noise. The other way a cable like this can be
used is in a balanced configuration in which you really are sending a single
signal across it but it's being done in a way that can actually cancel noise that
gets into the cable. And an XLR cable, which is a standard mic
cable, like this one, is similar and if we look at the end of an XLR cable We see
that it does have three connectors, like the TRS cable did.
but these are designed for microphones, and that they have a nice locking
feature. So when they connect to the microphone
they stay stable there, which you don't have with the TRS cable, and these are
not really ever used for stereo signals. They're really only used in this sort of
balanced configuration. So in general in the studio if you're
going to have long cable runs, or on stage too, if you're going to have long
cable runs, you'd rather use an XLR or balanced type of cable because it will
reject noise that comes into the cable. Along the length of the cable.
Now, very often, you'll have to convert between the unbalanced or TS cable into a
balanced or XLR or TRS cable. And a direct box is the device that
allows us to go from a quarter inch or TS cable.
And then output and XLR or bounds cable. Now a direct box is a really useful
device. And something you're going to want to
have. And probably have a few of in your
studio. they're hugely important on stage.
We'll talk about using them to connect guitars and basses.
In to your, in to your DAW. they're just a necessary component.
And it's one of those things where they're not very expensive, but they have
a big payoff. And that you can use a short run of a
quarter-inch cable, and you plug in to the input side.
And then you can have a long run of an XLR cable that would be on the output
side on the other end. Another feature that a direct box has is
a parallel output so I can plug a quarter inch cable in here.
I can have a secondary output for that, so I can go maybe to my amplifier in a
quarter inch run. And then I also have the output as an XLR
on the other side. So yes, a very important device, and
something you're going to want to have. maybe even a couple of in your home
studio. Now you will find a variety of other
cables in your studio. one that I'm sure your familiar with is
the eighth inch stereo cable used primarily for headphones.
so it's the same thing as the TRS cable used in a kind of a stereo configuration.
But it has a smaller form factor. Right, and there are simple connectors
that can go between the quarter inch stereo connector and the eighth inch
stereo connector. Another common connector you'll find is
an RCA cable. Now which is like this.
And this is, this is actually three of them combined designed for video.
But you'll find that they function just like a quarter inch cable or a TS cable.
They do have a single conductor and a shield around them.
The one thing to watch out, when using RCA cables is very often they used to
connect kind of home consumer grade appliances or or devices.
And if you're going to connect one of those devices like your home CD player to
your Pro Gear, you're going to have to be concerned with that plus four minus ten
difference, because very often the things that connect with RCA alright, are
assuming a minus ten line level. But your pro gear will have that plus
four. So you have to be careful about that
switch. There are simple interconnections or
simple adapters to go from RCA to quarter inch.
Which are also quite useful in something you probably won't have access to in
your, in your studio setup. Now, there are a variety of other cables
you're going to find in the home studio. Things like MIDI cables, and Toslink
cables, SPDIF cables. This is another instance where you can go
to the forums, and talk about those. really though, the ones we've covered
here are going to be the most useful, and will be used in the widest range of
applications in a home studio.