©2003 Texas Trade and Industrial Education1 Media Technology Cables and Connectors

©2003 Texas Trade and Industrial Education 1

Media Technology

Cables and Connectors

©2003 Texas Trade and Industrial Education Media Technology I: Cables and Connectors 2

A basic job skill in the audio and video production industry is being able to identify the common cable and connector types.

Cables and Connectors Cables and Connectors


Coax

Twisted PairStraight Pair

4 Basic Cable Types: 4 Basic Cable Types:

Fiber Optic


Straight Pair Cable: Straight Pair Cable:

Speaker Cable


Twisted Pair Cable: Twisted Pair Cable:

Microphone Cable

Multiple Channel Cable

Single Channel



Networking Cable

4 Twisted Pairs



Telephone Cable


Coax Cable: Coax Cable:

Cable TV Cable



Video Cable

Professional Video

Amateur Video



Digital Audio Cable


Fiber Optic Cables: Fiber Optic Cables:

Digital Video Cable


Fiber Optic Cables: Fiber Optic Cables:

Optical Digital Audio Cable


Video Audio

Connector Types: Connector Types:


Connector Gender Notes: Connector Gender Notes:

A MALE connector is also referred to as a PLUG.

A FEMALE connector is also referred to as a JACK.

“MALE” = “PLUGS”

“FEMALE” = “JACKS”

These words are interchangeable.


BNC Male

Video Connectors: BNC Video Connectors: BNC

BNC Female

The BNC connector is used for professional video signals. The two connectors twist lock together to form an industrial

strength connection.


Video Connectors: RCA Video Connectors: RCA

The RCA connector is used for amateur and “Prosumer” video signals. The

RCA is also used in audio.

RCA FemaleRCA Male


Video Connectors: S-Video Video Connectors: S-Video

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.

S-Video FemaleS-Video Male


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”.

Video Adapters: Video Adapters:

RCA Female to BNC Male Adapter



BNC Female to RCA Male Adapter



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.



BNC Male Barrel (or Gender Changer)

Adapters that have the same connector type and gender on both sides area called Barrels or Gender

Changers.



RCA Female Barrel (or Gender Changer)

There are numerous Adapters and Gender Changers.


Audio Connectors: RCA Audio Connectors: RCA

The RCA connector is used for line level audio signals. The RCA is also

used for consumer video.

RCA FemaleRCA Male


Audio Connectors: ¼” Mono Audio Connectors: ¼” Mono

The ¼” connector is used for headphones, microphones, and other signals. The mono

version is also called “TS” for “Tip/Sleeve”.

¼” Male Mono ¼” Female Mono


Audio Connectors: ¼” Stereo Audio Connectors: ¼” Stereo

The ¼” (Quarter Inch) connector is used for headphones, microphones, and other signals. The stereo version is also

called “TRS” for “Tip/Ring/Sleeve”.

¼” Female Stereo¼” Male Stereo


Audio Connectors: XLR Audio Connectors: XLR

The XLR connector is primarily used for professional microphones and balanced microphone level signals. The

locking mechanism helps make good electrical connections.

XLR Male XLR Female


Audio Connectors: 1/8” Mini’s Audio Connectors: 1/8” Mini’s

The 1/8” (one eighth Inch) connector, or Mini, is used for headphones, consumer microphones, and other signals.

Mini Female StereoMini Male Stereo

Mini Male Mono Mini Female Mono


Again, an adapter is a small two sided connector that coverts one type of

connector to another.

Audio Adapters: Audio Adapters:

XLR Female to TRS (1/4” stereo) Male Adapter



RCA Female to TS (1/4” mono) Male Adapter

There are numerous Adapters and Gender Changers.



1/4”Male to XLR FemaleImpedance 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.

Documents

©2003 Texas Trade and Industrial Education1 Media Technology Cables and Connectors