Audio Video Production

Cables
and
Connectors

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Cables and Connectors

A basic job skill in the audio

and video production industry
is being able to identify the
common cable and connector
types.

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Four Basic Cable Types
Straight Pair Twisted Pair

Coax Fiber Optic

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Straight Pair Cable
Speaker Cable

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Twisted Pair Cable
Microphone Cable

Single Channel

Multiple Channel Cable

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Twisted Pair Cable
Networking Cable

Four Twisted Pairs

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Twisted Pair Cable
Telephone Cable

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Coax Cable
Cable TV Cable

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Coax Cable
Video Cable

Professional
Video

Amateur Video

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Coax Cable
Digital Audio Cable

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Coax Cable
Digital Video Cable

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Fiber Optic Cables
Digital Video Cable

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Fiber Optic Cables
Optical Digital Audio Cable

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Connector Types

Video Audio

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Connector Gender Notes:
A MALE connector is also referred to as a PLUG.

“MALE” = “PLUGS”

A FEMALE connector is also referred to as a JACK.

“FEMALE” = “JACKS”

These words are interchangeable.

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Video Connectors: BNC

BNC Male BNC Female

The BNC connector is used for professional video

signals. The two connectors twist lock together to form
an industrial strength connection.

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Video Connectors: RCA
Male Female

The RCA connector is used for amateur

and “Prosumer” video signals. The RCA
is also used in audio.

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Video Connectors: S-Video
S-Video Male S-Video
Female

The S-Video connector is used for industrial

and higher quality “Prosumer” video
signals. The S-Video connector actually
has two coax video cables inside. One
cable is for brightness information (Y) and
the other is for color information (C). It is
also called a “Y/C” connector.
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Video Adapters
An adapter is a small two-sided
connector that coverts one type of
connector to another. They are also
referred to as “Inter-series adapters”.

RCA Female to BNC Male

Adapter

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Video Adapters

BNC Female to RCA Male Adapter

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Video Adapters

RCA Male to S-Video Female Adapter

Some adapters actually covert one signal type

into something else. This adapter coverts a
“Y/C” signal into a “composite” video signal.

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Video Adapters

BNC Male Barrel (or Gender Changer)

Adapters that have the same connector type and

gender on both sides area called Barrels or
Gender Changers.

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Video Adapters

RCA Female Barrel (or Gender Changer)

There are numerous Adapters and Gender Changers.

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 Audio Connectors: RCA
Male Female

The RCA connector is used for line

level audio signals. The RCA is also
used for consumer video.

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Audio Connectors: 1/4” Mono

¼” Male Mono ¼” Female Mono

The ¼” connector is used for

headphones, microphones, and other
signals. The mono version is also called
“TS” for “Tip/Sleeve.”

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Audio Connectors: 1/4” Stereo

¼” Male Stereo ¼” Female Stereo

The ¼” connector is used for headphones, microphones,

and other signals. The stereo version is also called “TRS”
for “Tip/Ring/Sleeve”.
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Audio Connectors: XLR

XLR Male XLR Female

The XLR connector is primarily used for professional

microphones and balanced microphone level signals. The
locking mechanism helps make good electrical connections.

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Audio Connectors: 1/8” Mini’s
Mini Male Mini Female
Stereo Stereo

Mini Male Mono Mini Female Mono

The 1/8” connector, or Mini, is used for headphones,

consumer microphones, and other signals.
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Audio Adapters:
XLR Female to TRS
(1/4” stereo) Male Adapter

Again, an adapter is a small two-sided connector

that coverts one type of connector to another.

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Audio Adapters:

RCA Female to TS (1/4” mono)

Male Adapter

There are numerous Adapters and Gender Changers.

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Audio Adapters:
1/4”Male to XLR Female
Impedance Matching Transformer

Some adapters actually covert one signal type into

something else. This adapter coverts a Balanced Low
Impedance audio signal to an Unbalanced High Impedance
audio signal. This lets you use a professional microphone
with consumer microphone inputs.
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Digital Audio and Video
HDMI is an all-digital connector that can carry high-
definition video and several digital audio channels all on
the one cable.

HDMI delivers digital sound and vision without risking quality

loss due to the conversion or compression of the video or
audio signal.
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