Cabling question (balanced, unbalanced)

[nkay]

Dumb question here,

I've recently acquired the following devices, and need to buy enough cables to cable them together properly, and I don't know the difference between a balanced or unbalanced cable. All I've ever normally used in the past is the usual instrument cables.

DMP3 preamp -> RNC -> Fostex MR8 recorder
(balanced out) -> (unbalanced) -> (unbalanced)

[Pauly_boy]

Hi, are the balanced sockets 3-pin XLR or 1/4 inch jack sockets?

[nkay]

The balanced out on the DMP3 are 1/4.

[jonathanz]

Play it safe and just use Balanced chords for alot of stuff and see what happens!! Should work

[nkay]

Well that's my point, how do you tell if a cable is balanced or unbalanced?

[Track Rat]

If it looks like a guitar patch cable, it's unbalanced. If the connectors look like a stereo type, it's balanced.
The ins and outs of the RNCX are unbalanced. If the preamp is equiped with an insert, that's where I'd connect the RNC. That way the rest of the chain would be balanced.

[jonathanz]

holy crap track rat you rock!!!!! Over 7000 posts? I don't think I could ever even type that much... Major props, and damn I feel stupid, your brain must be like the track king..... waaaaay better answer!! later!