Apple Soundtrack Pro 3 - Manual (Page 515)

1/4" Tip-Sleeve Connectors
1/4" tip-sleeve (TS) connectors with a tip and a sleeve are unbalanced connectors often
used for musical instruments like electric guitars, keyboards, amplifiers, and so on.
1/4" tip-sleeve (TS) connector
1/4" Tip-Ring-Sleeve Connectors
Professional equipment often uses 1/4" tip-ring-sleeve (TRS) audio connectors with +4
dBu line level. 1/4" TRS connectors connect to three wires in an audio cable—hot, neutral,
and ground—and usually carry a balanced audio signal. In some situations, the three
wires may be used to send left and right (stereo) signals, making the signals unbalanced.
1/4" tip-ring-sleeve (TRS) connector
Note: Tip-sleeve and tip-ring-sleeve connectors look almost identical. Some audio devices
(especially mixers) accept a TS connector in a TRS jack, but you should always check the
equipment documentation to be sure. Remember that most 1/4" TS connectors connect
to –10 dBV line level equipment, whereas 1/4" TRS connectors usually expect a +4 dBu
line level.
XLR Connectors
These are the most common professional audio connectors. They almost always carry a
balanced signal. Many cables use an XLR connector on one end and a 1/4" TRS connector
on the other. The signal may be microphone level (when using a microphone) or +4
dBu/dBm (professional) line level.
XLR connector
Digital Audio Connectors, Cables, and Signal Formats
Although digital audio signals are completely different from analog signals, the same
connectors are often used for convenience. For example, an XLR connector can be used
to carry an analog audio signal or an AES/EBU digital audio signal. The following is a
cross-section of available industry-standard digital audio connectors, cables, and signal
formats.
S/PDIF
Sony/Philips Digital Interface Format (S/PDIF) is a consumer-level variation of the AES/EBU
digital audio protocol. S/PDIF audio data can be transmitted several ways, including:
• Via coaxial cables with an RCA connector
• Via optical TOSLINK
515 Appendix C Working with Professional Video and Audio Equipment