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Church Sound: Clearing Up 1/4-Inch Connector Confusion

Always make sure the 1/4-inch cable you are using is the right one for your application
This article is provided by Church Audio Video.

There can be confusion when it comes to the 1/4-inch connector.

Guitar players and sound engineers are each seeking a certain type, but often have or are given the other.

Let’s explore the simple 1/4-inch connector that has come to complicate our world.

We can start with how it is known: audio jack, phone jack, phone plug, jack plug. Specific types and variations include the stereo or mono plug, mini-jack, mini-stereo, headphone jack, longframe, tiny telephone (TT) connector and Bantam plug.

Technically, the term “jack” refers to the female type (socket) whereas the word “plug” describes the male type (pictured), but the terms are often used interchangeably so we won’t split hairs.

Terminology:
—The term 1/4-inch (or 6.3mm) refers to the diameter of the plug or jack. Miniaturized versions include 1/8-inch (3.5mm) and 3/32-inch (2.5mm).
—The pointed end of the plug is called the tip (3), and the shaft is known as the sleeve (1). If the connector has two or more bands around the shaft (4), the space between them is called the ring (2).
—Each conductor will be wired in a specific way depending on the application. More on that in a moment.
—TS (Tip/Sleeve), or 2-conductor connectors, are typically used to transfer unbalanced mono analog audio signals.
—TRS (Tip/Ring/Sleeve), or 3-conductor connectors, are typically used to transfer balanced mono or unbalanced stereo analog audio signals.
—Less common, 4- and 5-conductor connectors are used on some devices to transfer send and receive audio or for audio + video signals.

In their original application, 2-conductor 1/4-inch plugs were used by telephone operators to connect one caller with another in the days of the manual telephone exchange.

Today, common uses of 1/4-inchconnectors include:
—Audio outputs for headphones and earphones (1/4-inch or 3.5mm TRS).
—Audio inputs on loudspeakers (1/4-inch TS).
—Line-level I/O connections on mixers, power amplifiers and signal processors (1/4-inch TRS or TS).
—Send/Return (Insert) points on mixing consoles (1/4-inch TRS or TS).
—Audio inputs and outputs on guitars, keyboards and instrument amplifiers (1/4-inch TS).
—Effects pedals for electric guitars and keyboards, and MIDI triggers for electronic drums (1/4-inch TS).
—Microphone inputs on portable audio recorders (3.5mm TRS or TS) and some entry-level audio equipment (1/4-inch or 3.5mm TRS or TS).
—Mic or line level I/O from PCs and laptops (3.5mm TS or TRS).
—Patch bay connections in audio and telecom applications (standard, long frame or TT/Bantam 1/4-inch TS or TRS).
—Audio + video output on some consumer electronics devices such as camcorders and portable DVD players (3.5mm TRS or TRRS).
—Headphone or headset connections on cellular phones and mobile devices (3.5mm TRS or TRRS, occasionally 2.5mm TRS).

At this point, you may be wondering: what about the cable it’s wired to? Glad you asked. As stated earlier, the tip, ring and sleeve conductors are wired differently depending on the cable’s intended use.

Here’s a wiring guide:

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It’s also important to know that not all 1/4-inch cables are created equal! Even though the connectors on two cables may look identical, the cable type may not be.

For example, guitar cables use a braided shield around a center conductor, and loudspeaker cables use two shielded wires with no braid. These cable types have different impedances, tolerances and other specifications that make them uniquely suited for their intended purpose.

A guitar cable plugged into the output of a power amp pushing enough wattage can melt, and even start a fire! Always make sure the 1/4-inch cable you are using is the right one for your application.

Church Audio Video specializes in the design, installation and support of high-quality and affordable custom audio, video, lighting, broadcast and control systems for worship facilities. For more information, visit their website.

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