Xlr Connectors; Unbalancing A Line; 1/4" Ts Phone Plugs And Jacks; Rca Plugs And Jacks - Mackie 1620 Owner's Manual

Appendix B: Connections

XLR Connectors

Channels 1-8 use 3-pin female XLR connectors on the
MIC inputs. They are wired as follows, according to stan-
dards specifi ed 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 connection
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:
1/4" TRS Balanced Mono Wiring:
Sleeve = Shield
Tip = Hot (+)
Ring = Cold (–)
1/4" TRS Stereo Unbalanced Wiring:
Sleeve = Shield
Tip = Left
Ring = Right
2
SHIELD
HOT
1
3
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.
SLEEVE
RCA Unbalanced Wiring:
Sleeve = Shield
Tip = Hot (+)

Unbalancing a Line

In most studio, stage, and sound reinforcement situ-
ations, there is a combination of balanced and unbal-
anced 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) connec-
tions 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 problems, this connection
may be left disconnected at the balanced end.
SLEEVE SLEEVE TIP
TIP
TIP
SLEEVE
TIP
TIP SLEEVE