balanced and unbalanced

[lyricalcharms]

Ok, I’m really ashamed to even be posting this… but the fact is, its been 2 almost 3 years since I’ve recorded electric guitars…my question does apply to recording everything when it really comes down to it, but since I’m gonna throw my hand in recording this band for a friend, I just really don’t wanna ruin my gear.

Does any one know, of a good site/page that explains balanced and unbalanced cables, and when to use them? If I remember right balanced is when the cable is grounded… aka the third pin on one side of an xlr cable is used. I basically wanna refresh my mind on what’s what. Been 3 years since I’ve graduated, and since I have not n e need for this specifically, the lessons have wasted away. So any good sites I can read up on, and not get lost trying to understand?

Oh and if I remember right… a good rule of thumb is just have all the cables balanced, whether u need it or not? I truly forget. Either way I really don’t wanna hurt n e of my equipment…

Oh and for better info, I run a Digi 002 rack.
(i have also posted this in recording techniques, since i wasnt sure where to put it)

 

[ggunn]

Ok, I’m really ashamed to even be posting this… but the fact is, its been 2 almost 3 years since I’ve recorded electric guitars…my question does apply to recording everything when it really comes down to it, but since I’m gonna throw my hand in recording this band for a friend, I just really don’t wanna ruin my gear.

Does any one know, of a good site/page that explains balanced and unbalanced cables, and when to use them? If I remember right balanced is when the cable is grounded… aka the third pin on one side of an xlr cable is used. I basically wanna refresh my mind on what’s what. Been 3 years since I’ve graduated, and since I have not n e need for this specifically, the lessons have wasted away. So any good sites I can read up on, and not get lost trying to understand?

Oh and if I remember right… a good rule of thumb is just have all the cables balanced, whether u need it or not? I truly forget. Either way I really don’t wanna hurt n e of my equipment…

Oh and for better info, I run a Digi 002 rack.
(i have also posted this in recording techniques, since i wasnt sure where to put it)

In the first place, using the wrong cables generally won't damage the equipment, though it can affect performance.

Anyway, a balanced cable has two conductors plus a ground, so a 1/4 inch balanced connector will be tip/ring/sleeve, or the same as a stereo headphone plug, with the ground on the sleeve, which is the part of the shaft farthest from the tip. The two hot pins are the tip and ring (the ring is between the tip and sleeve).

An unbalanced connector has only one conductor in addition to ground, so the plug doesn't have that ring connector between the ring and sleeve.

In a balanced connection, there are two driver/receiver pairs that are 180 degrees out of phase each handling a signal on one of the hot pins, where on an unbalanced connection there is only one. On an unbalanced connection the shield (ground, sleeve) serves mainly as RF/noise protection, and it is usually sufficient if the ground is only connected at one end unless phantom power is involved, whereas in an unbalanced connection the shield is a necessary part of the signal path; no shield connection = no sound.

Clear enough?

 

[dinorocker]

Maybe this will help:

https://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?p=1510138#post1510138

 

[lyricalcharms]

ok... now things are starting to come back to me. i just wanted to do my homework before the session. for some reason i was worried bout frying n e of my gear due to something not being grounded. i have some sites to check out from this an another post, so i think i should be good. Thank you for your info.