Chapter 10. Audio and Sensitive Connections
Cables and connectors that carry low-level audio and instrumentation signals need special care, even if they look rather ordinary. The small signals that they carry are easily contaminated with noises and buzzes if the cable or connectors are compromised in some way. In this chapter, you'll work with three common audio connectors and make a handy temperature sensor as you get some practice and tips.
The XLR: A Real Pro Connector
What is unique about microphone cables? Well, for openers, they get more abuse and handling than any other type of cable you're likely to encounter! Think about what performers and speakers do to microphones; they yank them in and out of the stand, drop them, drag them, twirl them around by the cable, then wad the whole thing up and stick it in a box or bag, expecting it to all work perfectly next time! The result is often a dead cable (no audio), humming, mixed in with or replacing the audio, or intermittent or scratchy audio.
The XLR connectors seen in Figure 10-1 are professional quality. If you ever get to be a roadie for a band, you'll see plenty of these connectors on thick, black cables that plug into amplifiers and audio mixing boards. (You'll also fix a lot of them.) An XLR connector has three contacts and a heavy metal (no pun intended) shell. This combination makes ...
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