Cables And Their Uses In The Studio

~Cables~

And Their Uses in the Studio

   Hello everyone. My name is Gary Craig from the Bankhead National Forest in Alabama and this is the first week’s assignment of The Introduction to Music Production at Coursera.org. I will be discussing cables in the studio, their types and uses.

  

   When putting your studio together, whether it be a large one or just a small home setup in your extra room, there is one universal piece of gear that brings it all together…the cable. There are a number of different kinds of cables used in the studio and in turn, there are different qualities of cables also. To get the best sound that is possible when recording, you need the quietest, most reliable cable possible. Yes, it will cost more but you know the old saying, “you get what you pay for.” Which would you rather do, spend the day making fantastic recordings or spend the day finding that one broken elusive cheap cable that is holding up your progress?

  

   The first and most common cable that you will come across is the ¼” TS cable or instrument cable. This is an unbalanced line that has a single conductor with the tip transmitting the signal and the sleeve acting as the shield. It is most common as a guitar or bass connector but is used with several connections in the studio.

TS Cable

Being that the TS cable is an unbalanced cable, it is more likely to pick up noise along its line if the cable is long, so it is better to try and use shorter runs of cables of this kind. It is also very important to know the difference between an instrument cable and a speaker cable, although they look alike. TS or instrument cables are shielded and have a smaller gauge wire, whereas speaker cables are not shielded and have a thicker gauge of wire. Mixing these cables up can actually do damage to amplifiers and speakers.

   The TRS cable is very similar to the TS, except that it has an extra ring on the sleeve of the plug, making it a two conductor cable with the tip and the ring acting as two signals and the sleeve, again as the shield.

TRS Cable

 The TRS cable actually has a dual function, in that it is a stereo cable and a balanced cable making it much quieter than the unbalanced TS. This makes it excellent for more quiet studio recordings and can be used at longer lengths.

  

   The next cable we will look at is the 1/8 “mini” stereo cable. This cable is the same configuration as the TRS, only half the size. Its main function usually falls at the end of a headphone cord but you will find it on other products in your equipment.

1/8 "Mini" Cable

   The RCA cable is a well known cable around home stereos and televisions and is also used in the studio, although not as much as before in analog studios.

RCA Cables

When using gear associated with RCA cables in the studio, it will be wise to double check your stage leveling settings and set them accordingly. Consumer products have the tendency to dwell high above the line level you will be looking for.

  

   The XLR cable or microphone cable is a very dependable cable for reducing noise through the line on stage or in the studio. It has a three pin configuration with a male on one end and female on the other. This is much like the TRS cable as it is also a balanced line and perfect for long runs across the stage or studio. This is the cable that almost all microphones will connect with to the mixing board or interface.

XLR Cable

   

  

MIDI Cable

  

“Multiple Instrument Digital Interface” is the term used for Midi Cables which transfers data information between electronic devices, such as keyboards, modules and sequencers. These cables have a five pin configuration with 3 shielded conductors. These cables aren’t needed as much anymore since the invention of synth software but they still come in handy for that right piece of equipment.

   The next item on the list is not a cable but is essential when working with cables. The Direct Box is a very useful tool for everyone involved in the music making scene and has several applications for live and studio scenarios. First of all, it’s main function is to transform an unbalanced TS line into a balanced XLR line. This is a good thing to know when you have a bass guitar on one side of the stage and it’s connection to the snake box, or line input, on the other side. You can plug a short unbalanced line into the D. I. box and run a long XLR cable to the connection, leaving you with a fairly noiseless line.

Direct Box

There are many types of direct boxes to choose from on the market with a price tag of $25.00 to over $200.00, depending on your needs. Passive and active D.I.’s, ground lifts, pads are just a few of the options when choosing a direct box.

   

 There are also a numerous amount of adapters available to connect just about every cable made and it is a good idea to keep several different kinds of these adapters handy in the studio because you never know when you might need one.

    As said before, it is smart to buy quality cables for quieter recordings that will last a long time if properly maintained. Also, make sure to roll and store them in a correct way, as not to get kinks and breaks in them and never stand on them or roll items across them on the floor. Buy cables with metal or brass ends so that you can repair them yourself and save money in the long run.

   I have not yet learned some of the other media techniques for presenting these lessons but I hope by the end of this class I will be more proficient on them. I hope this lesson was informative for you and I do appreciate your taking the time to review it, now, let’s make some music!