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Gear / Technical Help => Ask The Tapers => Topic started by: Swampy on November 06, 2003, 04:08:49 PM

Title: 1/4inch cable question
Post by: Swampy on November 06, 2003, 04:08:49 PM
On the connector, which metal connector is the tip, and which one is the ring??? THANKS!
Title: Re:1/4inch cable question
Post by: Chuck on November 06, 2003, 04:21:13 PM
Tip Ring Sleeve is Left
Tip Sleeve is Right
The tip is... well, the Tip of the plug. The sleeve is the ground or outer shell.
Title: Re:1/4inch cable question
Post by: Swampy on November 06, 2003, 04:22:25 PM
theres one little piece that sticks out and one long one that eventually raps around the cable.

/------------III----  <1 metal piece that sticks out
\------------III_________II < longer metal piece that         s ticks out, "II" raps around cable

Do you follow my crappy drawing??? ^^^
Title: Re:1/4inch cable question
Post by: Chuck on November 06, 2003, 04:24:29 PM
On the picture on the left:

Tip=The "nipple"
Ring=The Middle band
Sleeve=The longest part, usually conected to ground.
Title: Re:1/4inch cable question
Post by: Swampy on November 06, 2003, 04:25:48 PM
Mike you were telling me how to solder this and you said 1/4 tip > XLR pin2 and 1/4 ring/sleve > XLR pin 1. So Im just wondering what tip and pin are... Thanks!
Title: Re:1/4inch cable question
Post by: Chuck on November 06, 2003, 04:30:49 PM
Mike you were telling me how to solder this and you said 1/4 tip > XLR pin2 and 1/4 ring/sleve > XLR pin 1. So Im just wondering what tip and pin are... Thanks!

Is this a cable to record from a soundboard?
Title: Re:1/4inch cable question
Post by: Swampy on November 06, 2003, 04:33:28 PM
http://www.taperssection.com/yabbse/index.php?board=23;action=display;threadid=8907
Title: Re:1/4inch cable question
Post by: Swampy on November 06, 2003, 04:38:33 PM
Can someone explain the difference between ballanced and un ballanced??? THANKS!
Title: Re:1/4inch cable question
Post by: Chuck on November 06, 2003, 04:39:28 PM
I think I've got it.
A cable to go directly from a balanced TRS output on the mixpad to the XLR input on the recorder? You should start with a microphone cable rather than a guitar cable. It's about impedence at this point.

Title: Re:1/4inch cable question
Post by: Chuck on November 06, 2003, 04:41:50 PM
Can someone explain the difference between ballanced and un ballanced??? THANKS!

Balanced uses 3 wires.
A pair of wires sourounded by a sheild to reduce/eliminate Radio Frequencies. Microphone cables are typically balanced. Guitar cables are not.
Title: Re:1/4inch cable question
Post by: Swampy on November 06, 2003, 04:42:22 PM
Heres what I have, will this work:

2 pieces of microphone cable
2 female xlr connectors
2 male 1/4 connectors from a guitar cable
Title: Re:1/4inch cable question
Post by: Swampy on November 06, 2003, 04:42:52 PM
Can someone explain the difference between ballanced and un ballanced??? THANKS!

Balanced uses 3 wires.
A pair of wires sourounded by a sheild to reduce/eliminate Radio Frequencies. Microphone cables are typically balanced. Guitar cables are not.

then yes, i have ballanced cable
Title: Re:1/4inch cable question
Post by: Swampy on November 06, 2003, 04:46:30 PM
3 wires
Title: Re:1/4inch cable question
Post by: Swampy on November 06, 2003, 04:50:50 PM
what is a trs connector...
Title: Re:1/4inch cable question
Post by: Chuck on November 06, 2003, 04:55:55 PM
Does this look like what you need?
Title: Re:1/4inch cable question
Post by: Swampy on November 06, 2003, 04:57:02 PM
Kind of, opposite connector on the xlr, and the 1/4 doesnt have to be stereo
Title: Re:1/4inch cable question
Post by: Chuck on November 06, 2003, 05:03:45 PM
Actually, to build a balanced cable, the 1/4" MUST be stereo.
That is what we mean by TRS - Tip, ring, sleeve.
Title: Re:1/4inch cable question
Post by: Swampy on November 06, 2003, 05:05:34 PM
alright, cool, thanks for all your help!
Title: Re:1/4inch cable question
Post by: Chuck on November 06, 2003, 05:08:25 PM
Go softly into the dark night young taper.  ;)
Good luck.
Title: Re:1/4inch cable question
Post by: Sean Gallemore on November 06, 2003, 07:17:34 PM
but alex, you are bulding 2 cables, one for each of your mics?  That is why he only has TS with no ring, because he only needs mono (duh).  maybe I'm way off
Title: Re:1/4inch cable question
Post by: Swampy on November 06, 2003, 07:27:20 PM
Go softly into the dark night young taper.  ;)
Good luck.

Went to RS, bought some trs 1/4 connectors. Built the cables, working fine! THANKS FOR ALL THE HELP!!!
Title: Re:1/4inch cable question
Post by: Swampy on November 06, 2003, 07:33:20 PM
Thank you Mike! T+ to you and Calico for your help!!!
Title: Re:1/4inch cable question
Post by: Sean Gallemore on November 06, 2003, 07:38:03 PM
damn alex! nice job, I wish I new how to do this.

I once sautered my headphones back together, that's about it
Title: Re:1/4inch cable question
Post by: Swampy on November 06, 2003, 07:44:00 PM
I dont understand how people do these alone... I have to get someone to hold the damn things, the wires would be all over the place otherwise...
Title: Re:1/4inch cable question
Post by: Swampy on November 06, 2003, 07:47:18 PM
Mike that probably how I should do it. I try to do it verticly and its kind of rough...
Title: Re:1/4inch cable question
Post by: Chuck on November 06, 2003, 07:56:20 PM
but alex, you are bulding 2 cables, one for each of your mics?  That is why he only has TS with no ring, because he only needs mono (duh).  maybe I'm way off

From what he was saying, it sounded like he needed (2) balanced lines. One for the left output of his mixer and one for the right. Apparently the mixer has balanced outputs through (2) TRS 1/4" outputs.
Title: Re:1/4inch cable question
Post by: Chuck on November 06, 2003, 07:59:13 PM
I read another thread were you were having trouble with brick walling too. Now you will have extra headroom with the balanced configuration. It should work much better for you. Let us know how it works.
Title: Re:1/4inch cable question
Post by: Swampy on November 06, 2003, 08:01:32 PM
Thanks! I'll let you know!
Title: Re:1/4inch cable question
Post by: Chuck on November 06, 2003, 08:23:23 PM
Mike that probably how I should do it. I try to do it verticly and its kind of rough...

The way lots of more experience folks solder is with a small vise holding the item. I have the Rat Shack alligator clip solder holder thingy. :)
I found it in the discount bin one time and tried it. Now I can't do without it. I just modded my Oktava MC012's using it. Try soldering something round, like a microphone body, without using a vise or other holding device. I'm too old for that sh*t!  :o :)
Title: Re:1/4inch cable question
Post by: Sean Gallemore on November 07, 2003, 05:08:46 AM
but alex, you are bulding 2 cables, one for each of your mics?  That is why he only has TS with no ring, because he only needs mono (duh).  maybe I'm way off

From what he was saying, it sounded like he needed (2) balanced lines. One for the left output of his mixer and one for the right. Apparently the mixer has balanced outputs through (2) TRS 1/4" outputs.

right i understand now, even tho he is running mono thru each, he still needs the TRS for balanced outputs.  Ignore this if I am making no sense, not myself tonight