Mackie DXB 200 - CONNECTIONS Connections

Appendix B: Connections

XLR Connectors

Mic/Line 4 cards use 3-pin female XLR connec-
tors on the MIC inputs. They are wired as follows,
according to standards specified by the AES (Audio
Engineering Society).
XLR Balanced Wiring:
Pin 1 = Shield
Pin 2 = Hot (+)
Pin 3 = Cold (–)

1/4" TRS Phone Plugs and Jacks

"TRS" stands for Tip-Ring-Sleeve, the three connec-
tion points available on a stereo 1/4" or balanced
phone jack or plug. TRS jacks and plugs are used
for balanced signals and stereo headphones:
Balanced Mono
1/4" TRS Balanced Mono Wiring:
Sleeve = Shield
Tip = Hot (+)
Ring = Cold (–)

Stereo Headphones

1/4" TRS Stereo Unbalanced Wiring:
Sleeve = Shield
Tip = Left
Ring = Right
46
dXb.200
2
SHIELD
HOT
3 1
COLD
SHIELD 1
3
COLD 2
HOT
SHIELD
1
3 COLD
2
HOT
RING SLEEVE SLEEVE RING TIP
TIP
RING
TIP
SLEEVE
RING SLEEVE SLEEVE RING TIP
TIP
RING
TIP
SLEEVE

1/4" TS Phone Plugs and Jacks

"TS" stands for Tip-Sleeve, the two connection
points available on a mono 1/4" phone jack or plug.
They are used for unbalanced signals.
1/4" TS Unbalanced Wiring:
Sleeve = Shield
Tip = Hot (+)

RCA Plugs and Jacks

RCA-type plugs (also known as phono plugs) and
jacks are often used in home stereo and video
equipment and in many other applications. They are
unbalanced and electrically equivalent to a 1/4" TS
phone plug.
RCA Unbalanced Wiring:
Sleeve = Shield
Tip = Hot (+)

Unbalancing a Line

In most studio, stage, and sound reinforcement
situations, there is a combination of balanced and
unbalanced inputs and outputs on the various pieces
of equipment. This usually will not be a problem in
making connections.
• When connecting a balanced output to an unbal-
anced input, be sure the signal high (hot) con-
nections are wired to each other, and that the
balanced signal low (cold) goes to the ground
(earth) connection at the unbalanced input. In
most cases, the balanced ground (earth) will
also be connected to the ground (earth) at the
unbalanced input. If there are ground-loop prob-
lems, this connection may be left disconnected
at the balanced end.
• When connecting an unbalanced output to a
balanced input, be sure that the signal high
(hot) connections are wired to each other. The
unbalanced ground (earth) connection should be
SLEEVE SLEEVE TIP
TIP
TIP
SLEEVE
TIP
SLEEVE TIP SLEEVE