A guide to Audio Cables

Audio cables are simple components in any audio signal chain. Considering that cables are the conduits that connect our beloved pieces of gear to each other, it’s worth learning a little bit about them, including cable and connector identification and appropriate use cases. There is a plethora of cable types out there but I will focus on the most common types involved in music production, mixing/mastering and playback.

XLR Cables

XLR cables are the standard for balanced microphone and line level signals. They are primarily used for connecting microphones, balanced line level devices like mixing consoles and audio interfaces, as well as powered studio monitors. The balanced signal helps reject noise and interference, making XLR ideal for longer cable runs (more on this later). In general terms, the same XLR cable that you would use to connect a microphone to a mic preamp can be used to connect the outputs of your interface or monitor controller to a powered monitor. There is no difference between a XLR cable that is used for microphones, line level signals (converters / interfaces, outboard gear) or powered monitors / speakers. Some notable brands of XLR cables include Sommer, Grimm, Canare, Mogami, Vovox, Gotham etc. You might have your own preferences in this regard, but these brands are well known to me from my time working in a custom cable shop in Los Angeles.

There are 2 main types of cable offered by these brands, the standard 2 conductor and 4 conductor quad cable. When very long lengths of cabling are required, I recommend going with a quad (4-conductor) cable as the quad arrangement provides additional protection against electromagnetic interference and noise. Some of the most popular quad cables are Canare L-4E6S and Mogami 2534 (which is often sold as Mogami Gold). My personal favorites are the SC-Square and SC-Cicada by Sommer.

While there are many small differences between the various models of cables offered by the various brands, their main applications are always the same, so there is a lot of flexibility within brands and individual cable models for the user. Get in touch if you have more questions or want to dig deeper into XLR cables.

 ¼” TRS Cables

TRS (tip-ring-sleeve) cables are another versatile option for balanced line level signals. In addition to balanced applications, TRS cables can also be used for unbalanced stereo or dual mono connections.

TRS cables are commonly used to connect balanced line level gear like studio monitors, outboard effects, and audio interfaces. They're also a great choice for stereo headphone connections and stereo outputs from keyboards, synths and samplers. While it is not recommended to use TRS cables for microphones, some mobile and small format interfaces only come with ¼” TRS inputs for microphones – in which case you would use a XLR-Female to TRS cable.

—— I strongly do not recommend using XLR to TRS cables of any kind with condenser microphones as they require Phantom power.——

The same brands mentioned in the XLR section make cables that are appropriate for use as ¼” TRS cables.

 One final thing to note about TRS cables – they cannot be used in place of ¼” TS cables. TS cables are meant for instrument level signals (guitars, basses, pickup instruments, synths, certain samplers etc.) While both TRS and TS connectors are commonly referred to as ¼”, they are not the same and are specifically meant for different applications. If you are not sure about which one you need, talk to me!

Coming up, I will have Part 2 of this post, discussing unbalanced, instrument (1/4” TS) and speaker cables. Stay tuned for more cables!