Balanced vs. Unbalanced Cable - What's the deal?

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[@InnocentGuitarist]

In only 4 minutes, you've perfectly explained the difference, and made it fascinating at the same time. Thank you :)

[@HomeStudioCorner]

You're very welcome, Boris.

[@skankytrick]

@@HomeStudioCorner Well, if what you said was accurate, your voice signals that are out of phase would also cancel each other out. Of course the wires can't discriminate noise from a clean signal, at least not the way you explained it.

[@aristocratmusic]

@@skankytrick The audio signals being carried by the two wires are out of phase as soon as they enter the cable, and then the interference is picked up on both of those wires with the noise on those two wires being in phase. When the polarity is switched on one of the two wires at the end of the cable, the audio signal is then in phase, while the noise is out of phase, cancelling it out. That's how he explained it in the video as well. Hope that helps, man.

[@rich1051414]

@@skankytrick Because you didn't understand. The one that flipped out of phase is flipped back in phase, leaving only the interference out of phase, which cancels itself out with the wire that wasn't flipped on either end. Don't tell someone they don't understand when it is clearly you who doesn't understand...

[@HomeStudioCorner]

It gets flipped twice. So it goes like this; Vocal > Flip > Cable run + noise + out of phase vocal > Flip > Vocal back in phase, noise gets cancelled

[@KapitolTV]

Why cant every explanation be clear, concise and use non technical jargon that any non expert can understand? Great video!

[@ShadovvV]

Because there are too many Mr. Know-it-alls who always think they have the correct answer and most of the time all they do is spread confusion, but they don't care because they're self-absorbed assholes. Websites like Gearslutz is FULL of them. There's so much misinformation on that site, it's not even sane.

[@connorschake5676]

Too true

[@kre8tahz10]

KapitolTV The

[@NlineMusick]

Technical but easy to digest, not a long drawn out boring video... but to the point, upbeat and engaging. Great video, thanks for sharing!

[@JenDole]

Never quite understood this before, so thanks very much for your easy-to-understand explanation!

[@sk9592]

This is the best everyman explanation I've heard on this topic. Thank you!

[@mollyringmod3815]

I'm liking your approach and delivery. To the point and informative. No long talking, just straight to the point. Subscribing!!

[@Meerkat_93_]

Thank you!! Watched/read a hundred vids & articles, it finally just clicked watching this. So much simpler than I thought!

[@SIATHEDJ]

So NOW I know why my monitors kept picking up audio from some random Radio Station. Thx Man this vid answered a my question

[@MCCLEEZYBEATS]

Great explanation. Quick and to the point. Liked.

[@HomeStudioCorner]

thanks brian!

[@Bgymnastics]

Brian McClain How do I connect a older power amp to my newer crossover that has xlr outs from my amp that uses lug spade terminals. And what wire goes where on the amp.

[@rsvramkumar]

Yes great information. Where can i buy the xlr balanced output amplifier or input device please.

[@CatLover-g7j]

Can I use a balanced cable on a UNBALANCED speaker input? Thank anyone!

[@frensiow]

one of if not the best video on youtube about it, easy, simple and clear.

[@RicksRomzUK]

Absolutely perfect description!!! I’m a bit behind hahaha like 6 years but great video thank you

[@RecordingStudio9]

That is why you would use a DI box that converts the unbalanced signal (a short lead from the guitar) to balanced, for long runs into the mixer.

[@SammyVOfficial]

Decent explanation of what it does, but I didn't understand why BOTH the noise and the signal wouldn't cancel out rather than just the noise until I did further research. For anyone who is interested in how it works, it's very simple - the SIGNAL goes OUT of phase passing through the wire, but the NOISE is IN phase while it is being picked up down the wire. So when you flip the polarity of one of the channels at the end, it puts the SIGNAL back in phase, but the NOISE out of phase (which is mostly identical on both channels), cancelling itself out.

[@edisonmellor-goldman4657]

Thank you, this was the missing piece 👍

[@conchobar]

This only occurs when the source and destination components utilize differential circuits. The cables by themselves do nothing.

[@haroldvondenstein]

Well done. Clear, to the point and kept my attention. Thanks much. Look forward to seeing more videos.

