Audio Cables & Connectors Explained: Plus Balanced vs Unbalanced Guide

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[@MusicRepo]

My favourite recording gear is here! (Affiliate links) Amazon: www.amazon.com/shop/musicrepo Sweetwater: sweetwater.sjv.io/deals (As an Amazon and Sweetwater Affiliate I earn a commission for qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. This helps support my channel. Thank you )

[@brethrenproduction5866]

Great!!! Big Help & Thanks 🙏😁

[@marcio1745]

These people who create content to help other people should be well rewarded. I hope you get rich with this channel. Really helpful. Subscribed.

[@MusicRepo]

Glad you found it helpful 👍

[@bandotti]

I agree completely. I think that is the essence of music creation to co-create & help others to create as well. She is literally manifesting the future of music.

[@brownpunk1794]

you have earned a new sub...i have watched dozens of these types and most people simply suck at teaching..you are setting the gold standard here..keep it up...amazing work and i LOVE the simple terms you use so people like me can understand it.

[@MusicRepo]

Thank you for your comment 😀🙏

[@artistraindwain9855]

You have a polite way of teaching , You do it simple and make if pleasant to try

[@dalroth10]

An excellent video which explains everything you need to know about not only how to connect stuff but why it's important to get it right. Thanks for taking the time to create it - very much appreciated.

[@MusicRepo]

Thank you 😀

[@Faraday100]

Very clear and also pleasant to listen to, at least for we who do not like to be yelled at.

[@Bob9961]

Kudos to you for gaining the knowledge and sharing it so freely! I have a background in broadcast engineering, worked in the industry for many years, and had all the college courses, so no surprise that my cohorts and I see a lot of bad information on the interwebs, but your instruction is first class!

[@MusicRepo]

Thank you for that!

[@axemanarbor]

@@MusicRepo can we throw a patchbay into the signal please ? Im about to be more confused

[@sttdvs]

People talk about Scarlett Johansson, Keira Knightley, Amy Adams, Jennifer Connelly, Ingrid Bergman, Úrsula Andress, Grace Kelly, Janet Leigh, Myrna Loy, Mary Pickford and Greta Garbo… but nobody talks about a woman who knows her audio. If I made you a ring out of a trs cable and put a dollop of solder on top as a gemstone, could we be balanced??? Love the posts. Keep educating. You’re dreamy. Best from NYC.

[@Lovis68]

You have the gift to make things short and easy but still rich and comprehensive. Thank you so much! This topic in particular has always got me confused...

[@MusicRepo]

Glad it was helpful!

[@davidmarshall5667]

Great video very clear and you made it very easy to understand, now I undestand why I have unwanted noise thank you.😊

[@Hassan_Omer]

Excellent and precise explanation. The only distraction while listening to it is the continuous loop of music playing in the background. Unfortunately, for all of us it has now become a norm to put background music in every video, since the availability of free or royalty free music.

[@jlrounds2008]

Hands down best cable explanation I have seen yet, thanks for your efforts!

[@softbytesunlimited]

Great help for the balance and unbalance signal cable explanation...thank you.👍🇵🇭

[@islandtony5009]

Spectacular video thank you so much. I've never seen TR vs TRS explained so well without getting overly technical about it.

[@roysonofroy1]

Best tutorial I’ve seen on balanced/unbalanced - I’ve alway wondered what they did and why you would use them. Thanks.

[@theta9051]

Exceptional video / exceptional voice and accent !! Cheers from Dallas Texas

[@donal8180]

Excellent descriptions by an excellent teacher. You answered questions that had me confused, especially about balanced and unbalanced cables.

[@georgefrankcarrillo277]

I completely agree... It was very kind of the author to share her audio connectors knowledge with us. I pick more than a couple of new points, plus refreshing my knowledge. Thank you. GFC

[@cowboyyoga]

Super video! The video leave me with a feeling after reading a good recipe for a pie. You feel confident that after a few trials there will be success! Thanks for being my teacher! )))

[@robertadamo3455]

Great video . I felt I was in cable university ! Your videos are very informative . Thank you for all the effort you put into them.I especially like the audio interface and microphone comparisons .

[@aminormemory-musicartist]

This video is so good. Thank you for these excellent clear and easy to understand explanations.

