Balanced/Unbalanced?

  • Thread starter Thread starter What Have You
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What Have You

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Are Instrument cables typically balanced or unbalanced? Or maybe neither and I'm really confused.

Also, if I am unsure whether an older keyboard (like the Ensoniq EPS) has a balanced or unbalanced connection, is it safe to just use balanced.

Thanks.
 
Instrument cables -- guitar cables -- are almost always unbalanced.

If the keyboard has an XLR connector, it's likely balanced. Otherwise, it's likely not. You might be able to find the specs on it on the internet. In fact, I know of this terrific site that has collected a lot of info about synths and samplers over the years -- Synth Zone. Here's their Ensoniq page: http://www.synthzone.com/ensoniq.htm
 
thanks...

if i am sending everything into a mixer with balanced 1/4" TRS inputs, is there any harm in using balanced TRS to TRS cable if the source is an unbalanced signal?

and how about the opposite - is there any harm is using unbalanced cable from an unbalanced signal to a balanced signal?

and i do have the EPS manual and have looked all over the internet, but i'm still uncertain about the connections. but it doesn't have an XLR connector, so according to your rule its unbalanced.
 
Harm? I don't think so. But I'm not really sure. Maybe someone else with more experience can chime in here.

By the way, that wasn't my "rule," just my observation that instrument outputs have tended to be unbalanced 1/4" jacks in my experience, or XLR if the are "pro" balanced connections. That is, I am not asserting that it must be unbalanced, just guessing that it probably is. Just wanted to be clear...
 
thanks for the info.

eyeslikefire... is the input also unbalanced? am i right in assuming that you own an EPS?
 
What Have You said:
thanks for the info.

eyeslikefire... is the input also unbalanced? am i right in assuming that you own an EPS?
Click to expand...


I don't recall but I am almost positive the input was also unbalanced. I don't own one but I had a good friend that did,.. mmmmany moons ago,... I'd say about 89'.

Here, you might want to check out this site...
http://www.vintagesynth.org/ensoniq/ens_eps16.shtml
 
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