[@brandoncrowe800]

Literally 20 seconds into this video and you explain things really well keep it going please

[@kredenzp.5468]

Wow, a lightbulb went on after that explanation.

[@cassettedream]

Mine too!!!

[@kerrymei6822]

Me too

[@nicky2575]

same

[@teknomonk3423]

Yes me too... like a level up! :)

[@kredenzp.5468]

@@teknomonk3423 Joe is the man!

[@ghostalgic901]

Bro, your explanation was so much better than my teacher's, I understood perfectly how it works in 4 minutes, and English is not even my native language xD

[@Mooshnick]

Dude!! You just resolved an issue I couldn't resolve for years and did it less than 10. Brilliant. Thanks G!

[@dentysta]

Only people that understand the subject are able to explain it as clear as you! Epic! Thank you!!

[@BluartStack]

Really appreciated this video. I love how in-depth you went, and I came away with some really valuable information. It blew my mind as well! I love learning about the more technical side of music production. Thanks much -Stu

[@HomeStudioCorner]

Thanks Stu!

[@asiabibi6520]

Ji

[@jessehuerta2028]

I just want to repeat what so many others are saying about this video, you were able to take something complicated and explain it in lamens terms. Great job. Great video. Simply out of curiosity, what are the monitors you have in the background? Admittingly, I do not know much about monitors but those look so cool. I am about to buy my first set so that is why they caught my attention. Thank you.

[@mickypoo4622]

What a great, clear and concise explanation. I had no idea what a balanced signal was and now I understand completely how it all works. Many Thanks.

[@BrianMPoole]

In 30+ years no one has helped me to understand the difference like you just did in under five minutes. Amazing! Thank you.

[@hempstead.studio]

DUDE! Thank you so much. Such a good explanation, I appreciate it!

[@TisforAWESOME]

I finally understand! Thank you!

[@freepress8451]

For some reason YT placed this video in my 'Up Next' list, thanks for taking the time to explain what many tubers skip

[@patrickcarroll1754]

Joe, I’ve wondered this for years. Clearest explanation I’ve ever heard. Thank you.

[@LifeAquaticSteveZissou]

Excellent video thanks. This answers a question I had regarding my set-up. Just curious though, when would there ever be a use case for unbalanced cables? Is it just to save money (I'm assuming they are cheaper)?

[@Sky3RN]

Your video helped me. ;) Thanks man ! Really useful.

[@HomeStudioCorner]

+SkyernAklea you're welcome!

[@rupertlenon3517]

What a wonderful explanation !! Well done!! I was reading a manual for some instrument connectivity and it was driving me insane. But your explanation was so easy to understand ! Thanks !

[@janmaddox2886]

This Was a Superb, Brilliantly Presented, and Non Tech Jargon, Of The Differences Between The Cables, and How They Work, Exactly What I Needed to Know, Thanks, Jan Maddox.

[@louiseattzs]

Coolest thing I've learnt in 2016

[@HomeStudioCorner]

:) thanks

[@kerrymei6822]

And here's the next coolest... U just showed me that "learnt" is actually a word! Who knew! That's just crazy. But irregardless Is not. I don't care if modern phones have made that a word. I'm drawing a line in the sand. That, and the word "fishes"

[@Ephisus]

Just the tip.

[@mickytruelove]

and only for a second.

[@devPunks]

i seriously LOL'ed

[@frodev728]

Apsis Motion Pictures you don’t like the ring?

[@TheTruthAboutLemmings]

Good enough for the girls I go out with

[@a3883m]

Why is it that some people's explanations I can't focus on and other people are engaging? I had to come back to this video because I was watching one on a DI box and I COULD NOT focus on him. Joe makes it so simple and engaging. Thanks so much for making this video!

[@HomeStudioCorner]

Well thanks!

[@theglenlivet12]

Like absolute magic my problem of being able to hear my CPU working through my speakers in that annoying little buzz is gone after I found I had bought TS cables with my new studio monitors. No silly solutions like cutting off the ground wires on my monitor plugs needed. You have saved me a huge headache and I learned something new as well. Thank you a thousand times over!

