Unbalanced Signal A two wire cable is used “Hot” Ground Input Cable Output A two wire cable is used “Hot” carries the signal (voltage) Ground (shield) is the 0 volt reference

Unbalanced Signal “Hot” Ground Input Cable Output Any noise picked up during transmission through the cable is added to the output signal

Unbalanced Cables Any cable with only a “hot” and ground signal Guitar cables Keyboard cables (sometimes) RCA cables Headphones (stereo) Y-cables used as insert-return cables in many small consoles Speaker wire or cables

Balanced Signal A three wire cable is used “Hot” “Cold” Ground Input Cable Output A three wire cable is used “Hot” carries the signal (voltage) “Cold” carries the same signal, but at the reverse polarity Ground (shield) is the 0 volt reference

Balanced Signal “Hot” “Cold” Ground Input Cable Output The input makes a copy of the signal (“hot”) and flips the polarity 180° to create a second signal (“cold”) At the output, the “cold” signal is flipped 180° in polarity and combined with the “hot” signal.

Balanced Signal “Hot” “Cold” Ground Input Cable Output When the output polarity flips the “cold” signal by 180°, any noise picked up during transmission through the cable is cancelled The balanced signal is 6 dB stronger than an unbalanced signal (2 copies of the signal = 6 dB)

XLR Connectors XLR 1. ground 2. “hot” 3. “cold”

¼” Connectors – Balanced (TRS) TRS – Tip Ring Sleeve TS – Tip Sleeve TRS BALANCED 1. Sleeve - ground 2. Ring – “cold” 3. Tip – “hot” 4. Insulating rings

¼” Connectors – Unbalanced (TS) TRS – Tip Ring Sleeve TS – Tip Sleeve TS UNBALANCED 1. Sleeve - ground 3. Tip – “hot” 4. Insulating rings

¼” Connectors – Stereo TRS (Unbalanced) TRS – Tip Ring Sleeve TS – Tip Sleeve TRS STEREO PLUG - Unbalanced 1. Sleeve - ground 2. Ring – “hot” RIGHT 3. Tip – “hot” LEFT 4. Insulating rings

XLR to ¼” Connectors 1. ground 2. “hot” 3. “cold”