Hey, this was very informative and I've been suffering from unwanted noise from my studio monitors, and I realized I wasn't using balanced cables! After ordering some high-end balanced cables from Amazon, I noticed a huge difference in controlled noise quality! I really appreciate your expertise. Keep up the great work!
I sometimes interview AV techs for a large corporate company. "What is the difference between a balanced and unbalanced audio cable" is sadly the question more techs get wrong than any other technical question. I love that you mentioned more about how a balanced cable works, It really amazes me that many don't understand that and I appreciate you sharing your knowledge. Because I'm more of a visual learner, seeing an image of the wave forms during that portion would be helpful. Keep it up!!
Your channel is one of the most informative I’ve found regarding audio and troubleshooting. As another Pro Tools user I especially appreciate it. Keep up the great content! 👍
Really great stuff! This helped me to work out why I was having some weird noise issues with my guitar set-up (Line 6 POD Go into a TASCAM multitrack console.) I'm hopeful that by replacing my instrument cables with TRS to XLR cables, I should be able to eliminate some handling noise that's been driving me MAD. Major props. Even if that DOESN'T fix my issue, this is still really useful info.
Thanks for the explanation of how trs cancels noise via a polarity flip! I'm 52 and have been playing in bands since I was 14 and have never had this explained to me. I guess I never asked haha. Great work Cato ⚡🎸🎤🎧🎚️🎛️🎙️✌️
Needed a refresher on this and this video was great! It irritates me that it only has 626 views. Without getting into it -- I feel your pain, trust me. I really wish quality content rose to the top instead of whatever it is the algorithm thinks people want to watch.
So I was watching this to learn about what Cable lead I needed for Rico-sound, on my Rickenbacker 620, which I knew basically was a stereo cable for guitar. Now I am wondering did I just hear correctly that TRS cables are balanced more so than TS cables and that if I use them as a mono lead they cancel out any noise? By the way thank you for defining the difference between speaker cables and instrument cables.
Those balanced cables are pretty cool, but a lot of synths seem to have unbalanced outputs. This gives me problems sometimes with synths that have a USB connection as well as a line out. What I often run into with a Roland TR-6S is the USB noise interference when the USB cable is used simultaneously with the analog line outputs. It’s kind of an annoying problem, I’ve learned to either only use the USB connection or to only use the line out in combination with battery power to get clean noise-free recordings from it. Are there effective solutions to prevent these sort of ground loop interference issues? I don’t seem to get this issue on equipment that use USB solely for data and that use a separate DC power supply (like the Yamaha reface series). It seems that USB bus power and analog audio connections are not an ideal combination in regards to noise.
Interesting, yeah, I have heard that about a lot of synths having unbalanced outputs. I assume you've tried using balanced cables for your line outs just in case, yeah? Have you tried plugging into something like a DI with a ground lift button, pressing the ground lift button, and seeing if that fixes it?
@@CatoNoise I have not tried a DI before, all of the devices that I have are small, portable synths that I can optionally run off batteries. It’s an improvised home/bed room studio setup. After some experimentation I established that using the Roland devices with just battery operation works best if I want to I record them from the line-out into my interface. Somehow the combination of powering it from the USB whilst also beeing connected via the analog outputs to an audio interace (that by itself is also connected via USB ) is a bit of a problem. The scenario where the TR-6S is only connected via USB (in audio/midi interface mode) seems to work OK too. I’ve heard of so called USB isolators, I wonder if they could be a remedy in my case to avoid having to use batteries for power.
For the purposes of explanation, I would have included corresponding jacks. You could show the plugs inserted into the jacks and show how the signals are directed differently.
Super awesome that balanced audio transmission is making its way into more accessible consumer gear. Does pro equipment usually have the ability to distinguish or configure between TS and TRS on the same input, or are they separate plugs?