[@jessreyes2626]

This is a terrific introductory video to subject of audio cables and connectors. I very much appreciate you making this video. Thanks so much!

[@67amko]

Smashing vid. Easily the most helpful I've seen on the topic. Congratulations, you've earned my respect. Subscribed! And do keep it up!

[@ThePipster2]

This was so helpful, thank you. My equipment has been saved from many frights!! What where and when usually takes a long time to get right, you are such a fantastic communicator.

[@nirmitsrivastava8247]

Absolutely Brilliant. Perhaps one best video on KZbin for the purpose. Thank you so much. 👏

[@Factotum6814]

Great guide, Jane! Your explanations are always clear and complete but not patronising (that can be a tricky balance, but you always get it right 😉). I teach music subjects in English at a specialised music high school in Italy and like to assign your videos to my students. Theoretically, they know these things from their “music technology” classes (in Italian) but they have told me that your videos are a great way to review and that they pick up new info as well.

[@RobKL2008]

The absolute best clarification about audio plugs. Thank you so much

[@haridevanarsiah140]

I'm glad that I've found this channel. The answers to all of my questions are right here! Thank you so much for your hard work and dedication towards your subscribers and others. Your videos are really helpful and contain pure contents. Great job @MusicRepo

[@wimkranendonk8472]

Love all your videos and im very satisfying for all the information you share with us. thanks a lot for this and keep up to good work

[@racunars]

A helpful crystal clear explanation 😊. Thanks !

[@charliewong9656]

Love your video. So informative and easy to understand. Many, many thanks !!

[@allenknibbs]

Excellent excellent videos and teaching, thank you SO much for your efforts ! After many years in music I finally understand many grey areas for me, I am really grateful for your channel. God bless you.

[@amitkumardas4543]

Very beautifully explained..it cant get any more simpler.thank you so much.

[@jamesgarvey3895]

Much to my embarrassment, I have been using these phrases incorrectly for YEARS. Thank you.

[@MusicRepo]

Happy to help 👍

[@MichaelJames-jb8mj]

Amazingly helpful and you've gone to a lot of trouble constructing a professional video with B-roll etc. That must have taken you a lot of effort - much appreciated!

[@Toneprince]

Excellent video as you are the only one who has actually explained that a balanced TRS cable is the same as a Stereo cable as it converts to a mono balanced cable if both the output/input you are going from and to are balanced ie say the interface and active speaker. As when I have been looking up TRS balanced leads, many of them advise as being instrument leads etc, which was confusing plus I also thought that the actual speaker lead itself was also a special balanced cable, as even on the instructions on my new Interface it advises to buy a balanced cable if going to balanced inputs. Thank You

[@MusicRepo]

Glad you find it useful 👍

[@easycommuter2147]

I also had never heard that a "balanced TRS cable" is the same as a "Stereo cable" or indeed why that is the case. Many Thanks

[@bettersocietytomorrow5128]

I appreciate you sharing this video. That was extremely helpful.

[@1314joycetan]

Thank you so much, what a love saver! Almost bought the wrong equipment

[@axemanarbor]

So good . The best I have seen . Im sure you have helped many many people . Thankyou !

[@redcap509]

Veeeery informative! Now I know how to avoid noise on my microphone. All thanks to you!! :)

[@mickjoyceandthesonicgypsie3709]

Usually I go to a studio and leave it to the professionals but this time going to record at least the basics at home & invested in focusrite etc a bit scary .. but really find your advice clear and helpful keep up the good work !!!

[@yremy1]

Yes.

[@by_antony]

Thanks for the clear video. I have recently purchased a behringer UMC202HD and I am trying to record my electronic keyboard. Oooops! I bought the wrong cable, but your video explains which one I should buy!

[@victoryvisiontour]

Informative and well recorded video. Thanks!

[@MikeScofieldComposer]

Extremely helpful and well-done. Thanks.

[@slates1969]

Another beautifully clear and informative episode. Thank you

[@walifrozan6047]

Great great info in a very simple way. Thank you

[@lillianfrances754]

This was EXACTLY what I was looking for!! Thank you for explaining this to me like I'm five (in a good way) ☺️

[@The-Perfect1]

Brilliantly explained. Thank you!

[@singing_jewess]

I am so grateful for this! All the different cables confuse me!!!! SO HELPFUL

[@PaulThomas2]

Excellent video, clearly explained and very informative. Thank you.

