Balanced/unbalanced....+4db/-10db

  • Thread starter Thread starter Roker1
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Roker1

Roker1

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Hi guys....I just need some help to clarify this "diferent signal level" issue....is +4db for balanced and -10db for unbalanced signal????.....I just want to make sure which signal level to send to my powered monitors from my soundcard....If I'm using unbalanced inputs on my monitors i should use the -10db out of the card correct??? :confused: and +4db if I'm sending the signal to balanced inputs of the monitors....is this how it should be done???
:confused: :confused:
 
The terms "balanced" and "unbalanced" refer to a type of signal....

The terms "-10dBV" and "+4dBu" refer to gain structure, which is akin to signal level.

The two terms are not related in ANY except that most gear that runs at the higher gain structure also uses balanced signals...... you can have unbalanced +4 as easily as balanced -10................


Without knowing what card you're using specifically, I can't tell you for sure, but the manual should indicate what signal level the line outputs are......... then connect it to the monitors appropriately....

But you cannot determine gain structure simply by whether a signal is unbalanced or not............
 
well these should be some sort of a standard in sound industry shouldnt they..so it wouldn't really make a diffenrence what sound card I'm using and what my manual says...but thanx anyway

P.S. I think it was you I just criticised in another post....but you're a good man, you tried to help me...thnx :D
 
Roker1 said:
well these should be some sort of a standard in sound industry shouldnt they..
Click to expand...
It's not a question of using a "standard", flexibility in both signal strength and connection options is needed for a variety of applications........
 
Roker1 said:
well these should be some sort of a standard in sound industry shouldnt they..so it wouldn't really make a diffenrence what sound card I'm using and what my manual says...but thanx anyway
Click to expand...

You assume way too much about the recording industry. There are very few actual standards and all the manufacturers pretty much do whatever they want anyway.

Why don't you just say what equipment your using so you can get an actual answer to your question?
 
In general, +4 db is "pro" level and -10 db is "consumer" level. As a rule of thumb, most balanced TRS outs are +4, and most RCA jacks are -10, although there are exceptions. A standard consumer CD player is usually -10 db out. I have this problem when jacking an outboard mic pre into my KORG PXR4 Pandora, which is looking for -10 db. Fortunately, EB Tech makes a nifty box called LLS2/LLS8 which converts one to the other either way, and has 1/4" "smart jacks" that will accept balanced or unbalanced lines. The LLS2 (line level shifter) is a 2 channel palm sized unit, and LLS8 is an 8 channel 1u rack box. Neither requires any power, and introduce almost no noise. The former is about $50, and the latter more like $240. This allows me to run the pre hot enough to control noise floor problems without clipping the poor little Pandora. It is also a useful item for importing tracks from any garden variety cassette or CD player. Hope this is useful-Richie
 
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