Balanced or unbalanced out of my pre-amp

  • Thread starter Thread starter Christine K
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Christine K

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OK, here's what I got. Studio Projects B-1 going to an Audio Buddy pre-amp via XLR connections. The computer has a Soundblaster Live card (I know, it will be replaced soon with an Audiophile 2496). So what should I use for the ouput from the pre-amp to the sound card: stereo (balanced) or mono (unbalanced) cable? I'm just recording acoustic guitar on one track (mono). According to the pre-amp instructions, I can use either, but is the "line in" on the Soundblaster a stereo or mono connector? Or does it make a difference? I sorta understand some of this. And then I don't! :D

Sorry to be so clueless, can you help?? Thanks!

Christine
 
The connection on the Soundblaster is a 1/8 stereo connection (balanced, stereo).
 
Actually that's unbalanced. The stereo line input on that card would be -10 unbalalnced.
 
OK, so all I need is 1/4" stereo to 1/8" stereo cable then. Makes sense, I just didn't understand the instructions as they state that:

"They provide unbalanced outputs if a tip-sleeve 1/4" plug is used, and balanced outputs if a 1/4" tip-ring-sleeve (stereo) is used".

That is basically word for word from the manual.

Thanks a bunch. You guys really are teaching a dummy some new stuff. All I gotta do is remember it!

CK
 
Christine K said:
"They provide unbalanced outputs if a tip-sleeve 1/4" plug is used, and balanced outputs if a 1/4" tip-ring-sleeve (stereo) is used".
Click to expand...

...well, actualy, unbalanced signal caried by only two cables. Hot and cold. the ground is usualy caried also with the cold. (you know it's not as good as balanced). That's why they said you can use tip-sleve type of 1/4 jack conector as it only delivers two signals. The jack is the same type as mono 1/4 jack.

Unbalanced signal caried by three cables. They're +, -, and ground. It's better way to deliver the signal. Because they're three, then it will require tip-ring-sleve type of 1/4 jack conector, as it delivers three signals. The jack is the same type as stereo 1/4 jack.

Hope it helps.
;)
Jaymz
 
Christine, what you'll need is a cable that is stereo mini plug (3.5mm) that fans out into two 1/4" mono phono plugs. This gives you two discrete inputs or a stereo input, both -10 unbalanced.
 
Ok all this is pig Latin to me. I'll give it my best shot and see how it comes out. Track Rat, I feel like that little green guy in your avatar! :D

CK
 
Track Rat said:
Christine, what you'll need is a cable that is stereo mini plug (3.5mm) that fans out into two 1/4" mono phono plugs. This gives you two discrete inputs or a stereo input, both -10 unbalanced.
Click to expand...

Monster makes one. I have the audio buddy and sb dead card ;) as well. I have the monster cable (acttually I run the audiobuddy into a compressor and then the comprssor out to the soundcard).

Although I can't for the life of me find it on their site :confused: but I know I have one.
 
The SB needs a stereo cable on the input. BUT you don't want to use a stereo end on the audio buddy. Use a stereo 1/8 to Dual 1/4 and plug one of the mono 1/4 ends into the audio buddy output.

You might be able to use mono 1/8 going into the SB but it may have to be pushed in only half way or something to work right. It may also cause some buzzing.
 
You can get a 1/8" TRS (stereo) to 2x RCA male phono connector Y cable at either Radio Shack, or at http://www.markertek.com and do a search for the part number CMR-203. Then you can get a pair of RCA Female-to-1/4" TS male connector adapters also at Rat Shack, or at Markertek as part number SP-PF. I don't know of anybody who stocks a 1/8" TRS to 2x 1/4" TS Y-cable, unfortunately- so you end up stacking adapters...

That'll do the trick. That will combine the two outputs from the Audio Buddy (which will be made unbalanced when you plug the 1/4" TS connector into them) onto a single stereo 1/8" TRS plug.

Get the Markertek catalog. It's useful as heck for finding oddball stuff like this (that we all need, of course)...
 
Could you take a cord with the 1/8" stereo on one end and put a 1/4" mono on the other end? I think I understand there is 3 wires in the stereo cable but only 2 on the mono plug? Can you join 2 together? I could have my son make me one if this would work. So many wires, so few brain cells.....

CK
 
Yes, you could make one. But don't join any of the conductors ... connect the tip of the mono plug to either the tip or the ring (but not both) of the stereo plug, and connect both of their sleeves (ground) together.
 
Christine that works if you are simply going balanced to unbalanced but in this case you have a stereo input, not balanced.

Skippy gave you exactly what you need to get. You can probably get the stuff at any consumer electronics store. If you do want to have your son make them then have him take a stereo 1/8 cable and attach two 1/4' plugs to the other end. One 1/4 will be sleeve/tip and the other will be sleeve/ring.
 
Yup. You'd connect tip on the 1/8" stereo (TRS) plug to tip on the 1/4" TS plug, sleeve on the TRS to sleeve on the TS, and leave the ring connection on the TRS floating- just cover it up with electrical tape and forget it, basically. This would give you one channel.

But why not go to Rat Shack and get the Y cable and the two RCA-1/4" TS adapters, and be ready for 2 channels? You might want to do stereo recording one day...

For that matter, if your son is crafty, have him make the cable as described above, but take that ring connection and splice on an extra 6" of shielded wire, and jump that over to another 1/4" TS connector, ring-to-tip and sleeve-to-sleeve- you get both channels for little extra effort.
 
OK thanks Skippy. Here's what I did. I got that 1/8" stereo cable, the other end is 2 RCA plugs. Then I got an adapter to connect that to the 1/4" out from the pre-amp. Plugged it all in, turned it on and voila, it sounds OK to me in the headphones. My next 2 things are to try and reduce a bit more of the computer fan noise, but putting the mic across the room really helps a lot here (15' cord). The other thing that will take time is figuring out mic placement near the acoustic guitar (Studo Projects B-1 mic). Wow, moving it 3 or 4 inches makes a huge difference in sound. I gotta experiment with getting the best balance of treble without overdriving the bass which seems easy to do. I may have to get it as good as I can and then play with equalization in N-track.

Man this stuff is all so new to me, but it's wicked cool. You guys are great, I'm having so much fun with it. Soon as I can get a track recorded and the mix sounding good, I will get it up on NWR for a listen.

CK
 
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