Installation guide

Interconnection-1

Introduction

is note, originally written in 1985, continues to be

one of our most useful references. It’s popularity stems

from the continual and perpetual diﬃculty of hooking

up audio equipment without suﬀering through all sorts

of bizarre noises, hums, buzzes, whistles, etc.— not to

mention the extreme ﬁnancial, physical and psycholog-

ical price. As technology progresses it is inevitable that

electronic equipment and its wiring should be subject

to constant improvement. Many things have improved

in the audio industry since 1985, but unfortunately

wiring isn’t one of them. However, ﬁnally the Audio

Engineering Society (AES) has issued a standards

document for interconnection of pro audio equip-

ment. It is AES48, titled “AES48-2005: AES standard

on interconnections —Grounding and EMC practices

— Shields of connectors in audio equipment containing

active circuitry.”

Rane’s policy is to accommodate rather than dic-

tate. However, this document contains suggestions for

external wiring changes that should ideally only be

implemented by trained technical personnel. Safety

regulations require that all original grounding means

provided from the factory be left intact for safe op-

eration. No guarantee of responsibility for incidental

or consequential damages can be provided. (In other

words, don’t modify cables, or try your own version of

grounding unless you really understand exactly what

type of output and input you have to connect.)

Rane Technical Staff

RaneNote 110

Sound System

Interconnection

• Cause & prevention of ground loops

• Interfacing balanced & unbalanced

• Proper pin connections and wiring

• Chassis ground vs. signal ground

• Ground lift switches

RaneNote

SOUND SYSTEM INTERCONNECTION