Balanced audio connections are extremely important in sound recording and production because they allow for the use of very long cables with reduced introduction of outside noise. The most common balanced connector is the 3-pin XLR, which is used with microphones because of its durable construction. Many microphones have low impedance (low-Z), which makes long microphone cables susceptible to some forms of outside noise, and a perfect application for a balanced line, which cancels out this outside noise. Methods and media for sound recording are varied and have undergone significant changes between the first time sound was actually recorded for later playback until now. ... The XLR connector is a rugged electrical connector design. ... Inside a condenser microphone. ... In electrical engineering, Impedance is a measure of opposition to a sinusoidal electric current. ... In telecommunication, a balanced line is a transmission line consisting of two conductors in the presence of ground, capable of being operated in such a way that when the voltages of the two conductors at all transverse planes are equal in magnitude and opposite in polarity with respect to ground...

A balanced audio connection has three wires. Two of these are used for the signal, each sent 180 degrees out of phase with the other. The third wire is a ground and is used to shield the other two. The signal is the difference between the two signal lines. Much of the noise induced in the cable is induced equally in both signal lines, so this noise can be easily rejected by using a differential amplifier or a balun at the input. Simple form of a differential amplifier A differential amplifier is a type of an electronic amplifier that multiplies the difference between two inputs by some constant factor (the differential gain). ... A balun is a device designed to convert between balanced and unbalanced electrical signals, such as between coaxial cable and twin-lead (pronounced lēd like reed, not lĕd like red). ...

The separate shield of a balanced audio connection also yields a noise rejection advantage over a typical two-conductor arrangement such as used on domestic hi-fi where the shield is actually one of the two signal wires and is not really a shield at all, but relies on its low, but in practice not zero, impedance to signal ground. Any noise currents induced into a balanced audio shield will not therefore be directly modulated onto the signal, whereas in a two-conductor system they will be. High Fidelity is also the title of a book by Nick Hornby and a film directed by Stephen Frears, based upon Hornbys book. ...

If the power amplifiers of a public address system are located at any distance from the mixing desk, it is also normal to use balanced lines for the signal paths from the mixer to these amplifiers. Many other components, such as graphic equalizers and effects units, have balanced inputs and outputs to allow this. In recording and for short cable runs in general, a compromise is necessary between the noise reduction given by balanced lines and the noise and distortion introduced by the extra circuitry they require. An amplifier is a device which changes a small movement into a larger movement. ... This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... BBC Local Radio Mark III radio mixing desk In professional audio, a mixing console, mixing desk (Brit. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... A distortion is the (usually) undesirable alteration of the original shape (or other characteristic) of an object, image, sound, waveform or other form of information or representation. ... An electrical network or electrical circuit is an interconnection of electrical elements such as resistors, inductors, capacitors, diodes, switches and transistors. ...

Connectors

While XLR connectors are the most common balanced connector, quarter-inch (¼" or 6.5mm) TRS connectors (tip-ring-sleeve) are also commonly used. Many hybrid jacks are now designed to take either XLR or TRS. The XLR connector is a rugged electrical connector design. ... Mid-19th century tool for converting between different standards of the inch An inch is an Imperial and U.S. customary unit of length. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Jack plug. ... In biology, hybrid has three meanings. ...

On TRS plugs, the tip is "hot" (positive), the ring is "cold" (negative), and the sleeve is ground (earthed or chassis). If a stereophonic or other binaural signal is plugged into such a jack, one channel (usually the right) will be subtracted from the other (usually the left), leaving an unlistenable L−R (left minus right) signal instead of normal monophonic L+R. Reversing the polarity at any other point in a balanced audio system will also result in this effect at some point when it is later mixed-down with its other channel. Earth is the third-closest planet to the Sun. ... A chassis (plural: chassis) consists of a framework which supports an inanimate object, analogous to an animals skeleton; for example in the construction of an automobile or of a firearm. ... Stereophonic means having two channels of audio. ... Binaural means involving both ears. Most evolved auditory systems feature two ears, one on either side of the head. ... Monophonic can mean: In music, see: Texture (music). ... layers]] that separate organs or subcompartments in organisms. ...

Telephone lines also carry balanced audio, though this is generally now limited to the local loop. It is called this because the two wires form a balanced loop though which both sides of the conversation travel. A telephone line (or just line) is a single-user circuit on a telephone communications system. ... In telecommunications, the local loop is the wiring between the central office (telephone exchange in British English) and the customers premises demarcation point. ... For the movie from Francis Ford Coppola, see The Conversation. ...

Data lines, including digital audio, are also frequently balanced, normally using AES/EBU (AES3) with XLR connectors for pro audio. Eight-channel analog balanced audio connectors like ADAT use DB25 connectors, which can also carry up to 16 digital channels. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The digital audio standard frequently called AES/EBU, for Audio Engineering Society / European Broadcasting Union, that is officially known as AES3, was first published in 1992 as a standard (and revised in 1995, 1998, and 2003) for carrying digital audio signals between various devices. ... AES/EBU, for Audio Engineering Society / European Broadcasting Union, officially known as AES3, is a 1992 standard (revised in 1995, 1998, and 2003) for carrying digital audio signals between various devices. ... This is an article about the digital recording format. ... The D-subminiature or D-sub is a common type of electrical connector used particularly in computers. ...

If balanced audio must be fed into an unbalanced connection, the negative wire should be tied to ground.