[@gmlasam]

Here is a question. Can you connect a balanced cable to a unbalanced jack and vice versa without any problems?

[@cameronproaudio]

It depends on the topology of the balanced output as well as the wiring of the cable used to go from balanced to unbalanced and vice versa. Rane has an excellent paper on how to make cables to go from one to the other. www.rane.com/note110.html

[@AntonSherar]

Amazing explanation Joe! But i wonder - why do unbalanced cables exist if they are worse than balanced?

[@HomeStudioCorner]

+Anton Sherar they're not worse. They just serve a different purpose. Guitars use unbalanced cables.

[@AntonSherar]

Thank you for the quick response! I just don't understand why guitars can't use balanced cables

[@MendyFischMusic]

I'm with Anton on this. PERFECT explanation, thanks! I also wondered "why would i ever want unbalanced?" The response that "some instruments use unbalanced" isn't really an answer because...that just leads to why? BUT.... I assume that's a very technical answer and I guess I don't need that info... So what my question comes down to is: which should I get? I need to run a 1/4 from mixer to powered speaker (normally use XLR but one of the XLR outputs is broken). So I assume I want Unbalanced for this? Especially if it's going to be a semi-long run of wiring? What about from my keyboard to my mixer? What about from my Mixer AUX channel to my Tascam Recorder input? THANKS!

[@beakf1]

because unbalanced cables carry a line level signal which is a stronger signal and so less susceptible to noise interference and even with guitar signals they are stronger than mic signals (i think)

[@djpopcorn]

I also wonder that too, why can't guitars use balance cables.

[@takaliuang]

Short, to the point and clear...watching this while Corona around 2020

[@aussieb1416]

I know this already and was showing a friend the difference as he wasn't getting it, this is the best explanation of it I've ever come across and know he knows the difference forever more.. I went to University and did many a sound unit but you are the winnings on explanations here fella for sure. good job

[@buzzardsbass1137]

What I'm confused about is HOW the noise is cancelled out after it leaves the cable. How does it KNOW whether the "noise" is either the voice or that of a radio station (or whatever)? How does it know to keep the voice and dump the interfering input?

[@HomeStudioCorner]

It's because of phase cancellation. When you take two tracks with the exact same audio on them and you flip the phase of one of them, they will completely cancel each other out, meaning they'll both be playing but you won't hear anything. It's the same concept except it's the noise that gets muted instead of the sound, BECAUSE the two copies of the audio signal are out of phase with each other the entire time it's running down the cable. All noise that gets picked up on those signals will be the same on both, then when the phase is flipped at the other end of the cable, the audio signals are now back in phase with each other and the noise signals are out of phase, thereby cancelled (muted).

[@kaspar1000]

+Dmitry Sutyagin (f3flight) Where is the polarity flipping occurring? Is it in the gear you connect to the cables or is it inside the cables themselves?

[@jeffcecchini8803]

+Joe Gilder Music, thank you for that further explanation because I was wondering the same thing, and this helped nail down my understanding.

[@cameronproaudio]

The polarity flip of the cold wire relative to hot happens in the receiver/input, not the wire. An inverting op amp on the cold wire does the work.

[@HardwareAddiction]

@@f3flight Excellent, this is exactly what was missing in his explanation. I knew it's just a simple math trick.

[@Jayzbird16]

Maybe it's just me, but I actually found this hard to follow. Audio signals are AC voltage. In order to transmit AC voltage, you have to have a circuit, which means you always have to have at least two wires. While electrons are "coming" on one wire, they must be "going" on the other. So even in unbalanced cables, you have "two copies" of the signal, and they must always be 180 degrees out of phase. What's bad about unbalanced is that one of the wires is also the shield, meaning it's extremely susceptible to radio frequency interference (RFI) or electromagnetic interference (EMI). In some unbalanced setups, the shield also touches the chassis. It's not a good idea to have signal touch ground. Old RCA mics used to do this, where one end of the transducer was electrically connected to the frame. Ideally, you have a separate ground wire to link all the chassis of all the boxes so that they're all at the same ground state, and signal never touches ground (the essence of balanced). Different ground states of different chassis in your signal chain can produce an unwanted chassis current flow that can induce EMI all by itself. Balanced cable actually eliminates EMI in several different ways. If everything is grounded properly, then all the chassis have the same ground state, plus, the ground wire on your cable acts as a shield, absorbing and siphoning off any EMI to the chassis. Next, and this is what he was talking about, the two independent signal wires in a twisted pair configuration produce what is known as "common mode rejection" noise cancelling. These days, ethernet cables rely on unshielded twisted pair alone (UTP), which offers pretty good "shielding" and is cheaper than the old coax.

