TRS and TS

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Let's say for instance that I wanted to plug an unbalanced cable, such as an instrument cable from a peice of gear, like maybe a mixer or something into my Delta 1010. Since my delta is made to recieve balanced TRS connections, in order to safely connect a TS plug would I just plug it in halfway? I have heard that if you plug a TS plug all the way into a TRS input it will short a
connection. This seems to make sense to me, but I need some sort of conformation...

Thanks,
Jesse
 
Shorting the INPUT to a piece of gear will NEVER hurt anything, since the input is looking for a signal level somewhere between 0 volts and its maximum input, usually either -10 dBV or + 4 dBu plus some headroom. A short on the input would be the same as giving it 0 volts, which will not hurt anything. The Delta would just see the TS input as having signal present on only half of the input circuit, which would lower the signal level but do no damage.

You should plug the TS connector all the way in to the TRS socket on the Delta. You will probably have to adjust levels in order to get maximum level, but I think the Delta can be set for either -10 or +4, so you might just have to set it for -10 and go...

OUTPUTS, however, are a different matter. Don't EVER short an output, or try to connect it to more than two inputs, and don't EVER connect two OUTPUTS together. The wimpier one of the two will SMOKE sooner or later... Steve
 
Thanks!

I have another related question.
I have a Trace Elliot Commando Bass Head with a direct out that is unbalanced. If I use a TRS to TRS patch cable between the head and a preamp or interface will that be dangerous?

Or will it just send the signal through the tip and the Ring and sleeve both be grounds?
 
The unbalanced connector on the head will ground the ring portion of the TRS connector. If the other end of that cable is plugged into a balanced connection, one side of the balanced connection will be grounded and the other side (tip) will see the unbalanced signal from the head. The only downside is that the balanced input will NOT be balanced, and may be 6 dB quieter than if you sent it a balanced signal. Other than that, no problem... Steve
 
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