[@MusicRepo]

Glad it was helpful!

[@drutgat2]

Brilliant video. Many thanks for posting it.

[@buckymsr]

Thank you for your calm and great tutorials!

[@trevorbrown8737]

This video was brilliant!! Thanks just what I was looking for!!

[@nigell.8705]

Best video on this subject.

[@sjd7aa]

What a great and informative video! Thank you, you answered many questions and gained a new subscriber.

[@lalo5318]

I learned a LOT with this video wow

[@ArmandCerna]

What a great explanation. Thank you!

[@steve.schatz]

outstanding videos. Well produced. Well thought out. Very, very helpful to me. Thank you.

[@fandydawenan]

This is the knowledge that I am looking for. A big fat thanks for your video. This is very useful and helpful for me as a beginner 🙏🙏😃. Btw, I have a question, what type of cable should I use to connect my Yamaha PSR-E463 keyboard to my Yamaha MG10XU audio mixer in order to get a stereo output? I have used an XLR to TRS cable, but it didn't work. TRS to TRS cable also didn't work. FYI, my Yamaha keyboard only has a line out/phone output. Thank you very much for your help 🙏

[@MusicRepo]

Hi, you will need to split the signal from the keyboard, TRS (from line out) to breakout twin TS, and use two channels on mixer, one for left, one right

[@peterelfman]

This was extremely useful and educational, thank you!!

[@marianodellaporta]

Thanks for the videos. It was very clear

[@Kid.0so]

Thought I had to review for my quiz but I know all this already

[@trinidadnow]

well done... simple and concise....

[@MusicRepo]

Glad it helped, thank you

[@djbeatmarshall]

This is precious. So informative.

[@Sunnysima10]

Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge to all. You help so many including me. Thank you. I subscribed your channel of course. I am starting to make my KZbin channel indoor and outdoor as a singing guitarist and blogger. I have loop for my vocal and instrument, connect to guitar amp. I have mix 12fx mixer, 2 main speakers, iPad mini, iPhone 8 +, and MacBook Pro, I also have audio interface and usb hub. My question is: how to connect all of them? And how can I connect the guitar amp if I want to use it as my monitor, and how to operate all those into recording on garage band? I’m sorry for so much questions. I am doing everything myself. Sing, play, blog, recording, etc. I have no help. So, you are the only help I have. Thank you so much for helping, your time and kind attention. Thank you 🙏

[@Helistupid]

Thank you for a great video👍

[@kdeeuk]

brilliant tutorial thanks

[@mandaladigitalstudio]

Great video, I loved it!

[@memeguaia]

Amazing informative video, thank you so much!!!!!!!

[@olivermeyer2019]

Very good To Unterstand thank you

[@HoracioRieznik]

Excellent and crystal clear! Thanks a lot!

[@The-Perfect1]

BRILLIANT! Thank you.💜

[@realaube1591]

You do a good job at teaching. I would like if possible some video on systems like the Evolution Wireless G4 Combo set For professional live sound (Sennheiser). I need to know how to install and configure for use in a school setting, etc. Thanks

[@smithy7034]

Thank you very much. 👍🏻

[@paulisherwood9815]

Very useful, thanks very much 👍

[@donaldputout519]

I'm not interested in audio cables. But ever since I saw you by chance on youtube I can't get my eyes of you.

[@postlex]

Excellent - thanks!

[@dr.labbejl1686]

Hi. Thanks great video. One question I have: Can you explain hi z and low. And why do the differ and exist. Thanks again.

[@dr.labbejl1686]

@@MusicRepo Thank you That type of answer was what i was looking for! 👍🏽

[@JDVVV378]

Great video and explaining.

[@abuchiemmaunel3942]

My teacher 🍾

[@Nefelibato]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us!

[@willberriss5314]

Nice diagram and explanation. At 5:54 do you mean that only ONE of the two signals are flipped? e.g the green one, i.e. so that both signals (red and green) are put the same way up at the end and thus add together, whilst the two sources of noise thus cancel each other out?

[@MusicRepo]

Will Berriss Thanks for your comment! ...yes

[@calvinchong8740]

Thanks - this has been really helpful!

[@noale07]

Thank yoy si very much!

