External Firewire question.

  • Thread starter Thread starter cwujek
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cwujek

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Hello, I recently purchased a DMP3 preamp and am scouting out a soundcard. I have read through many a thread regarding sound card choice, but I am confused about one thing. My preamp has two balanced outputs, and I just can't seem to find an external sound card that accepts two balanced inputs. I would prefer to stick with M-audio, but am open to anything. Any thoughts would be much appreciated. Thanks,

Chris
 
Adapters and cables. There may be other external soundcards that allow this but just keep looking. Also, since your preamp has two balanced outputs, I'm assuming you don't need to connect both at once.
 
Yeah I realize adapters would allow me to run different cables. Is there a preferred method? I realize that a "balanced" cable is 3 conductor (signal, signal, and a shield for ground), but I don't understand why a single signal uses two conductors of a cable......also, it does have two balanced outputs, but one is for each channel, balanced output for channel A and B. But your saying that conecting only one would allow me to have both mics? Sorry for all the very basic questions, I am just a little confused on this. Also, firewire is not required, USB 2.0 should work fine. Thanks again for the help,

Chris
 
Hi Chris,

Balanced to unbalanced is fine, in fact I used to do this with a DMP-3 going to a Delta 1010LT which has unbalanced ins. Of course the connection isn't balanced and you get a drop in level (6db I think) bu it's really no big deal.

Do you have a desktop or a laptop? i ask as you don't seem to be considering PCI? Also how many ins/outs do you need and what's your budget?
 
The other thing (maybe more important) you need to be aware of is that the balanced outputs on your DMP3 send out a line level (I'm assuming +4dBu). Make sure that whatever you get has corresponding +4dBu line inputs. For example, you don't want to plug in the Line Outs of the DMP3 into a Mic input, because you can overload the signal.

If you want both channels of your DMP3 you need to connect each output to it's own input. There may be a way to sum the two inputs to 1 output, but I don't know that much about the box.

Are the outputs on the DMP3 XLR? You can easily go from XLR to TRS(balanced 1/4") or from XLR to TS (unbalanced 1/4").

If you only want the two inputs, then an M-Audio box should work fine. Just look for something that has two Line Inputs. Before you buy anything, take into account what you might want to use in the future, you don't want to outgrow what you have too soon.
 
If you are on a Budget then maybe looking into a Cheaper PCI Interface like a Delta 44/66/1010, They are good cards with good drivers and are stable and are quite inexpensive.....

Cheers
 
I was originally looking at the Delta 44/66, as I have a desktop, but will have a laptop within the next few months. I will be recording a lot of piano and guitar, so portability is a factor. I only need enough ins/outs for the DMP3, as I will mostly just be mixing, not recording multiple intruments live. The outputs on the DMP3 are TRS for balanced output, but also accept standard 1/4 TS plugs for unbalanced output. I realize that I am looking for something with the line level inputs, not the mic inputs (as mic inputs will simply amplify the signal again). I really would prefer something that JUST has line inputs, as I don't want to have to pay for an extra preamp that I don't need. Thats what I really liked about the Delta line, but I really would prefer something eternal. By the way, my budget tops out at about $300 or so, really depends on what the advantage of using something better would be. Thanks,

Chris
 
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