13
RCA plugs (also sometimes known as phono plugs, cinch, or tulips) are used
for line level audio, such as the connections between a CD player and amp.
The SE-800 uses these in stereo pairs, white for left and red for right, at the
audio input and output sections.
1/4 inch jack plugs got their name, some say, because they used to be used to
manually patch together phone lines in the old central switchboard days. They
come in mono and stereo configurations: the mono has one dark band around
the plug, the stereo has two. The SE-800 uses mono plugs for microphone inputs
and a stereo plug for headphones.
If you need to use balanced audio inputs or outputs, for low impedance
microphones or connections with other professional audio gear, you need to
use an impedance matching device to convert low to high impedance (and/or
vice versa). For example Datavideo BAC-03 (on page 62)
Outputs and Monitors
Your particular set up and application for the SE-800 will determine what video and audio devices you
connect to the outputs. Take a look at the
Sample Applications
, page
15
for some examples. While all the
outputs of the SE-800 are very high quality, keep in mind that the video quality of the various formats, in
descending order, goes like this: SDI (serial digital), Y.U.V. (analog component), DV, Y/C (S-video), and
composite. Audio outputs are all line level, suitable for connecting to an amp, VCR, or video projector (for
example).
We can’t stress enough the importance of good monitoring systems. If something doesn’t look or sound right
at the last stage of the signal path, the Main output, it can only be easily corrected if you can pinpoint where
in the signal path the problem is being introduced.
Certain set ups will benefit greatly by being able to
monitor the video of each input channel, as well as
the Main output. High quality headphones allow
you to hear the audio with far fewer intermediate
steps and far more accuracy, thanks to the
Headphone controls on the front panel, than going
through an amp and speakers. We suggest both
methods of monitoring, and listening to the sound
through a video monitor’s speakers is also a good
idea. Needless to say, if you are outputting to a
record deck, you should be able to easily monitor
the output of that device as well.
Connecting a Datavideo TLM-404 4” x 4 TFT LCD
for four input video channels monitoring, page 60.
