Tascam 388 RCA vs XLR for mixdown

[jrdamien]

So I'll be mixing down from the 388 to a Teac 25-2. The Teac only has rca, so I'll obviously be using the rca outs on the 388. But this is something I've never known - is there a quality of sound difference between the two cables?

 

[RRuskin]

So I'll be mixing down from the 388 to a Teac 25-2. The Teac only has rca, so I'll obviously be using the rca outs on the 388. But this is something I've never known - is there a quality of sound difference between the two cables?

The XLR ins on the 25-2 are for microphones and are not particularly good. I would not advise using them for mixing down.

 

[sweetbeats]

MY personal rule of thumb is that if you don't NEED to use balanced I/O don't. There is additional circuitry involved to bump the level to +4 and balance it, and unless you have to use that convention you are sending your signal through unnecessary circuitry. Looking at the manuals for the Tascam 48 and 58 the HF response is actually better by 3kHz when using the -10dBv I/O on the RCA's. I don't think you need to fret using the RCA I/O unless your cable runs are over 25 feet or so and you are having noise issues as a result. The 388 is native -10dBv internally as is the 25-2. Keep it native if you can.

 

[jrdamien]

Sweetbeats: you say don't fret with rca but the Teac only has rca ins.

 

[RRuskin]

Sweetbeats: you say don't fret with rca but the Teac only has rca ins.

He means don't worry about using them.