TA4F / TQG (4-pin mini-XLR) pinout
TA4 / TQG Mini-XLR Pinout
The TA4F mini-XLR (Shure calls it TQG) is the 4-pin microphone connector on Shure wireless beltpacks: pin 1 is shield/ground, pin 2 carries bias voltage for the mic element, pin 3 is audio, and pin 4 returns the bias through the transmitter’s active load.
| Pin | Signal | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ground / shield | Cable shield and signal return. |
| 2 | Bias (+5 V) | DC bias supply for electret lavalier elements. |
| 3 | Audio | Microphone or instrument signal into the pack. |
| 4 | Bias return / active load | The transmitter ties this contact to ground through a 20 kΩ resistor or active load. Most condenser mics jumper pins 3 and 4; instrument adapters leave pin 4 floating. |
What it’s used for
TA4 is how microphones and instruments meet Shure body packs: lavaliers, headsets, and quarter-inch instrument adapter cables all terminate in a TA4F. Other wireless brands use different connectors (LEMO on Sennheiser’s upper lines, locking 3.5 mm on entry systems), so lav inventories are brand-specific.
The A2 world lives here: re-terminating sweated-out lavs, building instrument cables, and adapting between brands are standard backstage bench work.
Wiring & termination notes
- Most Shure condenser microphones jumper audio pin 3 to bias-return pin 4; the transmitter provides the 20 kΩ return path. A lav that is quiet, distorted, or thin after re-termination often has that jumper wrong.
- Instrument (guitar) adapters wire the tip to pin 3 and leave pin 4 floating, per Shure’s WA302 input configuration.
- The bias on pin 2 powers electret elements; dynamic sources ignore it but must not short it.
- Heat-shrink and strain relief matter more here than on full-size XLR: TA4 lives taped to sweating humans.
Frequently asked questions
Is TA4 the same as mini-XLR?
TA4 is the 4-pin member of the mini-XLR (TA/TQG) family; 3-pin and 5-pin mini-XLRs exist on other equipment. Shure documentation calls the beltpack connector TQG.
Can I rewire a Shure lav for another wireless brand?
Usually yes, since most lav elements are two-conductor-plus-shield electrets, but each brand has its own connector, bias voltage, and wiring recipe. Conversion charts exist from lav manufacturers; follow them exactly.