Hybrid/Combo XLR?

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Damian227

New member
Ok my friends Audio Interface's Mic input is listed as a Hybrid/Combo XLR... does this mean it also accepts 1/4" jacks as they seem to fit perfectly?

My mixer states the same and does accept both, however his interface, despite saying that, gives zero recording input when using a 1/4" mic cable. There are two extra buttons 'Instr' and 'Pad' neither of them allow any mic signal through. Yet the XLR cable does work... so am I just misunderstand what the Hybrid/Combo means?
 
Damian227 said:
Ok my friends Audio Interface's Mic input is listed as a Hybrid/Combo XLR... does this mean it also accepts 1/4" jacks as they seem to fit perfectly?
Click to expand...

yes

Damian227 said:
My mixer states the same and does accept both, however his interface, despite saying that, gives zero recording input when using a 1/4" mic cable. There are two extra buttons 'Instr' and 'Pad' neither of them allow any mic signal through. Yet the XLR cable does work... so am I just misunderstand what the Hybrid/Combo means?
Click to expand...

What are you putting through the 1/4" input? Even though the combo XLR accepts both, the 1/4" bit is usually intended for line-level signal or instruments. It doesn't supply phantom power. For mikes, stick to XLR.
 
gecko zzed said:
What are you putting through the 1/4" input? Even though the combo XLR accepts both, the 1/4" bit is usually intended for line-level signal or instruments. It doesn't supply phantom power. For mikes, stick to XLR.
Click to expand...

Ah right that make sense, I guess I switch to 'Instr' in the Hybrid when using instruments (line level) and normal when using mics.

That however means I need to buy an XLR cable as my AT4040SM came with a nice high quality gold 1/4" mic cable. Any suggestions of a top quality mic cable?... I don't want to upgrade to a similar interface and then use a low quality cheap cable.

Thanks
 
An ordinary XLR cable will do just fine. Any quality differences in leads will be overwhelmed by quality issues elsewhere in your system.
 
Damian227 said:
Ah right that make sense, I guess I switch to 'Instr' in the Hybrid when using instruments (line level) and normal when using mics.

That however means I need to buy an XLR cable as my AT4040SM came with a nice high quality gold 1/4" mic cable. Any suggestions of a top quality mic cable?... I don't want to upgrade to a similar interface and then use a low quality cheap cable.

Thanks
Click to expand...

If you want a high quality mic lead that is almost impossible to kill, I recommend B.L.U.E. Kiwi quad cable.-Richie
 
Damian227 said:
Yeah somebody else recommended that one, along with a few people saying Mogami Quad W2534.
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If you're capable of soldering the ends on yourself - Mogami's a good deal since it's dirt cheap at places like redco. I've been using Mogami 2534 for all my non-snake balanced cables for a long time, because it's cheap, and it's just as good as any other cable...

Related, and somewhat humorous story: A guitarist friend of mine actually made a point to show me his "special" Mogami cables that he got for some kind of insane price at GuitarCenter or something...he wasn't so impressed when I showed him that his cable actually only cost like 62 cents per foot, and even "fancier" gold-plated, diamond-tipped, platinum spattered (etc, etc :rolleyes:) connectors than those that came on his instrument cables - only cost about 3 bucks. Cable hype is just like any other kind of hype: It's 99% BS, and I recommend not buying into it. :cool:
 
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