[@brethrenproduction5866]

Hi! your video is so great!! But one thing i just wanna ask, can i connect XLR to XLR cable from my focusrite interface to analog mixer main balanced? can you make a video for that? 😁

[@MusicRepo]

If you have combi ports on your focusrite interface, and XLR outputs on your mixer, then you should use XLR-TRS cables. This is the subject of my newest video! Here is the link kzbin.info/www/bejne/d4TRpYWEoq-AfLM

[@edwarddomina4195]

Thank you very much.

[@rodolfoalvarez6956]

Amazing, thank you !!!

[@tokramCH]

This was an extremely helpful video and I am so happy to have found it, earned a subscriber :) I do have a question, as you mentioned with the stereo output on the front of that scarlett 2i2 interface will be unbalanced, I am not completely sure why that is? is it because it is a single input that goes to a single headphone socket? if so would it be balanced if you for example used a headphone that required two output signals and have a Y-cable (Speaking of a balanced one) going into each ear? Sorry I am just curious as I was thinking of what would be the pro of having a headphone with two output instead of 1 output.

[@MusicRepo]

Hi, the headphone output is an unbalanced stereo output, it will never be a balanced mono output. You could put in a splitter and have two sets of headphones, both would be unbalanced. There are a pair of balanced outputs on the rear, left and right.

[@herroglop7411]

Great video, full of info. What is called ( to be able to google and buy it) a Y-cable with 2 x mono and a 1xMONO connector in the other end? balanced or unbalanced? It appears in other video to pass sound from a mixer into a phone, or may be it was an adaptor that was used ( then what is that adaptor called?). Thanks.

[@craftycurate]

Very useful thanks!

[@MusicRepo]

Thank you ...

[@OCTOSHED]

Brilliant video!!!!

[@gregchick3311]

well said, thanks.

[@biblicalhebrewmadeez1332]

Great video!

[@emmap4339]

Great review, I am looking to find the bandwidth of a balanced TS 3,5 mm jack versus a usb c 3.0 to micro usb cable to find out what would be best to play dsd from my smartphone connected through a DAC. It's to be simpler to play good music today :)

[@rogervmantovani]

What about the Rocksmith Cable (jack to usb) can I use to connect directly to the pc or do I still need the audio interface? Thks

[@hermask815]

in case of guitar and bass you don't need anything other than a recording programm. Since this is aimed at guitars and basses, i wouldn't connect it do microphones and keyboard because of not matching voltages. for them an audio interface is necessary. it's like this low voltage - microphone has to be amplified with phantom power (not on your cable, but an audio interface) medium voltage - guitar and bass - your cable ( inputs labeled inst(rument) on the a.i.) line level voltage- keyboard - this may destroy your cable as it has some electronics that don't expect this level of voltage. (line on Audio interface.)

[@Suba932]

Stellar video

[@xanderstuivenberg9704]

Awesome! Thank you for covering this

[@Smithswai]

Am Smith from Tanzania, i have been following you and your videos have been helpful. Am about to do live streaming in my local church here but the mixer and my audio interface is far like 50 matters does it going to affect the quality of the audio..?

[@garybrown7044]

one might consider making your own cables. i keep xlr male & female cord & panel connectors. ts & trs 3.5 mm & 1/4 cord & panel connectors. rca connectors are also good to keep around. a high quality shielded cable i purchase on 500 ft. rolls. always buy copper cable with a woven, not foil shield. belden is great cable.i also keep a few amphenol connectors for antique mikes, if your so inclined. with these supplies, you can build almost any cable you desire with pro quality. i prefer switchcraft & neutric connectors.always use a high quality, thin soldor with a 25 watt iron. usb & hdmi cables are not practical to build. i have cables i made in the 1960's that are still doing well.

[@dr.labbejl1686]

My wireless mic has a receptor base with a combine jack(explanation missing from video but shown in use). This means it can go with an xlr a mono (unbalance) or balance (TRS) cable. Very versatile. Is this the idea or is it ideal to use one type over another one. Thanks . Great video. Saved it as future reference!

[@MusicRepo]

For mic connections, preferable to use XLR. You're right I didn't go into enough detail about the combination inputs. If you plug in XLR then the interface will expect a Mic signal. If you plug in TRS or TS, it will expect either line or instrument depending on which you select. So stick with XLR for mics