I've picked my gear, now all I need is to get the right cables

[brianXXX]

Ok, I've decided on the following equipment -

Soundcraft M4,
Delta 44, might get Delta 66 for Sp/Dif...
Tannoy Reveals,
and a Shure SM-57.

What cables will I need??

1) Mic to Mixer.

For the mic I will need a Male XLR - Female XLR.

2) Mixer to Monitors.

The mixer has 2 1/4" balanced outputs and the tannoy has a balanced XLR or unbalanced 1/4" jack.
Therefore im getting 2 x Male balanced 1/4" - Male XLR.... right?

3) Mixer to PC.
[I?m getting 1 mic, but I plan on getting another later this year.}

This time I have a few options. I can use the direct outs on each mono channel strip, which are described as being 3-pole ?A? gauge jack sockets, and are unbalanced. It does say unbalanced in the spec so I'll take there word for it...but what way should I connect this to a Delta 44 or 66 considering they accept balanced but are really unbalanced.

There are also the Mix Left and Right XLR balanced outputs on the Master section of the board....worth considering?

4) PC to Mixer.

Finally I'll need to connect the soundcard back to the Mixer. To do this I could use a stereo strip (stereo input channels). The input pairs are 1/4"(TRS) balanced, but you can use unbalanced but they need to have three pins.

-----

Anyway 3 and 4 above are confusing me, what should I use - balanced cable, otherwise it looks like it would involve a bit of DIY.

Thanks for your help.

 

[Angermeyer]

1. Standard xlr female to male (or 1/4 inch) balanced

2. Connect the outs 1(left) and 2(right) from the delta to your monitors

3. Main outs to 1 and 2 ins on the delta

4. whatever....

Set it up how you need to use, I don't like running the soundcard outs back to the mixer because you will have to turn off that track when you record or else you will record every thing ontop of everything else or somthing like that.

use balanced for all cables with xlr ends. the others? balanced if you have 'em otherwise mono type will work if there isn't much interference in the area.


-Angermeyer

 

[brianXXX]

Thanks ang.,

What if you?re connecting a balanced input to an unbalanced one? Wouldn?t balanced cable be wasted under this circumstance?

 

[TexRoadkill]

The channel inserts are dual mono unbalanced on a balanced connector. (Threw you for a loop with that one probably).

That is because they send and recieve on the same jack. Use a regular unbalanced cable plugged half way into the mixer jack so the signal is split. It goes out on the direct out and it also continues through the mixer for monitoring. If you plug it in all the way it will cut off the signal from continuing through the mixer.

 

[brianXXX]

Sorry tex,

I'm still confused - i've never used a mixer before

what do you mean by the "channel inserts" exactly.

I'm totally lost when it comes to connecting the mixer to the delta 44(has unbalanced ins and outs, but accepts balanced) and sending from two of the soundcard's outputs back to the mixer. How would you do it? - the mix outs are xlr balanced but the mono channel direct outs are unbalanced (on a balanced connector ).

I'm going to be sending a lot of dough on this setup, so I just want to get everything cleared up before I buy

Thanks Tex.

 

[Even]

Channel inserts are a line in that is directly related to each specific input. Looking at your board you have generally a 1/4 input, a xlr input and then another 1/4 plug for each channel (1-8 at least). The first is your line in, second is for mic in, and that last is the insert. What you use it for? to patch an outboard effect in that will alter that specific channel. Secondly, on most boards you can use it as an independant line out for each channel. Did that make any sence at all?

1 <----channel number
O <----- line in
:. <----- mic in
O <----- insert

O <----- knobs

 

[crosstudio]

my soundcard/dad has 8ins/outs, so i use the channel inserts for recording and monitoring.

i have a TRS cable on one end with 2 - 1/4" unbalanced plugs on the other end.

one plug goes into the IN and the other goes into the OUT, so I can monitor on the same track that i record on without the signal being split at the mixer. the wavecenter/tango24 has a virtual patch bay for input monitoring that seems to have almost no latency.

 

[DanielJohn]

You probably want to get some headphones while you record multitrack. Then when you want to just listen to it without recording you can use your speakers. But if you have it blasting on your monitors while you are recording, the sound will pick up through the microphone and record on to a second track. You will no longer be able to edit anything and your recording will sound like poop, unless you are incredibly talented

 

[brianXXX]

HI again,

The M-series mixers have direct outputs as well as inserts for each mono channel; therefore each track can be directed to the soundcard using these outputs, and the ?Direct Pre/Post button? can be used to set whether the pre or post fade signal is present at this output.

Now my confusions relate to the following:

The delta inputs are not balanced (but do accept balanced) and the direct outs for each mono channel are not balanced (but accept balanced connectors). Therefore when connecting these two, would balanced cable be pointless?? And therefore would the shortest cable possible be the best option - 1 meter (3 feet) short enough??

Next, there?s the issue of connecting the soundcard (delta outputs are unbalanced but accept balanced) back to the mixer, via a stereo channel on the mixer, which are balanced 1/4" jack. Therefore, how do i connect unbalanced to balanced...i looked this up on the net and its confusing, there seems to be a way which involves connecting the sleeve to the ground signal at the balanced end but not the unbalanced end - sound familiar?? Then there are warnings about impedance mismatching, which can damage equipment ;(

Maybe none of this is an issue (just use unbalanced) if i use short cable anyway...is it?

Also, I'm presuming that the mixer wont pick up noise from my computer (which would be a reason for using longer cable ? to keep it further away from the PC), am I right in thinking this?

Thanks guys.