Visual Walkthrough of a Home Recording Studio

June 19th, 2008 Jeremy Winter Home Studio Recording TipsMake MusicMusic 4 Comments

    Firewire Cable

  1. The Firewire cable runs from your Studio Recording Pre-amp to Your Computer.
  2. There are also USB Recording Pre-amps as well. They both work the same way.

firewire Visual Walkthrough of a Home Recording Studio

    TRS Cable

  1. The TRS Cable is just your basic run of the mill guitar cable. Nothing too exciting. As Thomas pointed out, TRS Cables are different then mono patch cables(guitar cable). You can use either one for your monitors and guitar. The difference is that TRS cables have 3 wires in them just like XLR cables and reduces noise much better then mono patch cables.
  2. TRS Cables are used mostly for loudspeakers monitors and for guitars and amplifiers. Especially for long cable runs.
  3. I use 2 TRS Cables to connect my monitors to my sound card or commonly called Studio Recording Pre-amp

guitar cable Visual Walkthrough of a Home Recording Studio

    Guitar Cable Jack

  1. Standard 1/4″ Jack on the end of a TRS Cable. The Jack to your Ipod is a 1/8″ TRS.

guitar cable end Visual Walkthrough of a Home Recording Studio

    XLR Cable

  1. XLR Cables are Balanced, meaning, they are less susceptible to noise and interference.
  2. All XLR Cables are Balanced. Not all TRS Cables are Balanced.
  3. They are usually used to connect microphones or amplifiers to mixers or Recording Pre-amps

xlr cable Visual Walkthrough of a Home Recording Studio

    XLR Male Plug

  1. Standard XLR3 Male Connector.

xlr male Visual Walkthrough of a Home Recording Studio

    XLR Female Plug

  1. Standard XLR3 Female Connector.

xlr female Visual Walkthrough of a Home Recording Studio

    Studio Reference Monitors

  1. My Bookshelf speakers are made to enhance the highs and lows of the music I listen to. My Monitors are not.
  2. Having a flat response gives a more accurate picture of what is being recorded Digitally.

monitor front Visual Walkthrough of a Home Recording Studio

    Studio Monitor Rear View

  1. On the back of your monitors you usually will have 2 options for a audio connection. XLR and TRS
  2. My monitors use a standard power jack just like a computer or amplifier might.

monitor behind2 Visual Walkthrough of a Home Recording Studio

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4 Comments

  1. withambition


    Another extremely interesting home recording article. I disagree with your last picture with the “All You Need” caption. You’ve missed the most important piece of equipment… the microphone stand! Haha, I’m only joking.

    I also suggest having at least two dynamic microphones if you’re interested in recording acoustic guitar. Placing a microphone near the base of the neck and another near the bridge provides a better quality acoustic guitar recording. I know that isn’t necessarily related to the point of your post, but it’s somewhat related to the theme.

  2. Thomas


    Hi, I liked your site and ideas, but I just have issue with one thing.

    A TRS cable is a specific item and the 1/4 inch patch cable is definitely NOT a TRS cable.

    TRS = Tip, Ring, Sleeve

    It is specifically what you would also call a “stereo jack”.

    On most studio monitors today you can use either Mono Patch cables or TRS. The TRS option is exactly like XLR just with a different plug. The TRS cable has 3 wires in it just like the XLR and has the same noise reducing qualities.

    Basically a TRS cable is twice the price of a mono 1/4inch patch cable (a guitar lead).

    I’m sorry to be particular about this, but to me it’s an important one.

    Thanks for listening.


  3. *Thomas*

    No need to be sorry, you’re absolutely right about TRS cables being different then Mono patch cables. I will edit the article to clarify the details.

    What I should have pointed out is that you can use a mono patch cable instead of a TRS cable, but using a TRS cable will greatly reduce noise interference, especially on long cable runs.
    Thanks for being a voice of reason, come back anytime!


  4. Deep thought! Thanks for contrbitunig.