Stupid question about balanced/unbalanced lines
- Thread starter BDeetz
- Start date
dachay2tnr
One Hit Wonder
I believe I've also read that one unbalanced cable in your "chain" of equipment will unbalance the entire chain. Therefore you shouldn't consider balanced only for your "long" cable runs, or you're just wasting your money. (Don't know if that came from the same book as yours, Ed)
sonusman
Banned
Well, actually, that is not true...
ANY gear that is outputting a balanced signal is balanced. It may not be balanced BEFORE it's output, but it becomes balanced at it's output. That is why there is either a:
1- Transformer at the output
2- Electronically balanced circuit at the output
Now, not all gear can take an unbalanced feed to it's input and pass it to the balanced output. You will know if this is the case if it doesn't work....
Really. A sound system I work on all the time actually uses a unbalanced feed from the console to the eq, but a balanced feed from the eq, down 200' of wire to the amps. Works like a charm!
I have seen no evidence of short balanced runs sounding any "cleaner" or less "noisier" then a short unbalanced run. In fact, I have many processors in my rack that are running +4 unbalanced in the studio here.
The "book" I mention is just about any practical life experience I have had with wiring systems together (very extensive book in this case ). Others may feel free to write there own book and publish it on here, but it doesn't change the validity of mine (which tends to be very accurate ).
Ed
ANY gear that is outputting a balanced signal is balanced. It may not be balanced BEFORE it's output, but it becomes balanced at it's output. That is why there is either a:
1- Transformer at the output
2- Electronically balanced circuit at the output
Now, not all gear can take an unbalanced feed to it's input and pass it to the balanced output. You will know if this is the case if it doesn't work....
Really. A sound system I work on all the time actually uses a unbalanced feed from the console to the eq, but a balanced feed from the eq, down 200' of wire to the amps. Works like a charm! I have seen no evidence of short balanced runs sounding any "cleaner" or less "noisier" then a short unbalanced run. In fact, I have many processors in my rack that are running +4 unbalanced in the studio here.
The "book" I mention is just about any practical life experience I have had with wiring systems together (very extensive book in this case
). Others may feel free to write there own book and publish it on here, but it doesn't change the validity of mine (which tends to be very accurate ).Ed
bvaleria
New member
But Ed... in my example of patchbays... for a 'standard' PB config where my tape outs are normalled to my console tape ins, the PB must have balanced connectors to maintain the "integrity" of the balanced signal. If I ran it to an unbalanced PB, then I lose the advantage of phase-cancelled induced noise from the point I unbalanced it onward...
I too have some unbalanced +4 signal lines in my rig, and I must admit to not having noise problems, but the lines are less than 15 ft... however, I agree with Ed's 20' length as a reasonable "compromise" point.
Bear
I too have some unbalanced +4 signal lines in my rig, and I must admit to not having noise problems, but the lines are less than 15 ft... however, I agree with Ed's 20' length as a reasonable "compromise" point.
Bear
sonusman
Banned
Yes, you are right duder!
Read my post really carefully. It only stays unbalanced until it reaches the next devices output. Yes, you can make a balanced output into a unbalenced input simply by combining the two hot leads at the input of the unbalanced device. But, if you come out of the output balanced, it is balanced again. This was in relation to dachay2tnr's post.
Peace....
Ed
Read my post really carefully. It only stays unbalanced until it reaches the next devices output. Yes, you can make a balanced output into a unbalenced input simply by combining the two hot leads at the input of the unbalanced device. But, if you come out of the output balanced, it is balanced again. This was in relation to dachay2tnr's post.
Peace....
Ed
sonusman
Banned
Righto.....but....
But that only is so that the signal can be pushed for long runs. Fidelity wise, at short runs, I was reading some stuff that suggested that unbalanced lines actually are clearer sounding. Even ol' Bob Katz wrote something about this I believe over at http://www.digido.com . I think it was in the FAQ section.
Ed
But that only is so that the signal can be pushed for long runs. Fidelity wise, at short runs, I was reading some stuff that suggested that unbalanced lines actually are clearer sounding. Even ol' Bob Katz wrote something about this I believe over at http://www.digido.com . I think it was in the FAQ section.
Ed