Q: “I’m going to record a live band into a multi-channel sound card from the insert points of a Mackie CFX-16. What kind of cable do I need? I don’t want to interrupt the signal to the mains (I’ll be recording while the band is playing a live gig). The Mackie hook-up manual implies I can use standard TS cables inserted (on the mixer side) only to the first click.”

A: Yes, if you plug in the TS cable just to the first click it will pick the signal off and still pass it on through the channel as well. Doing this connects the tip of the TS cable to the ring component of the TRS insert jack. Some people prefer to use specially built cables because they’re a little more secure than plugging in a cable halfway.