Professional audio

Professional audio, abbreviated as pro audio, refers to both an activity and a category of high-quality, studio-grade audio equipment. Typically it encompasses sound recording, sound reinforcement system setup and audio mixing, and studio music production by trained sound engineers, audio engineers, record producers, and audio technicians who work in live event support and recording using mixing consoles, recording equipment and sound reinforcement systems. Professional audio is differentiated from consumer- or home-oriented audio, which are typically geared toward listening in a non-commercial environment.

In equipment terms, professional audio gear is generally distinguished from consumer gear by its signal levels and interconnections: professional line level equipment typically operates at a nominal level of +4 dBu and uses balanced interconnections (commonly via XLR or TRS connectors), whereas consumer equipment generally operates at the lower −10 dBV nominal level over unbalanced connections. Balanced interconnection allows professional installations to run longer cable distances with greater immunity to electrical interference.