JM-1
Joined: 30/09/07
Posts: 604
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Connecting Stereo (TRS) Jack into mono jack socket
#553065 - 04/12/07 07:28 AM
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What happens if I plug a TRS jack into a mono jack socket? Does it then function as a
mono jack plug?
Seems to me that the 'ring' and the 'screen' would get
shorted, while the 'tip' would behave as the hot terminal. Would my cable then be
hum-free?
Would someone please advise?
Regards
Jay
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Frank Eleveld
Joined: 30/08/04
Posts: 3767
Loc: NL
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Re: Connecting Stereo (TRS) Jack into mono jack socket
[Re: JM-1]
#553091 - 04/12/07 09:24 AM
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If you'd use a cable with the hot, cold and sleeve properly connected to respectively the
tip, ring and sleeve of the jack plug(s), the lead will be recognised as a balanced
connection - provided the socket is electronically balanced - and you'll end up with the
benefits of a balanced audio connection: better immunity to electromagnetic interference
and a higher signal-to-noise ratio.
If one or both of the devices you're
connecting has/have unbalanced connections the circuit will be unbalanced.
Cheers,
Frank
--------------------
Imagination is more important than knowledge - A. Einstein
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Steve House
Joined: 25/06/06
Posts: 65
Loc: Ontario, Canada
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Re: Connecting Stereo (TRS) Jack into mono jack socket
[Re: JM-1]
#553176 - 04/12/07 02:06 PM
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Your answer is "it depends." Theoretically the tip and sleeve will be connected and the
plug's ring will be isolated. A lot of manufacturers for reasons of economy and
simplified inventory management will use TRS jacks in their equipment and simply leave the
ring unconnected if the application is mono unblanced. BUT there are actual TS jacks
avaiable as well. And to confound the situation, some are made with looser tolerances so
the tip connector intermittently shorts to the plug's ring. With others the sleeve
connector is closer to the tip and may touch the plug's ring. So the bottom line is you
pays your money and you takes your chances - or use the right plug for the application and
don't try to make do.
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Nathan
Joined: 13/09/04
Posts: 1872
Loc: lincolnshire government experi...
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Re: Connecting Stereo (TRS) Jack into mono jack socket
[Re: Steve House]
#553200 - 04/12/07 03:14 PM
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following this, i think on some (eg) older alesis gear the tip and sleeve position
contacts only are connected (there's a gap in the socket where the ring connector should
be) and so plugging in a true balanced connection will leave it "one legged" -you need a
dedicated lead that will ground ring and sleeve (XLR pin 3 to 1)...
--------------------
planet nine
lincoln, uk.
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Hugh Robjohns
SOS Technical Editor
Joined: 25/07/03
Posts: 18348
Loc: Worcestershire
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Re: Connecting Stereo (TRS) Jack into mono jack socket
[Re: JM-1]
#553268 - 04/12/07 07:08 PM
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Quote Jay Menon:
What happens if
I plug a TRS jack into a mono jack socket? Does it then function as a mono jack plug?
Broadly, yes... but it all
depends on what the TRS plug is carrying (unbalanced stereo or balanced mono), and how the
mono jack socket is wired (true TS or TRS wired with the sleeve and ring shorted).
Quote:
Seems to me that
the 'ring' and the 'screen' would get shorted, while the 'tip' would behave as the hot
terminal
That is, indeed, one
option, but is not guaranteed.
Quote:
Would my cable then be hum-free?
Not necessarily, no. Again, it depends on
the kind of signal the interface is carrying, and how the equipment at each end is
designed.
Quote:
Would someone please advise?
I think to be more helpful, we really need to know what you are trying to connect to
what (and why!).
hugh
--------------------
Technical Editor, Sound On Sound
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topten
Joined: 24/07/07
Posts: 403
Loc: Dublin
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Re: Connecting Stereo (TRS) Jack into mono jack socket
[Re: JM-1]
#553412 - 05/12/07 03:54 AM
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'Whatever you do, never insert mono plugs into the PHONES jack.'
'A short circuit
caused by mono jack plugs can do permanent damage to a Trio's headphones outputs.'
'Do not connect headphones to speakers out jacks because this can harm Trio.'
These warnings are from the Mindprint Trio manual.
Bit shocking really. No
pun intended. As the headphone sockets are right beside the speaker sockets on the back of
the Trio.
Best to know these things though.
Check your equipment manual to be
sure.
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JM-1
Joined: 30/09/07
Posts: 604
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Re: Connecting Stereo (TRS) Jack into mono jack socket
[Re: JM-1]
#553931 - 06/12/07 07:51 AM
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Thanks everyone - in reply to your question about the specifics of what I want to connect,
Hugh:
I wish to connect the stereo outs of my keyboard and GR20 synth to my
VS2480 for recording. My 2480 offers the choice of XLR and TRS inputs.
I heard
that I could use a 'balanced' cable with XLR at one end and a mono TS jack at the other ,
but connect the mono jack specially so as to avoid hum...
Firstly, were I to
use two mono jack to jack leads they would be only 3 metres long - would that give me good
quality hum-free recordings? If not, would you please advise me how to go about making up
a TS to male XLR lead that would be hum free?
Regards
Jay
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