The language of cables

[MagnumPI]

I am at a loss about patch cables at the moment. I bought a FMR RNC and I'm in the process of setting it up with my other effects going into my Tascam 388.
After the reading the "Hook-up" section of the RNC quick start guide I realized that I have no idea what they are talking about! I thought I could just throw a few cables in and out of this thing and it would be good.
Can anyone explain this stuff in English?

* what cable do I need to go in from a preamp and then out to the 388?

HOOK-UP
The RNC is designed to interface with unbalanced audio gear (nominal operating level = 0dBu) two dis-tinct ways:
1)TRS Inserts —
The RNC can be hooked into Tip-Ring-Sleeve (TRS) insert points
found on many consoles where: TIP = Console insert out, RING = Console insert
in, SLEEVE = Ground reference. This means that each channel of the RNC can be
hooked to a each channel of a TRS console insert with a single TRS cable. For
example, on my Mackie 1604VLZ, the main out has left and right insert points so
that my RNC can be put in the main out insert (Left and right) with only two TRS cables!
2) All Other Equipment —
Hooking up the RNC to gear other than TRS inserts must be done with a pair of TS (Tip-Sleeve) jacks for each RNC channel. Thus, the full stereo hook-up of an RNC must be done with four TS 1/4'' cables.
NOTE —
Hooking up the RNC to balanced lines with TRS 1/4'' plugs will not work! If
the equipment you are connecting the RNC to is balanced, you must first unbalance it and
only connect into the RNC with TS 1/4'' plugs

 

[bouldersoundguy]

TRS means "tip, ring, sleeve" connector. A stereo headphone plug is TRS.

TS means "tip, sleeve" connector. A guitar cable is TS.

Cables with TRS connectors typically have two conductors, connected to tip and ring, and a shield, connected to the sleeve. Cables with TS connectors typically have one conductor connected to the tip and a shield connected to the sleeve.

TRS terminated cables can be used for stereo (left on tip and right on ring), insert (send and return, can be either tip-send/ring-return or the reverse) or balanced (hot on tip and cold on ring).

What you use for connecting a preamp to your 388 depends on what kind of output the preamp has. If it has a balanced output it's best to keep it balanced. A balanced output could be either TRS or XLR, but they carry the same signal. An XLR-TRS cable would work for that. If you want to use the RNC on one of the 388s channels you could use a standard insert cable (TRS on one end splitting out to a pair of TS on the other end), or you might be able to use a TRS-TRS cable if the 388 has the same tip-send arrangement as the RNC*.

*I just took a look and the 388 has separate send and return jacks. You would use a pair of TS cables to connect the RNC to one of the 388's channels.

 

[MagnumPI]

Hi bouldersoundguy, I understand most of what you said, and that's more than before, so thanks!

 

[witzendoz]

From memory I think the RNC has a system where by the tip ring sleeve can be an in and out on the same plug, not a balanced in/out. This is so you can use an insert cable which has a Tip Ring Sleeve both ends. Just use normal tip sleeve unbalanced leads and you cant go wrong.

Alan.

 

[bouldersoundguy]

From memory I think the RNC has a system where by the tip ring sleeve can be an in and out on the same plug, not a balanced in/out. This is so you can use an insert cable which has a Tip Ring Sleeve both ends. Just use normal tip sleeve unbalanced leads and you cant go wrong.

Alan.

It does, but (A) he seemed to be asking about using between a preamp and the board and (B) the 388 has separate send and return jacks. He could actually use an insert cable "backwards" with the 388!

 

[Beck]

That part of the FMR RNC manual is pretty badly written. And the RNC is rather odd in having the inputs wired like send/receive jacks, so makes it even more confusing. TRS send/receive jacks on mixers and units like the 388 help reduce clutter on the panel, reduce wiring "spaghetti" and make it easier by bringing a single physical line to and from an outboard processor.

Since the 388 has separate send and receive jacks you don't have to worry about it, but as pointed out above you could indeed use an insert cable backwards to reduce cable cluter if you wanted.

Most important thing to remember with unbalanced lines is that the shield or ground for all channels are connected to each other. But the hot wire is separate for all channels. Hot being the tip of a 1/4" plug or pin of an RCA plug, etc. That's why you only need three wires in a send/receive cable. The ground wire is common to both the send side and the return side... same as with a stereo headphone cable.