[@richard7crowley]

Yes, I agree with Jayzbird16. While differential/balanced wiring is used to cancel "common-mode" noise and interference, that noise is typically things like hum, dimmer buzz, etc. Rejection of RFI (Radio-Frequency Interference) is more typically handled by filtering which rejects the high-frequency (radio waves) while passing through the lower-frequency(audio) signal.

[@herculesbrofister265]

@@timschutte8310 sorry, but audio signals, as they come from an amp, are AC. if you have something that outputs AC power that otherwise wasn't intended as an audio device, such as an electric muscle massager, you can hook it to a speaker and hear its signal. Hell, if you have a beefy enough speaker, you can even plug it into the wall for a straight 60 hz signal. Steve Meade does that a lot kzbin.info/www/bejne/fKScaWxsaq50n6c

[@cabomusico]

Hi Joe. For sometime I didn't know what was the difference between balanced and unbalanced cables and conections . Now I know...you have explained it very well and very clear. And as you said, it's very cool how balanced cables deal with the signal passing through them. Thank you. All the best.

[@eddieespinoza150]

Yes you did a fantastic job of explaining. I’m new to the audio visual cables and wires world so this was definitely a helpful video. I’m learning all of this to help run the media at our church. I’m subscribing to your channel!! Thank you so much!!

[@antcap66]

I find it intriguing that you are wearing a monster cable t-shirt....biggest snake oil cable company bar none.

[@Aristoper]

So true though I've got like 4 monster cable wires from about a decade ago that I got at a guitar center which have all held up great. Monster Cable wasn't as blatant as marketing gimmick back then though as they are today in the Dre Beats headphones era of the company. They were about $2's more for a pair than guitar centers other option of live wire cables that didn't have the same lifetime warranty weren't gold plated and jacket shield thickness was thinner and as a result more prone to being brittle and not holding up as well in the long term. Monster Cable is a gimmick to a point though there is a point where it's worth paying a bit extra. On that note I'd also like to point out most 4-channel/8-channel snake cables are a rip off you're far better off buying individual pairs instead especially in 4-packs, 5-packs, 6-packs, 8-packs, ect bundles those snake cables have a thick cable jacket thru the middle, but they are horribly small the last foot or so where they spread out I would never trust those to hold up well long term comparatively. They also happen to normally cost more as well. I can why some people buy them, but it's purely for convenience unfortunately I bet they run into tons of reliability issues with them at the same time due to it. One thing I don't get is why so many synths or effects units these days use RCA's rather than TRS. I'd argue more don't, but there are a lot which still do and there are damn few DJ mixer's that have TRS connections those are almost all RCA hookups. I think it's such a shame take the Korg KP3 cool unit, but uses RCA's. It is what it is, but it's a bad design choice. It would make more sense to use TRS and let people use a RCA adapter where needed than in reverse, but oh well. Now I wonder how much you degrade the signal with a RCA to TRS adapter with a TRS to TRS cable run into or out of TRS gear. I would still think that would be better than running a TRS cable for the full length of the cable so you'd at least shorten the signal degradation. On the other hand adapter themselves I think are prone a little bit of added signal integrity degradation just not sure which is worse between the two.

[@ineedstuff8286]

says the guy wearing a snake oil face covering.

[@ineedstuff8286]

@@antcap66 first off, today is the first time I watched this video... however, I apologize for my rude comment... that wasn't cool at all, and it does no good to put that energy out into the "ether" like that. I have been trying to stop negativity, as it never creates the positive effect that one ever envisions. Normally I quickly delete a comment after being vile, but I was a little late here. Again.. my apologies man.. I am sorry..

