1/4 phone or xlr

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michael.butler

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My recorder has both types of in's and my pre amp has both kinds of outs. Which should I use? Is this a difference of balanced vs. unbalanced and how does that effect a signal.

Thanks,
Michael
 
michael.butler said:
My recorder has both types of in's and my pre amp has both kinds of outs. Which should I use? Is this a difference of balanced vs. unbalanced and how does that effect a signal.

Thanks,
Michael
Click to expand...
Well...if the qtr plugs are just two conductor, they are unbalanced.

Balanced will give you less noise, and less money to pay rent with after you buy all the cables.

Unabalanced doesnt sound as good, and doesnt look as impressive as the xlr connectors, but it cost less.
 
1/4" and XLR

Quarter-inch connectors can be balanced (TRS) or not (TS). While it's easy to tell the difference between a TRS and a TS plug, it's not so easy to see inside the jack, without taking the machine apart.

For that matter, XLRs might be balanced or unbalanced, though you're not going to lose a lot of money if you bet on balanced.

Do you have a manual for these pieces of equipment? It should tell all.

If not, there are a number of ways two apparently similar in/outputs with different connectors might differ. Just an obvious example: on a mixer channel input with both an XLR and 1/4" input, the XLR might have phantom power and not the 1/4"; the 1/4" input might have a pad and not the XLR; the 1/4" might enter the signal path after the mic preamp and not the XLR; etc.
 
Thank you very much.

SS--the recorder is a VS 2480, so I have phantom and pad control over both. And I THINK they're both balanced. You're right; I'm sure it's all in the manual. Anyway--thanks for replying. How about the 2nd question--should I use a coax connection when available. The clock changing business seems like kind of a hassle. But sould it make a huge sound difference?
Michael
 
michael.butler said:
Thank you very much.

SS--the recorder is a VS 2480, so I have phantom and pad control over both. And I THINK they're both balanced. You're right; I'm sure it's all in the manual. Anyway--thanks for replying. How about the 2nd question--should I use a coax connection when available. The clock changing business seems like kind of a hassle. But sould it make a huge sound difference?
Michael
Click to expand...

The Coax is for sp/diff and yes, if you can use it do. One less analog to digital conversion.
 
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