Using American and European Equipment Together

[Dr.Bootleg]

I currently live in Germany and all my musical equipment and multitrack recorder are american. I use a step-down voltage converter to compensate for the voltage difference. Now here's the thing: I want to continue expanding my setup but I'd prefer to not import everything from the states due to high shipping costs and even higher customs taxes. Would I be able to use a european electric guitar or a condensor mic and a preamp with my current equipment? I've never mixed equipment like this before and I'd just like to know if it's possible or if it's even a good idea.

Anyone have experience with this?

 

[rayc]

If hings were set up so that tey had their correct power supplies & the movement between machines is at line level there shouldn't be a prob BUT I'd call on an electrician with the specs from an assort ment of pices in your current or intended rig to find out for sure.

 

[Kevin Deschwazi]

It's doable, as long as you have the correct voltages going into each bit of kit there shouldn't be a problem.

it could be a bit of a pain though.

A lot of kit with an external PSU can take either 110 or 230v it's just a case of using the right adapter. And some gear with an IEC power in can be set to either voltage with the addition of a jumper in the internal PSU circuit.

 

[Dr.Bootleg]

Yeah, I figured that even if it is possible that it would be a pain in the ass. I think I'd rather just stick with all the same voltage stuff then. I need to convince some peeps on ebay to write "gift" on the customs form instead of "retail item". Then I could get away from the damn customs taxes and having to go pick it up.

 

[cpl_crud]

Serious answer first...

There's no problem mixing/matching gear, as others have said. I do it all the time- it's usually cheaper for me to cop the import tax than to buy locally...
I'd also check to see if you really need a step-down transformer. The majority of gear these days can accept from 90-240 V without a problem, or ot least let you switch between 110 and 220 V (you can usually get away with 220 gear in a 240 socket).

The only bits of Kit I find require step-downs are ones with transformer-style PSUs, or highly-specialised PSUs, like you'd find on high-end Pres etc...

The analouge audio voltages are fairly standard, 1 dBu = 1.77V (or something similar, I'm going off the top of my head here) and that figure is used to derive +4/-10 dBu line levels, and -20dBu mic level.
In other words, connecting two bits of kit with an audio cable will be fine, even if they are from different countries (considering the majority of audio gear in most people's scope is manufactured in asia.. whatever...)

The only probelm I can see coming from this is that if you've got power coming from two sources you are setting yourself up for a ground loop. Easy way to rectify this is to make sure your step-down is running off the same supply as your other gear.

Now, allow me my moment of levity and yank-bashing...

Your ameircan gear will up and invade the hell out of any gear you buy from anywhere else.

Also, they will call the French cowards even though it wsa the french that fought and won the war of independance for them...