Audio Video Production Cables and Connectors Trade & Industrial Education

Cables and Connectors A basic job skill in the audio and video production industry is being able to identify the common cable and connector types.

Four Basic Cable Types Straight Pair Twisted Pair Coax Fiber Optic

Straight Pair Cable Speaker Cable 4

Multiple Channel Cable Twisted Pair Cable Microphone Cable Single Channel Multiple Channel Cable 5

Twisted Pair Cable Networking Cable Four Twisted Pairs 6

Twisted Pair Cable Telephone Cable 7

Coax Cable Cable TV Cable 8

Coax Cable Video Cable Professional Video Amateur Video 9

Coax Cable Digital Audio Cable 10

Coax Cable Digital Video Cable 11

Fiber Optic Cables Digital Video Cable 12

Fiber Optic Cables Optical Digital Audio Cable 13

Connector Types Video Audio 14

Connector Gender Notes: A MALE connector is also referred to as a PLUG. “MALE” = “PLUGS” A FEMALE connector is also referred to as a JACK. “FEMALE” = “JACKS” These words are interchangeable. 15

Video Connectors: BNC BNC Male BNC Female The BNC connector is used for professional video signals. The two connectors twist lock together to form an industrial strength connection. 16

Video Connectors: RCA Male Female The RCA connector is used for amateur and “Prosumer” video signals. The RCA is also used in audio. 17

Video Connectors: S-Video S-Video Male S-Video Female The S-Video connector is used for industrial and higher quality “Prosumer” video signals. The S-Video connector actually has two coax video cables inside. One cable is for brightness information (Y) and the other is for color information (C). It is also called a “Y/C” connector. 18

RCA Female to BNC Male Adapter Video Adapters An adapter is a small two-sided connector that coverts one type of connector to another. They are also referred to as “Inter-series adapters”. RCA Female to BNC Male Adapter 19

BNC Female to RCA Male Adapter Video Adapters BNC Female to RCA Male Adapter 20

RCA Male to S-Video Female Adapter Video Adapters RCA Male to S-Video Female Adapter Some adapters actually covert one signal type into something else. This adapter coverts a “Y/C” signal into a “composite” video signal. 21

BNC Male Barrel (or Gender Changer) Video Adapters BNC Male Barrel (or Gender Changer) Adapters that have the same connector type and gender on both sides area called Barrels or Gender Changers. 22

RCA Female Barrel (or Gender Changer) Video Adapters RCA Female Barrel (or Gender Changer) There are numerous Adapters and Gender Changers. 23

Audio Connectors: RCA Male Female The RCA connector is used for line level audio signals. The RCA is also used for consumer video. 24

Audio Connectors: 1/4” Mono ¼” Male Mono ¼” Female Mono The ¼” connector is used for headphones, microphones, and other signals. The mono version is also called “TS” for “Tip/Sleeve.” 25

Audio Connectors: 1/4” Stereo ¼” Male Stereo ¼” Female Stereo The ¼” connector is used for headphones, microphones, and other signals. The stereo version is also called “TRS” for “Tip/Ring/Sleeve”. 26

Audio Connectors: XLR XLR Male XLR Female The XLR connector is primarily used for professional microphones and balanced microphone level signals. The locking mechanism helps make good electrical connections. 27

Audio Connectors: 1/8” Mini’s Mini Male Stereo Mini Female Stereo Mini Male Mono Mini Female Mono The 1/8” connector, or Mini, is used for headphones, consumer microphones, and other signals. 28

(1/4” stereo) Male Adapter Audio Adapters: XLR Female to TRS (1/4” stereo) Male Adapter Again, an adapter is a small two-sided connector that coverts one type of connector to another. 29

Audio Adapters: RCA Female to TS (1/4” mono) Male Adapter There are numerous Adapters and Gender Changers. 30

1/4”Male to XLR Female Impedance Matching Transformer Audio Adapters: 1/4”Male to XLR Female Impedance Matching Transformer Some adapters actually covert one signal type into something else. This adapter coverts a Balanced Low Impedance audio signal to an Unbalanced High Impedance audio signal. This lets you use a professional microphone with consumer microphone inputs. 31

Digital Audio and Video HDMI is an all-digital connector that can carry high-definition video and several digital audio channels all on the one cable. HDMI delivers digital sound and vision without risking quality loss due to the conversion or compression of the video or audio signal. 32