Question about mic cables

[analog aaron]

When recording using a older 4track with 1/4" inputs .........Is it best to use a mic cable that is XLR on one end and 1/4" on the other? Or should I just use a regular XLR cable with a transformer adapter? Is there a difference in sound quality between both set ups?

 

[jonnyc]

I honestly prefer not having to add any adapters to make things work. I would just go xlr to trs and call it a day. I don't have any scientific reason for my thinking but it just makes me feel better.

 

[The Green Hornet]

Yo Cordless Analog:

JonnyC Sees the right answer.

Green Hornet

 

[Tim Gillett]

Yes it will work and will be simpler. But it's probably going to be noisy.

Some of the Tascams had preamps designed to accept say a guitar input but a low Z mic didnt have the output and you tended to get preamp hiss unless you were close micing.
I think Tascam made a XLR to trs adaptor/transformer which gave a much healthier signal from an XLR mic. Also that meant the cable would be working in its proper noise rejection mode.

Tim

 

[Dani Pace]

If you are using high impedence mics XLR>mono phone cables will work fine. For low impedence mics they wont work as well. Low Z mics tend to sound muffled or muddy when you conect them this way, and EQing doesn't help a lot.