Three connectors cover most of the cables in a studio: XLR, 1/4 inch TRS and 1/4 inch TS. Here is what each one carries and how to tell them apart.
| Connector | Contacts | Signal | How to Spot It |
|---|---|---|---|
| XLR | 3 pins | Balanced | Round, with a locking latch |
| 1/4" TRS | Tip, ring, sleeve | Balanced mono, or stereo | Two black rings on the plug |
| 1/4" TS | Tip, sleeve | Unbalanced | One black ring on the plug |
XLR
A round connector with three pins and a latch that locks it in place. XLR carries a balanced signal, so it is the standard for microphones, and you will find it on all kinds of line-level gear and on AES/EBU digital audio.
An XLR cable has a female end and a male end. Signal comes out of male pins, so the female end of the cable plugs into the source, such as a microphone, and the male end goes into the input. On a Ghost cable the female end is always Side A.
1/4 Inch TRS
TRS stands for tip, ring, sleeve. The plug has two black insulating rings that split it into three contacts. In the studio TRS usually carries a balanced mono signal, and you will find it on all kinds of line-level gear.
The same plug is also used for stereo headphones and for insert cables, which are not balanced connections.
1/4 Inch TS
TS stands for tip, sleeve. The plug has one black ring and two contacts, so it carries an unbalanced signal. It is the standard for guitars, basses, many keyboards and pedals.
How to Tell TRS From TS
Count the rings on the plug. Two rings is TRS. One ring is TS. They fit the same jacks, so it is easy to grab the wrong one.
Which One Does My Gear Use?
It varies from one piece of gear to the next, even within the same kind of gear. Check the jack itself or the manual, which will say whether each input and output is XLR or 1/4 inch, and balanced or unbalanced.
Right-Angle Plugs
XLR and 1/4 inch plugs both come in right-angle versions. They sit close to the gear, which helps on pedalboards, in tight racks and behind monitors.
Other Connectors
- TRS Female: A 1/4 inch jack on the end of a cable, useful for extending a run.
- RCA: A consumer connector found on turntables, hi-fi and some interfaces. It is unbalanced, and it also carries SPDIF digital audio.
- silentPLUG: A Neutrik 1/4 inch plug that mutes before it leaves the jack, for swapping instruments without a pop.
What Ghost Uses
Ghost cables are built with Neutrik connectors with gold contacts, and Canare connectors for RCA, all hand-soldered in Los Angeles. Build a custom cable with any pair of connectors, or pick a common pair from our standard configurations.