How 1/4" Audio Cables Work
The venerable 1/4" (6.35mm) phone plug has been with us for a long time – since 1878!
Something that has been around that long is bound to have a lot of different uses associated with it.
Yes, it's called a "phone" plug because...
The original use was as a convenient way to manually switch telephone lines at the central station (you know, those old-fashioned switchboard operators?).
As it relates to audio and professional live sound systems, the 1/4" plug is used for 5 primary functions:
- Stereo cables (headphones)
- Unbalanced cables (guitars)
- Balanced pro audio cables (console outputs)
- Insert patch cables (side-chain effects like reverb or compression)
- Speaker cables (monitors & mains)
The first four cables may look exactly the same, but they have different uses for the signal conductors in the cable.
The last one (speaker cables) can cause huge problems if you use the wrong cable in the wrong place!
Even though the connector can be the same shape and size for each of the five applications, you need to pay special attention to the cable configuration and how it relates to your equipment.
It may be helpful to see how this works by looking at the connector segments.
This could really be an exhaustive audio course topic all by itself, so I don't want to get too complicated here.
(There's a nice overview and discussion about this in the Great Church Sound book and the Church Sound Master Class video training course if you're interested in learning more.)
The important thing is that you need to pay attention to what your audio OUTPUT jacks are configured to deliver and compare that to what your audio INPUT jacks are expecting to receive.
Then use the right cable and connector type for the job.
If your gear sends out a left/right unbalanced stereo signal, don't plug it into a piece of gear expecting a balanced mono input. You'll lose half of your audio signal (the right channel most of the time), and you could cause some other system anomalies and noise.
If you're unsure about the gear, jacks, and signal types you're working with, read the equipment manual or do a quick Google search. You can generally find the details pretty quickly.
Hopefully that helps clear up a little confusion!
(Check out this Wikipedia entry for more history on the phone plug.)
Resources
The Church Sound Master Class video course teaches you exactly what you need to know about audio cables and loads of other important audio tips that church sound techs need to know. If you're looking for a comprehensive sound team training resource, this is the place to go.
Please note that some of the links and discount codes included throughout this website are affiliate links and Great Church Sound and/or James Wasem will earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase. This is at no additional cost to you.
These are tools I personally have used or recommend because they are helpful and useful, not because of the commissions made if you decide to buy something.
Affiliate earnings and commissions help keep this site active and populated with fresh content. If you decide to purchase something through these links, I would like to say Thank You!
Author
James Wasem
Author
Audio Geek, Drummer, Pilot, Author, and someday I'll learn to play the hurdy-gurdy!
Stay connected with the latest tips and updates from Great Church Sound!
Great Deals for Great Sound
Some of the resources on this page are from select partners that are passionate about helping you deliver great church sound.
(Read the Sponsor & Affiliate Disclosure here.)