[@antcap66]

@@ineedstuff8286 Genuine and sincere response....Apologies for the negativity on my part ...deleted👍......all the best for 2021.

[@ineedstuff8286]

@@antcap66 nah man... not to keep this going but... your response was valid... but anyhow... no worries :)

[@eyelessgrae]

You explained that perfectly, and this design is actually so genius, I'm gobsmacked. Thank you for teaching me this!

[@GreenCinco12Official]

My brain exploded at 3:22. That's a great explanation. Thanks.

[@ThomasParker12341]

An excellent and simple explanation! I subscribed to your channel after this video without any hesitation.

[@psychegamez9709]

Holy crap man. Everyone is saying you explained this like a boss and it's because it's true! This was so clear on concise. Great job!

[@OfTheUSSEnterprise]

Learned about this for 30 minutes in class yesterday, this video explained it way better. Nice job. 👍🏻

[@TumaH]

I'm studying for a test and you just made this ton of potatoes clearer. In 4 mins you've made me understand what I couldn't unserstand from a 2 hour lecture. Thanks!

[@HomeStudioCorner]

Potatoes clearer?!?! Nice. :)

[@alexcasian9916]

I just recently started having problems with unbalanced cables connected to my monitor speakers and I didn't know why, next stop will be the closest shop that has balanced trs cables. Interferences are really annoying especially if you are in a mix down or mastering process. Very helpful video. Thank you!

[@madhattersc4051]

This is an amazingly simple explanation that straightened it out for me in less than five minutes. Well done.

[@SONIDOCANELAOFICIAL]

I love the way you explain things. Thank You so much.

[@dmr.420]

I think this is my third or fourth time commenting on a video on yt in more than 10 years, but man... my mind was freaking blown. Thanks.

[@stefanomatic]

You explained that really well. It made total sense to me. Thanks for the heads up.

[@yurinovato]

I was researching something entirely different and ended up here, learned something new I didn't know! Thank you so much man!

[@pdleyland]

Great video Joe! I'm just learning a lot of how these systems work as I am soon to be a legal videographer. I appreciate how clearly you explained balanced v unbalanced.

[@enzovillaparedes1]

Man your way to explain the whole deal with Balanced and Unbalanced cables is really good, good examples and easy to understand. Congrats!! Thumbs up

[@HomeStudioCorner]

Thanks!

[@beeisbad]

Dude you're the best! I just went on this guy named "Multiplier" for the same answers. And within 2mins I felt like I was in a strange place watching Jack Nicholson's son (from the Shining) trying to explain unbalanced & balanced cables!! !! THANK YOU for a simple and very easy to understand explanation. You made me realize I wasn't the crazy one. And your approach is so personable that I felt like you was literally talking directly to ME! lol. Thanks bro. Great vid!

[@samxlovegod]

Super helpful! So glad I ran into you it was a good a simple explanation try to figure out what's best for a church thanks man God bless

[@oysteinsoreide4323]

Very good explained without using too many technical terms at the same time. I finally understand why the noise is cancelled out. Thanks for the simple explanation.

[@HB-oz8xe]

This was excellent. And clears up my confusion and I've been playing for years. Thanks so much.

[@davidandrew447]

Excellent job explaining this. I watched a couple videos before this one and just didn't understand it. You could teach this to a rock man, excellent job.

[@JamieClark]

this is the best explanation video I've ever seen of this. Great job, I'll be linking people to this, for sure!

[@sharonlee4773]

Clearly explained,so refreshing! Thanks Joe.

[@avgeorgeindia]

Thanks a lot, Joe! That's a crystal clear explanation in layman's terms... one that is easy to remember. Hats off to you!!

[@tatjanatasha340]

Omg!!! What a simple and easy to understand explanation!!! I've learnt a few times about this but it was so much waffle that I got lost half way. Amazing, thank you!

[@HomeStudioCorner]

Waffle. haha. :) Thanks for watching.

[@joeguitar75]

to kinda quote my favourite artist: "We learned more from a 4 minute video than we ever learned in school". Thank you Joe !

