balanced/unbalanced

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pedro_sandchez

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When reading about various audio interfaces for my computer recording setup, i keep seeing mention of balanced/unbalanced inputs and outputs. What is the difference? I know that unbalanced is hi-z, and balanced is low-z. but what effect does this have on recording?
 
Balanced is not always low-z. It is balanced. Balancing is a way to keep noise from getting into your audio while traveling through the cable. It isn't better or worse, high-z or low-z. It is just to keep noise out. If you don't have a problem with noise, an unbalanced connection will do just fine.
 
so what happens if I plug a balanced signal into an unbalanced input?
 
I know that unbalanced is hi-z, and balanced is low-z. but what effect does this have on recording?
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Not quite. Low-z and High-z relates to the signal from the device not the cable.

TRS (Balanced) cable has 3 conductors (Tip, Ring, Sleave) and needs to be used with TRS equipment. The basic idea is that you have two signals that cancel some of the noise (someone will probably correct me on that). But the bottom line is you have a better noise floor with balanced equipment. For it to work correctly, both devices need to have balanced connections
 
pedro_sandchez said:
so what happens if I plug a balanced signal into an unbalanced input?
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Generally, it works just fine.

The balanced signal is two signals, out of polarity with each other, with a ground.

What happens is that the sending gear has electronics that splits the signal in two, and reverses the polarity of one of the signals. It is sent to the next unit this way. Now, if any kind of interference is introduced while the signal is in the cable, it will effect both "hot" signals in the same polarity. On the receiving unit, the out of polarity signal is put back into polarity, and compared with the regular polarity signal, and the difference between them is sent to ground, thus eliminating the noise.

Rather ingenius! :)

Balanced signal isn't by default quieter than unbalanced. It only handles interference introduced in the cable better. If there is no interference, a unbalanced signal is JUST AS QUITE than a balanced signal is.

Years ago, I read some well know mastering engineers discuss how they feel that unbalanced signals actually sound better! Somebody with a better knowledge of electronics could explain that one to you. But these were some names that are quite well known, thus, I wouldn't go barreling into a debate about that too easily with them. ;)
 
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