Studiomaster Console - Pin 3 Hot - Any Ideas? (Long Post)

[matthewmilner]

Howdy! I wasn't sure where to post this question but I got such good solid advice here before I figured I would give this a shot. Apologies in advance for the long post.

Anyway I picked up a Studiomaster "Gold" 16-8-16 console for monitoring tape returns from my multitrack and making headphone mixes. The console has 16 mono inputs, 8 busses and 16 tape return channels. The price was right ($100) and the board looked like it would do what I needed.

So I set up to do some recording using the board in a 'split' monitor mode. When I started listening to what I had recorded I thought I was going nuts - levels were incredibly low and everything sounded thin and reedy. I thought that maybe the tape return mix section was to blame so I patched the tape returns into the mono channels. Sounded the same through them monitoring the stereo buss...but when I soloed a channel, however, it sounded great. This thankfully means that I haven't gone crazy or lost my hearing...but it also means that something is wrong.

Anything going through the stereo buss sounded out of phase through headphones (Sennheiser HD280 plugged into the Studiomaster headphone jack) and monitors (Event 20/20s with Crown DC150 power from the console's monitor outputs). So I started experimenting by patching the outputs of aux sends one and two into my power amp. When I stated feeding signal to the aux busses the mix sounded great - in phase with plenty of low end. The tracks also sounded great through a little 8 channel Tascam mixer.

This leads me to believe that the Studiomaster board is wired pin 3 hot. Does that sound right? It doesn't seem to make a difference on the mic inputs since the things I tracked did actually sound fine on tape...Do I just need to worry about the main outputs and the monitor outputs?

I'm using balanced TRS cables to go from the monitor outputs on the Studiomaster to the power amp. I'm thinking about making up a cable that's reverse polarity - Instead of wiring tip to tip, sleeve to sleeve - wiring it tip to sleeve. I'm hoping that would take the hot signal and get it to where it's supposed to go at the destination - Does it sound like I'm on the right path?

Any advice would be great - I apologize for the long post and numerous questions...just wanted to see what ya'll think before I start making up new cabling.

Thanks!

Matt

 

[Richard King]

I found the manual here and it appears that you would be correct, that pin 3 is hot.

http://microsonic.dk/manualer/consoles/studiomaster_16_16_mixdown_gold.pdf

MIC input Electronically balanced female XLR wired Pin 1 = Ground, Pin 2 = -ve phase, Pin 3 = +ve phase. The channel may be driven with a low impedance balanced microphone. Gain range 15 to 60dB. Input impedance typically 2kohm (balanced).
Maximum input level OdBm.
2 LINE input Electronically balanced

Nice board by the way. I mixed some bands with Studiomaster many years ago when they first arrived in the US. I sold quite a few at that time also.

Tape inputs are unbalanced, per the above.

 

[matthewmilner]

Richard - thanks for the find on the manual!

This is a neat console - I REALLY like the fact that I can pick it up and move it myself!

Anyway - I found out what the problem was: I was using a balanced TRS snake to connect my multi-track to the Studiomaster board. Turns out that the problem goes away when the connection is made with an unbalanced cable. I discovered this when I was going through the channels 2 at a time with my CD player: all the channels sounded fine - so on a whim I patched a channel from my multi-track into the board with a guitar cable - problem gone! My new problem is making more snakes now.

I used the Studiomaster to record some drums this evening and was quite pleased with the results: the pres are definitely workable with plenty of gain. The EQ seems well voiced especially the low and mid bands. My point of reference right now is a little 12 channel Soundworkshop board that has a sweeter sound EQ section but a darker sounding preamp. I ended up running to the multi-track from the insert sends - the direct out levels were pretty low.

Thanks again for the help!

 

[Richard King]

I was using a balanced TRS snake to connect my multi-track to the Studiomaster board.

That'll do it every time. Glad you found the problem. Enjoy.

 

[witzendoz]

Hi,

Thought you might like to know the reason for the problem.

When equipment uses pin 3 as + and this is going to be connected to unbalanced equipment at the other end, pins 2 and 1 are bridged (connected together) at the unbalanced end. Pin 1 is the earth.

When equipment uses pin 2 as + and this is going to be connected to unbalanced equipment at the other end, pins 3 and 1 are bridged (connected together) at the unbalanced end.

So if the gear is mixed up some with pin 3 + and some with pin 2 + the bridging actually shorts out the signal. This can also happen through mains earth as pin 1 is sometimes connected to mains earth in gear. This will sometimes cause a partial loss of signal or a thinning out of the sound due to the cable resistance not causing a dead short.

When all the gear is balanced pin 3+ or pin 2+ even mixed up the problem won't show up, only when unbalanced gear is in the chain.

As a matter of interest, pin 1 is what is lifted when the earth lift switch is used on balanced equipment i.e. DI boxes etc. This is needed when there is a earth loop (hum / buzz) due to the mains earth and the pin 1 earth having different length earth paths.

Cheers

Alan.