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→Cables
Professional audio typically makes use of analog '''Cables''' with 1/4" diameter jacks. Cables are generally described by how many lines they hold or how much power they can carry, which generally describes what they are used for. The jacks on each end of a cable have to be compatible with the cable, but can have much wider variety.
* '''''Instrument''''' - Designed to handle single low-level signals generated by sensors or transducers, such as guitar pickups. Typically connects the guitar to an amplifier or pedal and uses 1/4" male TS (Tip/Sleeve) jacks.* '''''Line-Level''''' - Designed to handle medium-level signals generated or amplified by electronic equipment before power amplifiers. Typically connects pedals or effects units to each other and to an amplifier's front input or effects loop and uses 1/4" male TS jacks if mono, TRS if stereo.* '''''Speaker''''' or ''''''Power'''''' - Designed to handle high-level signals generated by power amplifiers. Connects power amplifiers to speakers. Uses 1/4" male TS jacks.* '''''Balanced''''' - A balanced cable uses 2 lines instead of 1 to send and recieve a mono signal, which reduces noise or other interference found in unbalanced cables. Note: a balanced cable may be used to carry a stereo signal instead of a single balanced signal, losing its noise-reduction properties.* '''''XLR''''' - Usually a line-level cable, but uses 3-prong XLR jacks. Typically used as a balanced cable, but is also capable of 2 independent signals, such as a stereo signal.* '''''TRS''''' - Same as XLR but uses a 1/4" jack with 3 connections - tip, ring, sleeve (hence, TRS). More commonly used as a stereo cable instead of a balanced mono cable.* '''''Coax''''' - Looks similar to a standard RCA A/V cable, but uses a different resistance. Used to connect digital devices using S/PDIF SPDIF encoding.* '''''Optical''''' - Basically a flexible mirrored tube used to transport bursts of light as digital data. Used to connect digital devices using S/PDIF SPDIF encoding. Not subject to electrical interference.* '''''Y-cable''''' - uses a stereo jack on one end to connect to two mono jacks on the other end.* '''''MIDI''''' - a 5 or 7 pin connector used to communicate [[MIDI]] information.
Also, see [[Choosing Cables]].