It usually depends on your system. So let's take 1/4 inch cables and jacks, for example: Some equipment can send out a stereo signal through a single 1/4 inch jack, and in that case it's *unbalanced* signal that's being sent out, despite the fact that you're using a TRS/balanced cable to run the signal (it's the same as if you had two TS cables running the left and right out - you're not using the polarity flip concept here, you're running two distinct signals through the T and R wires). But, usually, with studio equipment, we have something called "line inputs" and "line outputs" for sending signal in and out of our devices using 1/4 inch cables, and we just assume those are balanced, and connect TRS cables to those. It's not like the world will end if you plug a TS cable into those, but it's just not quite the right way to do it/not the best. Sometimes, (like with my audio interface, the Apollo 8), there are separate jacks labelled "Hi-Z" on them - and that's designed for plugging in your guitar using a TS cable. So, if you were plugging in a guitar to record, you would use that Hi-Z jack with your unbalanced guitar cable instead of the line inputs. So a lot of the time, they're separate jacks. The really cool thing though, is that some devices are fairly intelligent about it. Like with the Apollo interfaces like mine, if you plug a TS cable into that Hi-Z input, then that input channel will automatically switch to Hi-Z input, and can't be switched for mic or line input until you remove the TS cable from the Hi-Z jack. It also won't accept signal from the channel's XLR or TRS inputs while the cable is in the Hi-Z jack. So I think that's a really long way of saying it's usually context dependent, and there are often separate jacks. Like, for example, I assume all guitar pedals are expecting unbalanced cables. The plugs themselves are often the same (ease of manufacturing and such), and I *think* it's the way it's hooked up and the circuitry that it's connected to that really decides.
This is only relevant for low voltage signal wires, it doesn't matter for high power amplified signal cables. If there's 200w of audio going through a cable, a couple micro volts of EM interference won't make any difference what so ever.
Speaker cables are always unbalanced, not balanced. Since they carry large amounts of current/voltage coming from power amplifiers, their unbalanced design prioritizes low resistance without concern for common mode rejection.
Thanks! And they're usually not shielded too, right? (For similar reasons) So if you use them as an instrument cable, then you're more likely to pick up noise.
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Wow. Very informative video. I now actually understand some stuff I always struggled with. Thanks a lot!!!
Great stuff. Thanks for the deatailed explanation.
Hey, this was very informative and I've been suffering from unwanted noise from my studio monitors, and I realized I wasn't using balanced cables! After ordering some high-end balanced cables from Amazon, I noticed a huge difference in controlled noise quality! I really appreciate your expertise. Keep up the great work!
Ah, that's great! I'm so glad this helped! ^_^
I sometimes interview AV techs for a large corporate company. "What is the difference between a balanced and unbalanced audio cable" is sadly the question more techs get wrong than any other technical question. I love that you mentioned more about how a balanced cable works, It really amazes me that many don't understand that and I appreciate you sharing your knowledge.
Because I'm more of a visual learner, seeing an image of the wave forms during that portion would be helpful. Keep it up!!
Your channel is one of the most informative I’ve found regarding audio and troubleshooting. As another Pro Tools user I especially appreciate it. Keep up the great content! 👍
Really great stuff! This helped me to work out why I was having some weird noise issues with my guitar set-up (Line 6 POD Go into a TASCAM multitrack console.) I'm hopeful that by replacing my instrument cables with TRS to XLR cables, I should be able to eliminate some handling noise that's been driving me MAD.
Major props. Even if that DOESN'T fix my issue, this is still really useful info.
Great video, it’s always cool to learn something new. 🙌
Thanks for the explanation of how trs cancels noise via a polarity flip!
I'm 52 and have been playing in bands since I was 14 and have never had this explained to me.
I guess I never asked haha.
Great work Cato ⚡🎸🎤🎧🎚️🎛️🎙️✌️
Needed a refresher on this and this video was great! It irritates me that it only has 626 views. Without getting into it -- I feel your pain, trust me. I really wish quality content rose to the top instead of whatever it is the algorithm thinks people want to watch.
That is so cool. I was always told to use TRS cables in the studio. But I had no idea why?!
Yeah, isn't it so flipping cool? Haha, I'm glad you appreciate it too ^_^
For long cable runs it's always better to use TRS cables. Especially when they're routed near noise sources.
Thank you so much for explaining how balanced signals work!
So I was watching this to learn about what Cable lead I needed for Rico-sound, on my Rickenbacker 620, which I knew basically was a stereo cable for guitar. Now I am wondering did I just hear correctly that TRS cables are balanced more so than TS cables and that if I use them as a mono lead they cancel out any noise? By the way thank you for defining the difference between speaker cables and instrument cables.
Thanks!
Thanks! I'm glad you liked it!
