DEVICE: Compatible Connectors for Chronos Audio OUT and PASS Jacks [37170]

This article applies to:

Chronos

Detail

Chronos Audio OUT is compatible with 3.5 mm connectors that support stereo playback, such as TRS and TRRS connectors. The Chronos Audio IN records vocalizations and other audio input in mono. The Chronos Audio PASS directly relays the microphone input from Audio IN for real-time playback and therefore only supports mono playback. Since PASS only supports mono playback, it is only compatible with 3.5 mm connectors solely dedicated to mono playback, such as the TS connector.

If you fully insert a TS connector into PASS, you correctly hear the mono audio coming from the microphone in both left and right channels. The "T" in TS stands for "tip" and the "S" stands for sleeve. The tip carries the audio signal and the sleeve provides the ground/reference point. However, if you fully insert a TRS or TRRS connector into PASS, you only hear audio through one channel, regardless of whether the source audio is in stereo or mono. The "R" in TRS and TRRS stands for "ring". A ring serves as a separate contact point for the jack and can thereby transmit its own unique signal. In TRS and TRRS connectors, the right audio channel exists on its own individual ring, while the left exists on the tip. Since the PASS jack's ground conductor makes contact with not only the sleeve, but also the ring(s), all rings are thereby grounded and no signal transmits through the right audio channel. Conversely, if you attempt to play stereo audio from Audio OUT using headphones or speakers with a mono TS connector, you incorrectly only hear one channel's audio (right or left) in both ears.

You do not necessarily need to purchase a separate pair of both stereo (TRS, TRRS, etc.) and mono (TS) headphones or speakers to hear correctly through both Audio OUT and PASS. If you (most likely) own a pair of stereo (TRS, TRRS, etc.) headphones or speakers and want to use PASS, we recommend a stereo-to-mono (3.5 mm TRS-female to 3.5 TS-male) adapter. We do not recommend you leave your TRS/TRRS connector half-inserted, as this decreases the stability of the physical connection and thereby leads to potential static. If you use a stereo-to-mono adapter and want to use the same pair of stereo headphones to be able to hear from both Audio OUT and PASS without having to physically unplug and replug between the two, we recommend a mixer.

See Also:

INFO: Chronos as a Sound Output Device [24493]

INFO: Powering speakers with Chronos [30620]