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1.4.1 In General: XLR Connectors
XLR connectors are more expensive, more reliable and offer a
stronger connection than ¼” TRS connectors. They also have
the option of a locking latch that helps to keep the cable from
being pulled out accidentally. If worse comes to worse, you can
connect two XLR cables together to make a longer run. The
XLR connection is strong enough that you can swing a hand-
held microphone around your head like a cowboy for quite a
long time before the mic flies off and knocks someone’s teeth
out.
XLR males are used for Outputs and XLR female are used for Inputs.
Makes sense, right? Many people confuse the male and female XLR
parts, because the female plug fits into the male plug to join together. The
male XLR has 3 pins (male pins…) inside the plug and the female XLR
has three holes inside the plug (female holes…). Check out the diagrams
below:
1.4.2 Microphone Input (XLR)
The microphone input accepts a mic-level signal. Mic level signals are
generally very low in voltage around a couple of millivolts or 1000
ths
of a
volt. The job of the mic preamp is to increase the mic-level signal by up
to 70 dB to be line level, which is between 1 and 2 volts.
1.4.3 Line Input (XLR)
The line input accepts line level signals and bypasses the microphone
preamplifier so that the EQ can be used by itself. The Line button needs
to be pushed on the front panel to use the line input.
1.4.4 Line Output (XLR)
The output signal from your preamp comes from here. The output signal
is line level, not mic level, so patching it into a mic pre-amp afterwards is
unnecessary and probably will just cause problems.