Those balanced cables are pretty cool, but a lot of synths seem to have unbalanced outputs. This gives me problems sometimes with synths that have a USB connection as well as a line out. What I often run into with a Roland TR-6S is the USB noise interference when the USB cable is used simultaneously with the analog line outputs. It’s kind of an annoying problem, I’ve learned to either only use the USB connection or to only use the line out in combination with battery power to get clean noise-free recordings from it. Are there effective solutions to prevent these sort of ground loop interference issues? I don’t seem to get this issue on equipment that use USB solely for data and that use a separate DC power supply (like the Yamaha reface series). It seems that USB bus power and analog audio connections are not an ideal combination in regards to noise.
Interesting, yeah, I have heard that about a lot of synths having unbalanced outputs. I assume you've tried using balanced cables for your line outs just in case, yeah? Have you tried plugging into something like a DI with a ground lift button, pressing the ground lift button, and seeing if that fixes it?
@@CatoNoise I have not tried a DI before, all of the devices that I have are small, portable synths that I can optionally run off batteries. It’s an improvised home/bed room studio setup. After some experimentation I established that using the Roland devices with just battery operation works best if I want to I record them from the line-out into my interface. Somehow the combination of powering it from the USB whilst also beeing connected via the analog outputs to an audio interace (that by itself is also connected via USB ) is a bit of a problem. The scenario where the TR-6S is only connected via USB (in audio/midi interface mode) seems to work OK too. I’ve heard of so called USB isolators, I wonder if they could be a remedy in my case to avoid having to use batteries for power.
@@dykodesigns Try an active DI. I bet it will clear up the noise.
Hi using TRS cables with Rickenbacker stereo splitter box
Thanks for sharing this information 🙏 Liverpool UK
For the purposes of explanation, I would have included corresponding jacks. You could show the plugs inserted into the jacks and show how the signals are directed differently.
Also, the shield (wire mesh around the signal portion of the cable) is generally used for the ground connection.
Yeah, thanks! I figure I can show that if I do a soldering video or something similar. I'm usually pretty short on time making these videos lately.
Super awesome that balanced audio transmission is making its way into more accessible consumer gear. Does pro equipment usually have the ability to distinguish or configure between TS and TRS on the same input, or are they separate plugs?
It usually depends on your system. So let's take 1/4 inch cables and jacks, for example: Some equipment can send out a stereo signal through a single 1/4 inch jack, and in that case it's *unbalanced* signal that's being sent out, despite the fact that you're using a TRS/balanced cable to run the signal (it's the same as if you had two TS cables running the left and right out - you're not using the polarity flip concept here, you're running two distinct signals through the T and R wires). But, usually, with studio equipment, we have something called "line inputs" and "line outputs" for sending signal in and out of our devices using 1/4 inch cables, and we just assume those are balanced, and connect TRS cables to those. It's not like the world will end if you plug a TS cable into those, but it's just not quite the right way to do it/not the best. Sometimes, (like with my audio interface, the Apollo 8), there are separate jacks labelled "Hi-Z" on them - and that's designed for plugging in your guitar using a TS cable. So, if you were plugging in a guitar to record, you would use that Hi-Z jack with your unbalanced guitar cable instead of the line inputs. So a lot of the time, they're separate jacks. The really cool thing though, is that some devices are fairly intelligent about it. Like with the Apollo interfaces like mine, if you plug a TS cable into that Hi-Z input, then that input channel will automatically switch to Hi-Z input, and can't be switched for mic or line input until you remove the TS cable from the Hi-Z jack. It also won't accept signal from the channel's XLR or TRS inputs while the cable is in the Hi-Z jack. So I think that's a really long way of saying it's usually context dependent, and there are often separate jacks. Like, for example, I assume all guitar pedals are expecting unbalanced cables. The plugs themselves are often the same (ease of manufacturing and such), and I *think* it's the way it's hooked up and the circuitry that it's connected to that really decides.
Great primer. 👍
thanks so much
This is only relevant for low voltage signal wires, it doesn't matter for high power amplified signal cables. If there's 200w of audio going through a cable, a couple micro volts of EM interference won't make any difference what so ever.
Speaker cables are always unbalanced, not balanced. Since they carry large amounts of current/voltage coming from power amplifiers, their unbalanced design prioritizes low resistance without concern for common mode rejection.
Thanks! And they're usually not shielded too, right? (For similar reasons) So if you use them as an instrument cable, then you're more likely to pick up noise.
@@CatoNoise yes, exactly! Unbalanced, unshielded. Your channel is great- thank you!