Mackie Onyx 32.4-Bus Owner's Manual - Page 27

Owner's Manual Appendix B: Connections XLR Connectors 1/4" TS Phone Plugs and Jacks The mono channels use 3-pin female XLR connectors on the MIC inputs. They are wired as follows, according to standards specified by the AES (Audio Engineering Society). "TS" stands for Tip-Sleeve, the two connection points available on a mono 1/4" phone jack or plug. They are used for unbalanced signals. SHIELD 2 HOT COLD 3 1 SHIELD 1 COLD 3 2 HOT 1 3 2 SHIELD COLD HOT SLEEVE TIP 1/4" TS Unbalanced Wiring: Sleeve = Shield Tip = Hot (+) SLEEVE TIP TIP SLEEVE XLR Balanced Wiring: Pin 1 = Shield Pin 2 = Hot (+) Pin 3 = Cold (-) 1/4" TRS Phone Plugs and Jacks "TRS" stands for Tip-Ring-Sleeve, the three connection points available on a stereo 1/4" or balanced phone jack or plug. TRS jacks and plugs are used for balanced signals and stereo headphones: Balanced Mono RING SLEEVE SLEEVE RING TIP TIP RING TIP SLEEVE 1/4" TRS Balanced Mono Wiring: Sleeve = Shield Tip = Hot (+) Ring = Cold (-) Stereo Headphones RING SLEEVE SLEEVE RING TIP TIP RING TIP SLEEVE 1/4" TRS Stereo Unbalanced Wiring: Sleeve = Shield Tip = Left Ring = Right RCA Plugs and Jacks RCA-type plugs (also known as phono plugs) and jacks are often used in home stereo and video equipment and in many other applications. They are unbalanced and electrically equivalent to a 1/4" TS phone plug. SLEEVE TIP SLEEVE TIP RCA Unbalanced Wiring: Sleeve = Shield Tip = Hot (+) Unbalancing a Line In most studio, stage, and sound reinforcement situations, there is a combination of balanced and unbalanced inputs and outputs on the various pieces of equipment. This usually will not be a problem in making connections. • When connecting a balanced output to an unbalanced input, be sure the signal high (hot) connections are wired to each other, and that the balanced signal low (cold) goes to the ground (earth) connection at the unbalanced input. In most cases, the balanced ground (earth) will also be connected to the ground (earth) at the unbalanced input. If there are ground-loop problems, this connection may be left disconnected at the balanced end. Owner's Manual 27