unbalanced to balanced, help!

  • Thread starter Thread starter studiodrum
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studiodrum

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I realize that this is an elementary question for everyone but, I really need some help. . .If you have (4) sm-57 mics all with XLR plugs, and a 4 channel mixer with (4 ) 1/4" (unbalanced) input plugs, . . with spending a a hole lot of money

. . . what type of equipment do I need to but, to make the XLR 57, work with this mixer .. .?

Sorry for the stupidity. . I'm 'audio electronically challenged

Thanks, Ray
 
You need mic pres for the SM57s................. if your mixer only has 1/4 inputs, then it expects a line-level input, not mic-level (which is a lot lower - which is why you need the mic pres......)
 
I don't want to be fed to the Bear but I have a Roland powered mixer that has only 1/4" unbalanced inputs which have a 'sensitivity' control in place of gain. I guess this means there are no preamps in it but if you turn the sensitivity up (I haven't got it here so I can't give you figures) you get perfectly good signals for live use. That said, I did use the mixer stage for some extra inputs on a recording I did a couple of years ago and it sounded pretty weak!
 
Some mixers have preamps for mics but no XLR connections. In those cases, using the 1/4 cables will work fine. However these types are not that common.

If your mixer has only 1/4 inputs, but still has a gain control, give it a try. Connect the mixcs and adjust the gain and see if what results sounds good.

If you mixer has no gain (sometimes labeled sesnsitivity as noisedude said), then it is probably a line level input and using mics there will likely result in unacceptable low levels and sound.

Ed
 
Buy an impendance matcher (Whirlwind for instance makes them). Plug your mic cable into that and plug in to your mixer. See what happens. I actually used to use a beat up RadioShack mixer that ran off a 9volt. It surely didnt have any XLR connectors - but I was able to use an SM57 off it. Is it the optimum situation - probably not. Will it work - try it...It will run you about $13
 
Maybe you gots High Impedence mic inputs for dynamic mics..Used to see them back in the day...Shure Vocalmaster PA's for example..Peavey made some too..Hummm didn't Tapco make some too, anyways..Go to Radio Shack and buy a Cannon to 1/4 phone adapter..buy one and see if it works should be cheap..oops just noticed.... like Scinx says




Don
 
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