1 Audio Video Production Cables and Connectors Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

Cables and Connectors Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission. 2 A basic job skill in the audio and video production industry is being able to identify the common cable and connector types.

Four Basic Cable Types Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission. 3 Straight PairTwisted Pair CoaxFiber Optic

Straight Pair Cable 4 Speaker Cable 4Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

Twisted Pair Cable 5 Microphone Cable Multiple Channel Cable Single Channel 5 Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

Twisted Pair Cable 6 Networking Cable Four Twisted Pairs 6Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

Twisted Pair Cable 7 Telephone Cable 7Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

Coax Cable 8 Cable TV Cable 8Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

Coax Cable 9 Video Cable Professional Video Amateur Video 9Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

Coax Cable 10 Digital Audio Cable 10Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

Coax Cable 11 Digital Video Cable 11Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

Fiber Optic Cables 12 Digital Video Cable 12Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

Fiber Optic Cables 13 Optical Digital Audio Cable 13Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

F-Connector Standard connector used with coaxial cable and RF input/output. Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission. 14

Connector Types 15 Video Audio 15Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

Connector Gender Notes: 16 A MALE connector is also referred to as a PLUG. A FEMALE connector is also referred to as a JACK. MALE = PLUGS FEMALE = JACKS These words are interchangeable. 16Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

Video Connectors: BNC 17 BNC MaleBNC Female The BNC connector is used for professional video signals. The two connectors twist lock together to form an industrial strength connection. 17Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

Video Connectors: RCA 18 The RCA connector is used for amateur and Prosumer video signals. The RCA is also used in audio. Low-level signal Output Device to Input Device RCA FemaleRCA Male 18Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

Video Connectors: S-Video 19 The S-Video connector is used for industrial and higher quality Prosumer video signals. The S-Video connector actually has two coax video cables inside. One cable is for brightness information (Y) and the other is for color information (C). It is also called a Y/C connector. S-Video Female S-Video Male 19Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

USB Interface designed for a variety of data transfer speeds between devices. Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission. 20

IEEE1394 Firewire High speed data transfer for a/v equipment. Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission b

Video Adapters 22 An adapter is a small two-sided connector that coverts one type of connector to another. They are also referred to as Inter-series adapters. RCA Female to BNC Male Adapter 22Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

Video Adapters 23 BNC Female to RCA Male Adapter 23Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

Video Adapters 24 RCA Male to S-Video Female Adapter Some adapters actually covert one signal type into something else. This adapter coverts a Y/C signal into a composite video signal. 24Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

Video Adapters 25 BNC Male Barrel (or Gender Changer) Adapters that have the same connector type and gender on both sides area called Barrels or Gender Changers. 25Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

Video Adapters 26 RCA Female Barrel (or Gender Changer) There are numerous Adapters and Gender Changers. 26 Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

Audio Connectors: RCA 27 The RCA connector is used for line level audio signals. The RCA is also used for consumer video. RCA FemaleRCA Male 27Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

Audio Connectors: 1/4 Mono 28 The ¼ connector is used for headphones, microphones, and other signals. The mono version is also called TS for Tip/Sleeve. ¼ Male Mono ¼ Female Mono 28 Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

Audio Connectors: 1/4 Stereo 29 The ¼ connector is used for headphones, microphones, and other signals. The stereo version is also called TRS for Tip/Ring/Sleeve. ¼ Female Stereo¼ Male Stereo 29Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

Audio Connectors: XLR 30 The XLR connector is primarily used for professional microphones and balanced microphone level signals. The locking mechanism helps make good electrical connections. XLR MaleXLR Female 30Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

Audio Connectors: 1/8 Minis 31 The 1/8 connector, or Mini, is used for headphones, consumer microphones, and other signals. Mini Female Stereo Mini Male Stereo Mini Male MonoMini Female Mono 31Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

Audio Plug Adapters 2.5 mm (3/32") mono (TS), 3.5 mm (1/8") mono and stereo (TRS), and 6.3 mm (1/4") stereo (TRS) phone connectors 32

Audio Adapters: 33 Again, an adapter is a small two-sided connector that coverts one type of connector to another. XLR Female to TRS (1/4 stereo) Male Adapter 33 Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

Audio Adapters: 34 RCA Female to TS (1/4 mono) Male Adapter There are numerous Adapters and Gender Changers. 34Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

Audio Adapters: 35 1/4Male to XLR Female Impedance Matching Transformer Some adapters actually covert one signal type into something else. This adapter coverts a Balanced Low Impedance audio signal to an Unbalanced High Impedance audio signal. This lets you use a professional microphone with consumer microphone inputs. 35Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

Digital Audio and Video 36 HDMI is an all-digital connector that can carry high- definition video and several digital audio channels all on the one cable. HDMI delivers digital sound and vision without risking quality loss due to the conversion or compression of the video or audio signal. 36Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.