Inputs on VS840

[rocknod]

I posted a question on VS Planet, but hey, I'll try again...

I wanted to know if the 1/4 inputs are balanced (tip-ring-sleeve), or unbalanced. Someone on VS Planet told me they were unbalanced. Today, I had a music store "guy" tell me they were balanced.

Could someone please settle this?

 

[johndavidstuts]

If I had a nickel for everything a music store "guy" told me that ended up being wrong. I could buy a vs-2480.
just out of curiosity, why do you ask about balanced or unbalanced? Does it matter? Will it make a big difference? I've had my 840 for a couple years and this question never came up. I just plug in and go to it. Is there supposed to be a sound quality issue?
anyway, here's my thought process on the whole issue... From my VERY limited knowledge of music electronics (i.e. chords & what not) I'm to understand that XLR type inputs are balanced and 1/4 inch inputs are unbalanced so if i had to guess, I would say unbalanced.
I know that this post didn't help out any but it did kill some time here at work.
Rock on!!!

 

[rocknod]

I called Roland Tech Support today and got the final answer.

The Inputs are definitely UNBALANCED. However, the young gentleman on the other end of the line said other VS units had 1/4 inch BALANCED inputs. Apparently the 840 is the only one with UNBALANCED.

I'm going to be running my mics into a preamp with XLR and out the 1/4 inch UNBALANCED, into the 840. There are issues with UNBALANCED cable, but if the length of the cable is kept short, the degradation should be very minimal.

 

[Porter]

If I had a nickel for everything a music store "guy" told me that ended up being wrong. I could buy a vs-2480.

When I was buying my 840EX I was told that you could put the Zip disk in a computer and you could mix it your recordings on the computer from the tracks, or if you mixed it down to two channels you would have a stereo file. I wasn't told that Roland had it's own format!!!

I know that the GX has this, however it wasn't released when I bought mine
In other words, don't always trusted the 'guy (or girl) behind the counter'

Just had to get that off my chest...

Porter

 

[frozen]

Please excuse my newbiness!)

I understand balanced / unbalanced but why would you use tip/ring/sleeve plugs? why not regular (three pin) balanced plugs?

Is that possibly to allow a person who only had 1/4 inch jacks to use the same port?

Can TRS plugs be used to put two channels into a port? Such as if I wanted to run a stereo out of my Quadraverb into one input on my VS1680?

This is a theoretical question as I have lots more inputs than I need.

Dazed and confused in Labrador

Cheers Alan

 

[legend]

Size would be a major reason for the TRS vs the XLR. Plus you can use unbalanced cabling, etc. I don't think the Roland units can use the "stereo" input.

For short lengths, you shouldn't have a problem. But I do notice a difference in my microphone when I use a direct box vs. when I use a cable converter.

Some of the newer units by other manufacturers have a multi-plug that will accept either XLR, balanced TRS, or unbalanced. I'd hate to be the designer who thought of that (he's probably never seen a dime from that great idea!)

Legend

 

[badgas]

When I was buying my 840EX I was told that you could put the Zip disk in a computer and you could mix it your recordings on the computer from the tracks, or if you mixed it down to two channels you would have a stereo file. I wasn't told that Roland had it's own format!!!

I know that the GX has this, however it wasn't released when I bought mine
In other words, don't always trusted the 'guy (or girl) behind the counter'

Just had to get that off my chest...

Porter

~ cackles hystericlly ~
and I thought I was the only one who was told that.

I bought a GX, was told to hook it up and record.
I did. Then I found out I needed a susi card in my GX, a susi card in my computer and an external zip drive.
Luckly I got some software, in the line of floppies, for the computer.
I'm suprised the VS840-GX even came with control knobs and an internal drive. I didn't even get a free Zip disk.

But I like it.