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Articles Tagged Cabling And Interconnect

  • Tuesday, May 22, 2012
    Wiring The World: Miles And Miles Of Conduit
    interconnect
    Josh Thompson 05/22/12 01:49 PM,
    Sooner or later, regardless of our chosen path in pro audio, the worst happens: someone asks us to install a system. Even if our preferred gig involves a Prevost and chain motors, folks tend to assume that “sound is sound,” and if you are a professional in one area, you are surely qualified in all others. Even with no real hands-on install experience, most of us have no problem signing up for the occasional install gig. The gear looks the… View this story
    Filed in: AV • Feature • Study Hall • AV • Installation • Interconnect • Sound Reinforcement

  • Thursday, April 05, 2012
    Balanced Versus Unbalanced Lines
    image
    Al Keltz 04/05/12 02:42 PM,
    Unbalanced Lines Unbalanced signal lines are characterized by the fact that the cable and connectors use only two conductors, a center conductor surrounded by a shield. Examples of unbalanced wiring are found in tip/sleeve 1/4-in guitar cords or the cables used with many CD players and tape decks which terminate with RCA phono type connectors. In an unbalanced configuration, the shield surrounds a single center conductor. The shield stays at a constant ground potential (as it is connected to ground… View this story
    Filed in: AV • Feature • Poll • Study Hall • AV • Audio • Business • Installation • Interconnect • Signal • Sound Reinforcement • System

  • Wednesday, March 21, 2012
    Connecting Unbalanced Outputs To Balanced Inputs—And Vice-Versa
    unbalanced inputs and outputs
    Bill Whitlock 03/21/12 06:33 PM,
    Based on my years of helping customers solve interfacing problems of all sorts, connecting unbalanced outputs to balanced inputs, and vice-versa, certainly ranks among the most common and confusing of tasks for system integrators. Basically, two issues must be dealt with. The first involves the different signal operating levels between unbalanced (consumer) and balanced (professional) equipment. The second involves making the actual connections to transfer the signal while avoiding “ground loop” noise problems. Signal operating and reference levels are significantly… View this story
    Filed in: AV • Feature • Poll • Study Hall • AV • Audio • Interconnect • Power • Signal

  • Thursday, February 23, 2012
    Let There Be Light: How Fiber Optics Actually Works
    audio fiber optics
    Buddy Oliver 02/23/12 03:46 PM,
    An easy way to understand how fiber optics works: visualize peering into a very long tube, the inside of which is coated with a perfectly mirrored surface. One mile away, at the opposite end, a friend shines a bright flashlight into the tube. Because the tube is internally coated with a perfect mirror, you will see his light perfectly at your end, regardless of how many twists and turns the pipe takes. If your friend flashes the light off and… View this story
    Filed in: Live Sound • Feature • Poll • Study Hall • AV • Audio • Digital • Ethernet • Interconnect • Signal • Sound Reinforcement • Studio

  • Friday, October 28, 2011
    The Basics Of Fiber Optic Transmission Systems
    fiber optics
    John Lopinto 10/28/11 03:11 PM,
    With the increasing trend toward the use of fiber instead of co-ax cable in a wide range of applications, most contractors are now required to understand the basics of terminating and laying fiber optic cable. Contrary to its reputation, fiber is actually quite easy to handle and use. Cable Construction Fiber, at its most basic level, is a very pure strand of glass through which light can pass over great distances. All fiber optic cable has at its center a… View this story
    Filed in: AV • Feature • Poll • AV • Audio • Digital • Ethernet • Installation • Interconnect • Networking • Signal

  • Wednesday, June 29, 2011
    How To Assemble And Terminate Ethernet Cable
    ethernet
    Chris Bushick 06/29/11 04:45 PM,
    As with many types of cable, you can save some money by purchasing Ethernet cable and connectors and assembling/terminating them yourself. Of course, keep in mind that putting together cables of any type requires time, patience and some know-how. Without these essential ingredients, you’ll be much better served by buying pre-terminated cables. That said, let’s get started. First, to attach any Ethernet RJ-45 connector ends to the lengths of cable, you’ll need an RJ-45 crimping tool. Start with a good… View this story
    Filed in: AV • Feature • Poll • Study Hall • AV • Ethernet • Interconnect • Networking

  • Everything You Wanted To Know About Microphone Splitters
    church sound microphones
    Al Keltz 06/29/11 01:40 PM, 0 Comments
    If church sound system has evolved along a familiar path, what started out as a pretty simple, small group, “sound-on-a-stick” has gradually become more and more sophisticated. Many have replaced that powered mixer with separate components and added a snake to allow for a mix position in the listening area. Words like “direct box”, “balanced”, “low impedance”, “crossover”, etc. have become part of the sound team’s vocabulary as they strive to provide today’s expected level of sound quality and production… View this story
    Filed in: Church Sound • Feature • Poll • Study Hall • Training • Audio • Interconnect • Microphone • Sound Reinforcement • Stage • Studio

  • Wednesday, June 08, 2011
    Increasingly Vital Links: Ethernet Facts & Options
    ethernet
    Chris Bushick 06/08/11 10:43 AM,
    It used to be that the only time to worry about a network came with simulcasting and having to plug into the broadcast truck. Now, however, a mixing console may be hooked deeper into a network than even a laptop PC, and the vital links are much more finicky than the good ol’ XLR cables. Many audio professionals and companies now embrace Ethernet-related technologies. Digital mixing consoles, snakes, and signal processors that make use of Ethernet capabilities are widely available.… View this story
    Filed in: AV • Feature • Poll • Study Hall • AV • Audio • Ethernet • Interconnect • Networking

  • Wednesday, May 11, 2011
    Fine-Tune Cabling For An Efficient Live Sound System Setup & Strike Every Day
    cable concert
    Dan Laveglia 05/11/11 03:35 PM, 1 Comment
    The idea of setting up a complicated audio system every day, in constantly changing venues and in the time limitations of a few hours is daunting, to say the least. Yet it’s the inevitable reality of touring sound. Thousands of pounds of hardware, miles of cable and hundreds of connections are required for system operation. All of this must be done in a timely manner, to allow for the “black art” of tuning the rig and mixing the music. Multipin… View this story
    Filed in: Live Sound • Feature • Poll • Study Hall • Training • Concert • Interconnect • Sound Reinforcement • Stage

  • Tuesday, May 03, 2011
    In-DI-spensible: The Essentials Of Direct Injection (DI) Boxes
    direct boxes
    Al Keltz 05/03/11 07:36 AM, 1 Comment
    Direct boxes are often referred to as “DI boxes” (DI is short for Direct Injection) boxes. Their primary purpose is to convert unbalanced and/or high-impedance instrument signals into a format suitable for direct connection to a mixing console’s microphone input – without the use of a mic. DI boxes also can provide several other basic functions: • Convert a high-impedance signal to a low-impedance signal (although they will also accept a low-impedance signal from a preamplifier, keyboard, active pickup or… View this story
    Filed in: Church Sound • Feature • Poll • Product • Study Hall • Installation • Interconnect • Signal • Sound Reinforcement • Stage • System • Technician