XLR vs TRS | Which Cable is for Pro Filmmakers?

On this episode of Sound 101, Andrew tackles a big time question on the film set. Is XLR or TRS more PRO? There's lots of myths and misconceptions to sort through when it comes to which cable is for pro filmmakers. Some think that XLR is more pro than 3.5mm by default and it is not always the case. This should help you discern when XLR is better than TRS.

Andrew explains the difference between XLR and TRS cables in terms of usage and design, as well as nuances between the different types. He also explains the difference between TS, TRS and TRRS connectors. 3.5mm is not always worse than XLR. People always wonder which cable has the best audio quality, if XLR is better than TRS, and this should help explain it.

We also tackle questions about what it means if a cable is balanced or unbalanced and how cable shielding works. If you have any more questions about TRS vs XLR cables, ask us in the comments below.

Want more free sound and filmmaking tutorials? Subscribe to Deity Microphones on Youtube!
🎤Subscribe to Deity Microphones' Youtube Channel:

🎤Subscribe to Deity Microphones:

🎤Connect with the Deity Team!

🎤MUSIC:

Summary:
Deity Microphones produces weekly digital web content to help filmmakers and sound mixers grow in their education. Deity Microphones shares this free web series in hopes that the next generation of filmmakers grows in their video production quality and changes the world.

Deity Microphones produces free educational web content to help filmmakers, vloggers, sound mixers and sound designers grow as creatives and take their production quality (be it independent, TV, or studio) to the next level. Deity Microphones believes that budget should never be a constraint to creativity.

[blcsuperdave]

I have been in the pro video/TV business since 1983! I knew this... but your explanation was quite simply the best explanation I've ever seen. Fantastic! And it's clear you know what you are talking about. Although the cuts from head-on to side shots might have been edits... or the edits might have been covered by the graphics/animation... thanks for not jump cutting the crap out of a great video. Being old -- and understanding how to use jump cuts correctly -- your video flows, unlike so many what jump cut every other sentence. Smooth. High energy. Good information. And the shotgun (?) sounded great. The S-Mic 2 is on my shortlist of new mics I might purchase. Thanks again!

[GrkiZon]

#Tip:
Do not try to connect Wireless GO to BMPCC4K via MiniXLR while turning on phantom power. It'll fry. Been there, done that.

[perrypelican]

The thing that most people don't get is that the cables simply have a certain number of separate wires inside that can be used any way that a device maker wants. So when we say the tip is the hot, it doesn't mean that it can't be used in another way. Being the hot is only the standard. It is vital to understand that as step one in ones goal of fully understanding cabling concepts. It is confusing and not really right t call a cable balanced. It is the signal that is balanced or not. In order to have a balanced signal, you need 3 wires in the cable, and the mic and the preamp has to deal with the signal as a balanced signal. So everything has to work together in order to have a balanced signal. XLR cables are typically used, but it's the number of wires and knowing which wire has what that is the important thing to the system. I have a cable with an XLR plug at one end and a TRS on the other. It works as long as The mic and the preamp sends and re wives to the proper connector wire inside the cable. Thanks for your video. It's very hard to get this concept across to others . I think that most seasoned users of balanced equipment know why balanced is better but not exactly what's going on with the signal. They sort of know, but not really. Sorry for the long comment.

[baldeagle]

Awesome video! This explained EVERYTHING I needed to know. You saved me from rewiring my Rode shotgun mic with an XLR plug and sticking it into a TASCAM 70D recorder. You have a new sub.

[GeeQueeeTv]

I don't know how come this channel does not have 1 mil subscribers.

[Insert-art]

This is brilliant. I have a little over a year in broadcast and clearly articulated descriptions of audio equipment are really valuable. I subscribed because of Kai W. Thank you!

[winterheat]

So for example, when you use a Focusrite Scarlett audio interface, or Zoom H4n Pro, or iZotope Spire Studio, it has those XLR and TRS phone sockets. So do those sockets assume when you plug in XLR, it is balanced mono, and when you plug in TRS, it is unbalanced stereo? (although, theoretically, XLR can be stereo unbalanced, and TRS can be balanced mono, if both sides of the devices use it as such)

[SamanthaPangkey]

Hi! What kind of adapter should I use if I want to connect my VLav to a mixer or recorder with an XLR connector? Wasn’t 100% whether it should be the Rode VXLR+ or VXLR (for example). Thanks!

[MikkoRantalainen]

Great video and you explained these differences well!

I would have liked to see short summary of different mics in this video, though. There are 3 different mic classes and 2 of those need phantom voltage or bias voltage:

- Condenser microphone: requires 48 V phantom voltage to work, uses XLR
- Electret microphones: requires 5V bias voltage, may work with voltage in range 1-10 V, uses some more or less random connector
- Dynamic microphones: doesn't require any voltage for input, uses 3.5 mm TS connector or 6.35 mm (1/4") TS plug (sometimes called instrument plug, too).

Dynamic microphones are most compatible but those usually have really really low signal strength so the noise level usually gets pretty high because you have to use a lot of amplification.

Surprisingly many still think that only dynamic or condecser microphones exist and they totally ignore the electret microphones.

[BigEightiesNewWave]

Another video said the XLR is made to be ALWAYS used with balanced inputs/outputs, this is not always the case with TRS.

[tomwright]

I desperately want to know, how rare are ribbon mics on film sets? I love their sound, but can't see them being used much.

[rogerblackwell]

I used to do practical electronics as a hobby in the 1970s & built my own mobile disco equipment. Early on I found that local taxi transmissions were interrupting the music. I had to change the circuits in the preamps to cut this out but it worked fine after that,

[TheDMSCorp]

It's also good to mention cable shielding allows for longer cable runs. TRS cables, even well-shielded ones, can only run about 25ft continuously until they are subject to interference, while XLR can stretch several hundred feet if needed. Great video otherwise.

[snouuman]

When do we use 192kHz recording? I'm using a Nagra LB from home and a Zoom Handy H6 at work and both have the option if I'm not mistaken. I've never used it

[absak]

i don't know if you say that in the video I didn't watch all the video. But they're used for different usage

[kbasemuzik]

8:45 Was that lightning outside the window or someone using a flash?

[davespin]

I just bought a pair of SM57 mics. I want to run this mic 🎤 to my camera. I bought a pair of CableCreation 3.5mm to XLR Cables which show the mic on the XLR end and 3.5mm TRS connected to the cameras mic input. Were they being honest? I’m using a Beachtek preamp which sits on top of the camera.
This is to record my Marshall amp with 4x12 speaker cabs

[PaulSaxbyPhotography]

We've recently switched out all our XLR cables and replaced them with Cat6 for our conference delivery. We had been getting significant interference (which turned out to be because of the awkward routing, not the cables themselves) but since changing to Cat6 we can run the cables as long as we want, plus we dont need to worry about cables crossing each other and we (so far at least) had no issues. The XLR to Cat6 adapters just plug straight into the mics/recorders at each end of the cables and away we go. They even deliver Phantom power so we can keep using the awesome S-Mic 2s mics we already had.

[ikamultimedia]

Hi deity team. We were shooting the other day a scene with our current Deity d3 pro connected directly to our sony a7iv and we got tons of awfuk interference while an interview. But it was in the fields, outside city.

Do you know why was that?

And how to prevent it?

Do I need an xlr microphone to not having interference?

[elliotmarks]

#mailbag question: What is the best cheap audio solution for filming myself(under $50)? I would be moving around a lot, so I can't use a boom. What would you recommend?


Shotgun mic?
Reeeeally long LAV?
On camera mic(*terrified gasping noises*)?