Cables. best way to go...

  • Thread starter Thread starter Proveras
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Proveras

I like my recordings.
hello,

ok, my mixer's outs can be Unbalanced or Balanced,
and the inputs (or outputs) of my soundcard are Unbalanced.

whats the best way to go and why? (I like theory)

I mean,
from Balanced to Unbalanced sold cable
or Unbalanced to Unbalnced cable??

mmm, this thread is one of those that just are going on in circles inside your head.... :D
like, be or not to be.

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I assume your referring to 1/4" balanced or unbalanced cabling. Since your soundcard is unbalanced, I would just get some short, good quality unbalanced 1/4" to 1/4" cables. You use the 1402 right? I prefer to go out the inserts, (which would be unbalanced) rather than out the ALT 3/4, which can be balanced or unbalanced. Whatever your routing preference is though.
 
last Question...

thanx Emeric.
I will use a MX2642a.

YES I am talking about 1/4" cables.
I understand the concepts, I will use short cables away from electricity.

the question is, is there any difference, between use:

from Balanced (mmm like "stereo") to Unbalanced ("mono")

and

from Unbalanced to Unbalanced (both mono)

MAYBE, use from Bal to Unb, can help a little, maybe not, is just an Idea...

:rolleyes: I know mono and stereo have nothing to do here, is just to explain the plugs.

well, thats it, can it help or its the same or...
 
The best way to go is unbalanced to unbalanced. going balanced to unbalanced can create problems because the input and cable cannot have that hot of a signal. first of all, balanced is not really stereo, although stereo 1/4" cables probably do work just the same. Balanced is considered a pro signal, while unbalanced is considered consumer. Microphone cables are considered balanced. Balanced cables have 3 wires witch makes the signal much hotter then unbalanced. also balanced cables have a much better static level. so it is better to have balanced but it is not required for a pro recording. but you can tell the difference when you compare the two.

Correct me if im wrong about this.

Also, obviously to have balanced you have to have balanced cables, balanced 1/4" cables are called TRS (Tip, Ring Sleeve). stereo cables i guess do work, because they also have 3 wires for a hotter signal. I have to say though, it made a difference in my recordings when i got my balanced cables with a complete balanced setup.

I hope i made sence to you and i helped you out with your question.
 
...Balanced cables have 3 wires witch makes the signal much hotter then unbalanced....
Click to expand...

No, not quite - there seems to be a common misconception where the term "balanced" is interchangeable with the +4DBu gain structure. They are 2 completely separate things.

Balanced signals do not run "hotter", they simply are a very good way of minimizing noise induced to a signal as it passes thru the cable. The same signal is passed thru each "side" of the cable, but one side is phase-inverted compared to the other (by the sender). When signal is recombined at the receiving end -- any noise introduced will get cancelled out since it was not part of the original signal. A balanced cable will pass signals of either gain structure +4 or -10, and using balanced cable between unbalanced connections does nothing for you except yank money out of your wallet. (Kinda like putting premium petrol in your car when your engine doesn't specify needing it!)

Bruce Valeriani
Blue Bear Sound
 
I see. well i seemed to have noticed a difference in sound when i got a TRS snake. maybe just because it was a better cable then the ones i was using. and actually i bought one that was the same price as a non TRS cable so it didnt really matter to me. either way i was pretty happy with it. Thanks for your reply and correcting me with this though.
 
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