Microphone Cable

[LeAnn B]

We work at a small church camp will a small budget and in our cafeteria would like to run microphone cable from the sound system, inside the wall to jacks over where the stage is. Question is what is standard, XLR or 1/4 line (sorry, don't know the correct terminology)

[cmchamp]

For that instance, you might want to use multi-pair install. Will it be in conduit?

[LeAnn B]

I don't know any sound-lingo so what do you mean by multi-pair? My husband is doing the install so I'm not sure about conduit. What are the benefits of running it in conduit?

[Arlin]

Single pair = 1 microphone
Multi pair = multiple microphones (also might be known as a 'snake' cable)

[[Director] drew ryan]

XLR and 1/4 are more designations for the type of connector that is at the end of the cable. Like Arlin mentioned, Multipair is more than one cable that is jacketed together. It is also known as Multicore, or snake.

The advantages of conduit is there is a little more shielding against noise being injected into your lines. Also, if the cable is going behind Dry wall, you can install larger conduit than you need. That way if you need to run additional lines later it will be much easier.

[Brad Weber]

Regarding conduit, and just to make it more difficult and confusing, installed cable that is not in conduit often needs to be appropriately rated for the application. Cable that is not in conduit and is run concealed in a wall or above a ceiling generally needs to be rated for that application, a CL2 rating is common there. If the area above the ceiling is used for return air or similar then any exposed cable in that area typically needs to be plenum rated. Cable in risers between floors that is not in conduit may need to be riser or plenum rated. These are code requirements and appropriately rated cable is usually not difficult to find, however the portable cordage sold at the local music store may not have any rating and thus not be appropriate for installed applications unless it is run in conduit.

I think that what the other responses were trying to address is that you mentioned "jacks" in the plural. When addressing multiple inputs the option is there to use either an totally separate, dedicated cable for each input or a multipair cable that has multiple lines in one cable. For example, if you had four microphone inputs you could use four separate microphone cables or one multipair cable containing four microphone lines. Which may be easiest and most cost effective often depends on the situation. If the four microphone connections above were all at one location then a multipair cable might be easier to use and less expensive. If the four inputs were at four widely separated locations on the stage then it may make more sense to use a separate cable for each location.

As to your original question, the cable used for an analog microphone and line level audio signals is generally the same for both signal types. The corresponding wall plate or floor box connections intended primarily for microphone inputs are usually female, 3 pin XLRs while connections for line level audio inputs are typically female, 1/4" TRS (Tip/Ring/Sleeve), although I sometimes also use male, 3 pin XLR connectors.

[waynehoskins]

The major advantage to conduit, aside from any code requirements, is that the pull is usually easier, as is re-pulling when you later realize you need to put another cable in there. Free-space pulls, and especially re-pulls, are no fun.