That is, they have one wire carrying a single copy of the signal (in this case, from the mixer to the audio interface). RCA and ¼ inch cables are considered unbalanced. These cables keep the sound true and minimize interference in the signal during transmission.
XLR cables are common in professional studios and concert venues where the cables are tens or even hundreds of feet long. Interference from outside signals is eliminated from the final sound.īalanced signals are good for very long runs of wire.
Any distortion in the signal is canceled out and the output sounds just like it did going into the cable. The cable reverses the signal in one of the wires at the beginning, then flips it again at the other end. These cables have two wires carrying the signal. If your equipment allows you a choice, pick the cable connection based on which best fits your needs. Both kinds of cable have advantages and disadvantages. Which cable is best for that connection? To decide, it helps to understand a little about how different cables work.Īudio cables are classified as “unbalanced” or “balanced” based on the way the signal is carried by the cable. The only place you have a choice of cable type is for the connection between the mixer board and the audio interface. The connections between inputs and mixer board, and between audio interface and computer, are dictated by the requirements of the equipment. The final product of your home recording studio is audio files that you can distribute on the internet or play back at home. The digital signals are saved, mixed, and played back on the computer. The computer is the final link in the chain. The audio interface connects to the computer with firewire or USB cables. The mixer board can connect to the audio interface with ¼ inch cable, RCA cable, or XLR cable. Synthesizers and other digital instruments use MIDI cables. Electric guitars and basses use ¼ inch cable. The connection from inputs to the mixer board depends on the equipment.
All the microphones and instruments are plugged into the mixer board. The mixer board has always been the heart of a recording studio. Once you have selected the right cable, all you need to do is plug the audio output from the sound mixer into the audio input on the audio interface. However, if your components both have multiple jack types, you need to give the decision a little more thought. If either of your audio components has only one audio jack type available to connect, you should choose the cable that fits, hook your system up, and start recording. May pick up interference or noise over long runs “Balanced” cable signal only benefits if all components carry a balanced signal Less noise from interference over long runs Many devices have multiple input and output ports, allowing you to choose between cable types when connecting the mixer to the interface. Selecting the Best Cable to Connect a Mixer to an Audio Interface Continue reading for all the information you’ll need to set up your mixer. It may sound as simple as plugging in a cable, but as you probably already know, it isn’t that simple. If the devices have different types of cable ports, adaptor cables are also available. Check the inputs and outputs of your equipment to see which connections you have. You can use a quarter-inch cable, RCA cable, or XLR cable to make the connection. How do you connect a sound mixer to an audio interface? Plug the audio output from the sound mixer into the audio input on the audio interface.
Audio interfaces translate the analog sound from the mixer into digital computer signals. Sound mixers (also called soundboards or audio mixers) let you control the volume and effects of each microphone or instrument input separately. If you are interested in high-quality home music recording, chances are you have looked into a sound mixer and an audio interface to take your digital recording to the next level.