There are so many kinds of Audio Cable, how to choose? What are they used for? What's the difference between balanced and unbalanced? Where are analog and digital signal lines used?
Analog and digital signal lines
At present often in the sound peripheral equipment, the transmission of sound and other signals, divided into analog and digital signals; Analog 3.5mmMale To Male Audio Cable transmits sound signal through voltage, usually transmits musical instrument, microphone signal, divided into balance and non-balance. Digital wires transmit 1's and 0's of binary code, such as MIDI, S/PDIF, or USB.
Balance and non-balance
In the analog signal, there is a balance and non-balance, we often see such specifications when buying wire, what is the difference between the two?
Balanced: If a balanced line is balanced, there are three lines: positive, negative, and ground. Positive and negative lines are respectively transmitted the same signal (the opposite side of each other), in the final combination will be positive and negative noise offset, so not because of the length of the wire and signal attenuation or easy to have noise problems, to eliminate the current sound, noise design.
Unbalanced lines: There is only one internal transmission line and ground, which has a greater chance of noise and attenuation due to the length of wires, but these are not too long, most of them being less than 1.8 meters.
In addition, it is worth noting that when connecting 3.5mmMale To Male Audio Cable, it is necessary to confirm that every link of your transmission line is balanced. For example, it is necessary to confirm whether your equipment, interface and mixer have balanced input and output. Choose balance line (XLR, TRS). Then it's not going to be a balanced transmission.
A Direct Injection Box (DI box) is used to convert a small signal into a balanced signal, usually for recording or live performance. For example, the guitar, bass and other instruments are unbalanced output, need to go through the DI box to convert signals to the mixer or PA system, can reduce the noise, increase the transmission distance.
