How do you run a XLR out to a SPDIF or 1/4th in?

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dabluesman

dabluesman

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I've got a Delta66 with four 1/4 in's and a SPDIF in. I need to run my DI that has an XLR out to the in's on my Delta66. Is there a special cable made with a female XLR on one side and RCA's on the other (I think RCA's are for SPDIF, right?) Or whould I need to get a regular XLR cable and some type of adapter with RCA's or 1/4th plugs. I think the SPDIF might be better since I want this to record in stereo. Any ideas?
 
I love Acronyms

ok, slow down.

If this DI of yours stands for "direct box", then its sending an analoge signal, right?? in which case it is INCOMPATIBLE with SPID/IF. Now, you might be totally in the know on that score, in which case your DI stands for "digital interface" in which case I assume your XLR is actually AES/BU, which IS compatable via a AES/BU-->SPID/IF converter.

Which is it?

xoxo
 
Acronym police

camn,

just a note from your local anal-retentive acronym police that the type of digital interface you and dabluesman are referring to is S/PDIF, for "Sony/Philips Digital InterFace." You had a pair of letters swapped, an extra "I," and the "/" in the wrong place ;)

-AlChuck
 
Let the sirens roar

AlChuck is correct, I meant S/PDIF. The DI box I have is the SansAmp Bass DI, it has a standard 1/4th out and an XLR out. Going straight out from the 1/4th into my Delta66's 1/4th in's gives me a weak signal. The 1/4th on the SansAmp is made for running straight to the input on a combo amp. I was told that I would get a better signal if I used the XLR output. I'm not sure if the XLR is AES/BU, i may need to check the spec's again. Does this help?
 
dabluesman,

It's an analog signal. All you can do is preamp it. Or digitiaze it somewhere else and send the digitized signal into the S/PDIF of the Delta. But that would be overkill.

Did you try an XLR-to-1/4-in balanced TRS cable? I'm pretty sure they make those. The Delta input jacks are TRS balanced...

-AlChuck
 
So the answer to my question would be to get a XLR cable that is female (xlr) on one end and 1/4th standard male on the other. The Delta's 1/4th inputs are not stereo so do you if they make a XLR cable that goes to two 1/4th ends (left & right?) And finally, where could I find such a thing? Thanks, youve been very helpful!
 
No, dabluesman, you do want a stereo plug. But rather than sending two unbalanced stereo signals, you're sending the two parts of a single balanced signal. The TRS plug's the same, it matters what the thing's wired to.

Check BayView Pro Audio or zzounds for such a cable.
 
just like he said, my man.

xoxoxo
ps i USUALLY write s/p/i/d/i/f
 
char abuse

Watch out, camn, or the Special Character Patrol will catch you for slash abuse (is that also the name for what the Guns 'n Roses guitarist does to a Les Paul?)

-A/l_C\h|u*c~k
 
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