Balanced Line Level Cable

Xlr connectors are 3 pin connectors.

Balanced line level cable.

The added safety of the balanced cable comes at a cost and even after you make the purchase you still need to pair your cables with balanced mixed equipment which can also be more expensive. On the other hand short cable runs carrying higher signal levels are less prone to audible noise. For example baluns can be used to send line level audio or e carrier level 1 signals over coaxial cable which is unbalanced through 300 feet 91 m of category 5 cable by using a pair of baluns at each end of the cat5 run. That is either type of cable can accommodate either strength of signal.

Guitar players usually use instrument level signals and unbalanced cables but the attributes aren t technically tied together. An outboard preamp or processor or instruments that output a balanced line level synths keyboards drum machines etc. Balanced lines are ideal in situations involving lengthy cables and low signal levels where noise can be a problem. A 1 4 inch trs to xlr cable should be enough to connect it to the inputs of a mixing console.

They are usually used for transmitting microphone or balanced line level signals. The diagram above shows how the cable works. There are weaker signals such as those from microphones mic level microphone level and instrument pickups instrument level and stronger. A balanced audio cable has a ground wire but it also carries two copies of the same incoming audio signal sometimes referred to as a hot positive and cold negative signal.

In audio you will typically see xlr cables connecting microphones to mixers and connecting various outputs to powered speakers. Line level is the highest signal level which travels through a trs connection. Your audio interface is providing a balanced line level signal. Mic cables are a good example of such situations.

Line level is the specified strength of an audio signal used to transmit analog sound between audio components such as cd and dvd players television sets audio amplifiers and mixing consoles. The console should be able to accept your line level audio signal. The structure of a balanced audio cable is similar to an unbalanced cable with one addition. Remember the stage box and the multi core cable that runs to the foh console is just a fancy extension cord for audio.

Line level sits between other levels of audio signals. When you re looking to keep your live production budget low unbalanced cables can be a great value purchase and there are even good ways to keep the. The balun takes the unbalanced signal and creates an inverted copy of that signal. Pro sound usually uses line level signals and balanced cables.

Positive negative and ground. This is the standard type of signal and you should use trs when connecting any non instrument pieces of hardware to your interface i e. Line level instrument level and balance unbalanced are independent attributes.