[@VSTRecords]

This is the best explanation of this subject! Admirations!!

[@AaronTrimbleMusic]

Great video! Thank you for clearly and concisely explaining this process which is known as “common-mode rejection”

[@KreepyJD]

Man your videos helped me so much, very thank you man, great work!!!

[@zackbolles359]

Great explanation, I’ve been using balanced cords for a while now without having any idea how they work. Thank you!

[@CedricPamalio]

Dude, you explained it so clearly ! Never really understood what is was, not a problem anymore ! nice, thank you

[@storyjesse]

Thank you!! Awesome Explanation! I never understood how balanced audio was well 'balanced' or when/why I might need a DI to convert unbalanced to balanced. Now I understand.

[@MrSceneNine]

Fascinating how that works. Super clear explanation. Thanks.

[@csrader]

You did explain it well. Absolutely the best explanation of this concept.

[@RandTv7]

Very powerful. Many thanks for such a concise explanation.

[@blukoolaid158]

Very nice video man, the mic quality is crystal clear, and I like your clean setup. Keep up the good work!

[@passiveagression9803]

Holy crap man, this blew my mind. Whoever thought this up is some kind of genius. Thanks for communicating it so well

[@HunterOfDoofus]

I always thought that extra ring on the balanced one meant it was for stereo signals. Glad I found your channel, so far all the videos I've watched of yours have been helpful.

[@HomeStudioCorner]

That's true for headphone cables, but that's it.

[@maztergee]

Top information and tips, I wish everyone explained these things as easy as this, thanks for sharing, and uploading

[@utubeit100]

Seriously, nice job. Explanation was super simple, brief, and well done.

[@JslimSlaps]

By far this is the best explanation video on the subject. Thank you New fan.

[@kaptainkool101]

Fantastic video man! Great quality, even for 2013.

[@l34052]

This was a really good and simple to understand explanation of what a balanced signal is, thanks for this I'm in the process of learning more about this very subject and you've helped me a lot. I now understand why I was recommended xlr cables between my dj controller and my active speakers and why the sound is a lot cleaner than it was when using my regular stereo amp and speakers.

[@HomeStudioCorner]

Nice. Thanks for watching!

[@wai0937]

Great explanation. You have a gift for teaching!

[@oskarlothe5134]

Thank you, i finally understood what is the differences between balanced and unbalanced...

[@TheAmandeepcom]

You explained it very well!!! Nice quick primer.

[@flo_cycling]

This is an excellent explanation. Very clear and concise. Thanks for making such a great video. Chris

[@HomeStudioCorner]

Thanks for watching, Chris!

[@joaoalcantara6676]

Awesome video. Really well explained! Thanks a bunch!

[@tee6805]

I must agree with Boris Jevric..Thank you for the explanation

[@SlickBlackCadillac]

Awesome explanation. One advantage of having three wires in balanced that is often overlooked: Having two wires for the signal means that the signal has a complete circuit and never has to touch the ground wire. This means that if there is a ground loop, it travels on the grounded wire and has no impact on the signal. So the ground loop is still there, but you cannot hear it. With unbalanced you can always hear it or at least detect it if it is very faint.

[@peterbondy]

Perfect explanation and after 40 years of using balanced where possible I now understand why there is no noise from that system.

[@AvocadoAtrocity]

This was amazing. Very well done. Thanks a lot!

[@keommesquiteisd7990]

Thank you so much! The best way to explain this. Great making the technical understandable!

[@chrisalvino812]

Haha, I watched 3 videos of balanced vs unbalanced and this finally explained everything in an easily understandable way. Thank you!

[@meinfs]

The best explanation. Thanks you, Joe Gilder. I will SUBSCRIBE!

[@alexhan2651]

Awesome! Now I understand the difference between balanced vs. unbalanced. Great job!

[@gussetblaster6786]

Man, that really is very clever. I've been planning on buying some decent monitor speakers recently and was too anxious to ask about the different cable systems because i didn't want to come across as inept. Now i know exactly what i need. Thanks!

[@jonpatrick66]

That was a great explanation! Thank you! Short ,sweet, and to the point. I appreciate it Good job 👍