©2003 Texas Trade and Industrial Educat ion 1 Media Technology Cables and Connectors
Mar 30, 2015
©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
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Coax
Twisted PairStraight Pair
4 Basic Cable Types: 4 Basic Cable Types:
Fiber Optic
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Straight Pair Cable: Straight Pair Cable:
Speaker Cable
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Twisted Pair Cable: Twisted Pair Cable:
Microphone Cable
Multiple Channel Cable
Single Channel
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Twisted Pair Cable: Twisted Pair Cable:
Networking Cable
4 Twisted Pairs
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Twisted Pair Cable: Twisted Pair Cable:
Telephone Cable
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Coax Cable: Coax Cable:
Cable TV Cable
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Coax Cable: Coax Cable:
Video Cable
Professional Video
Amateur Video
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Coax Cable: Coax Cable:
Digital Audio Cable
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Fiber Optic Cables: Fiber Optic Cables:
Digital Video Cable
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Fiber Optic Cables: Fiber Optic Cables:
Optical Digital Audio Cable
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Video Audio
Connector Types: Connector Types:
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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.
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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.
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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
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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
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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
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Video Adapters: Video Adapters:
BNC Female to RCA Male Adapter
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Video Adapters: 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: 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: Video Adapters:
RCA Female Barrel (or Gender Changer)
There are numerous Adapters and Gender Changers.
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Audio Adapters: Audio Adapters:
RCA Female to TS (1/4” mono) Male Adapter
There are numerous Adapters and Gender Changers.
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Audio Adapters: Audio Adapters:
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.