Balanced-Unbalanced-Line Level Mish-Mash

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Titanship

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My head is so thick! I'm like Chris Farley interviewing Paul McCartney.
WHY can't I understand the concept of when and when not to use mic level/line level??

In the past, I have run my mic (AT4041) into my TUBE MP, coming OUT of the quarter inch jack, to my desktop recorder. IS THAT CORRECT? I have no idea why I do it that way! I think I got that tip here on this board (which I trust and rely on daily).

The reason this is an issue for me is this: I just got a Korg d1600 and the APHEX 207 pre-amp/limiter. I THINK they are telling me to go into the APHEX using the 3-pin XLR (yes, a mic cable- suffer me), and come out using the quarter inch jack. Is this correct? If so, why do they put an XLR output on the thing?? Isn't an XLR considered "balanced?" Then whey would I go from balanced to unbalanced? In what instance should I use the XLR input on the KORG?

Also, the APHEX has a switch on back for -10 and +4 operating level. Which should I use, and why? THANKS to any takers. PEACE.
 
Well, if you want to use your external pre rather than the pre's in the Korg you need to run your pre into a line-level input on the Korg. What cabling you use is purely dependent on what connections are available on the gear. The only advantage to using balanced cabling for a line-level signal is hum/RF rejection. I doubt the Korg has XLR line-level inputs. The XLR's on the Korg probably go into it's internal mic pres. How you set the output on the APHEX depends on what the input on the Korg is. At least they give you the option of switching it. Just so you know the reason they do that is because most home stereo and lo-end recording gear operates at -10db & most pro stuff at +4db so you could run into problems mixing gear if you can't switch it.
 
You can use either a XLR/XLR cable or a XLR / 1/4" TRS cable or a 1/4" TRS / 1/4" TRS ( if you have a 1/4" out on your amp ). Try both settings ( -10, +4 ). Whichever sounds best on your recorder, use it.
 
Titanship said:

Also, the APHEX has a switch on back for -10 and +4 operating level. Which should I use, and why?
Click to expand...

The -10dB should be selected for amateur type machine or HIFI systems, most professional equipment uses input and output levels of +4dB. This switch allows you to match the source connected to the stereo input channel to either standard, which is important to ensure the best possible sound quality, start with the switch +4, if you can't achieve an enough signal level, select to -10dB. :)
 
Maybe this will help a bit.

Impedance levels (mic, instrument, line), balanced/unbalanced and +10/-4 are generally independant of the type of connector used. Don't assume that XLR is always mic, that 1/4" is always line and that balanced is always +4.

You can be sure that most pro mics use mic level, most rack gear uses line level and most guitars/basses use instrument level.

The balanced/unbalanced is a little trickier but balanced always has 3 pin connectors and unbalanced always has 2 (but they can be XLR, 1/4" or phono).

Always check your manuals regarding -10/+4 i/o and adjust it for whatever piece of gear it is hooked up with.
 
Thanks,
I'll print these pointers out for reference as I hook up and check it out.
PEACE,
titan
 
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