Banana jack colour schemes
Banana jack colour codes used by modular synth brands for which some reference has been found. Note that there is no universal accepted standard.
Considerations
In the UK Rapid only sell 4mm bannana sockets in black , red , white , green , blue and yellow .[1]
There isn't always a clear distinction between audio and control signals. It's more important to distinguish between inputs and outputs. There might be some unusual connections such as inputs with restrictions and ground for external patching.[2][3]
Patch cords are color coded to indicate their length.[4]
Buchla 200e
On Buchla synthesizers the audio and contol paths and control are kept seperate. The control path uses EF Johnson banana jacks and swings between +/-15V, while the audio path is at 1.228V RMS, (+4dBu professional line level) and uses 0.141" Tini-Jax.[5][6]
| Function | Color[6][3][7] | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Pulse input | orange | Gate/trigger/clock. |
| Pulse output | red | Gate/trigger/clock. Until the late 70s red was for both pulse input and output.[8] |
| CV input | black or grey | Grey for 292e velocity CV in.[9] |
| CV output | blue , green or purple | Green is second channel/style of some CV out (e.g. velocity out), purple is third channel/style of some CV out (e.g. 296e even outs).[9] |
BugBrand
Most modular synth signals can be thought of as either audio or control. The system ground jack provides a ground for connecting to external systems with screened (3.5 mm or 1/4") jacks, so that the signal can be carried with single wire cables (white in Bugbrand interface packs).[10][11]
| Function | Color[12] | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| CV in | blue | |
| CV out | red | |
| Audio in | yellow | |
| Audio out | green | |
| System ground | black |
Kilpatrick Audio
Front panel
Regards audio and control signals as interchangeable.[13]
| Function | Color[13] | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| CV/audio output | grey | |
| CV/audio input | black | |
| Pulse and gate output | red | |
| Pulse and gate Input | white |
Internal power
| Function | Color[13] | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| +15V | red | |
| -15V | grey | |
| AGND and DGND | black |
Castle Rocktronics
Tries to have a different colours for each different type of input, although just one colour for all outputs.[14]
| Function | Color[14] | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Output | red | Often audio, but also CVs, envelopes and triggers.[14] |
| Input | black | Audio, CV or digital. Examples: Filter input, mixer input, data input.[14] |
| CV in | yellow | Envelopes, LFOs and other analog control signals. Anything where the actual voltage matters. Examples: Cut-off frequency, gain.[14] |
| Clock in | blue | Digital. Not necessarily a fixed frequency, any input that causes the circuit to “step forward” by one on a rising or falling edge. Examples: Counters, step-sequencers.[14] |
| Trigger in | green | Digital. One-shot events that trigger on a rising or falling edge. Examples: percussion, resets.[14] |
| Gate in | white | Digital inputs that act according to whether they are high or low, rather than triggering on an edge. Examples: Analog switches.[14] |
Modcan-A
| Function | Color[15] | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| signal in | grey | |
| CV in | white | |
| signal or CV out | yellow | |
| gate/trigger/logic/sync in or out | red |
Serge
The Serge scheme is more about the type signal than its function. With some flexibility e.g. some CVs can go negative. Many black inputs are AC coupled, but most black outputs are not.[16][17]
| Function | Color[18][17][16] | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Logic | red | Pulses, gates, etc. On or off. In or out. |
| Trigger | yellow | On or off. In. |
| Unipolar signals | blue | DC coupled signals (except for pulses). Positive voltage only. In or out. |
| Bipolar signals | black | AC coupled signals, voltage swings between positive and negative. In or out. |
| Sync or pink noise | purple | |
| Special function | grey | Used sparingly, e.g. white noise. |
References
- ^ 4mm Insulated Test Socket, Rapid Electronics Limited
- ^ Frac rack Banana Jack...some spec guidlines, Electro-music forum, March 2009
- ^ a b If you could color code your inputs...., Muff Wiggler forum, April 2010
- ^ Buchla 200e User's Guide, p. 2
- ^ Why Buchla?, Buchla tech blog, 4 Oct 2008
- ^ a b The Good Thing About Standards: So Many To Choose From, Buchla Tech blog, 7 October 2007
- ^ Buchla 200e: Part 1 by Gordon Reid, SOS, Dec 2005
- ^ The 266 project, Buchla tech blog, 4 Oct 2008
- ^ a b serge jack color logic, Muff Wiggler forum, May 2011
- ^ OldBlue Overview (archive), BugBrand
- ^ Connecting eurorack with bugbrand 1 frame (grounding), Muff Wiggler forum, Jan 2016
- ^ Technicals, BugBrand Modular Synth
- ^ a b c Kilpatrick Format Technical Specifications
- ^ a b c d e f g h Power distribution & system overview, Castle Rocktronics
- ^ Modcan A Series manual
- ^ a b Serge Maintenance Info, Muff Wiggler forum, Nov 2010
- ^ a b If you could color code your inputs...., Muff Wiggler forum, Apr 2010
- ^ Serge Fans FAQ
External links
- Comdyna GP-6 analog computer patch panel and color coding.
- Frac rack Banana Jack...some spec guidlines, Electro-music.com forum, Mar 2009
- Color Coding of Knobs, Inputs and Outputs, Muff Wiggler forum, Feb 2014