Apple Final Cut Pro 5 - Manual (Page 818)

Chapter 2 Setting Up Audio Equipment 31
I
RCA Connectors
Most consumer equipment uses RCA connectors, which are unbalanced connectors
that usually handle –10 dbV (consumer) line levels.
1/4" Tip-Ring (TR) Connectors
1/4" connectors with a tip and a ring are unbalanced connectors often used for musical
instruments like electric guitars, keyboards, amplifiers, and so on.
1/4" Tip-Ring-Sleeve (TRS) Connectors
Professional equipment often uses 1/4" TRS (tip-ring-sleeve) audio connectors with
+4 dBu line level. 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.
Note: Tip-ring and tip-ring-sleeve connectors (also called phone connectors) look
almost identical. Some audio equipment (especially mixers) accept a TR connector in a
TRS jack, but you should always check the equipment documentation to be sure.
Remember that most 1/4" tip-ring connectors connect to –10 dBV line level equipment,
while 1/4" tip-ring-sleeve 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.
RCA connector
1/4-inch Tip-Ring (TR) connector
1/4-inch Tip-Ring Sleeve (TRS) connector
XLR connector