Will a 1/4" bal cable half way into Unbal be ok?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Booda
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Booda

Booda

Master of the Obvious
I am hooking up a RNC to a Sytek Pre...
I was looking for XLR balanced to 1/4" Unbalanced cables (HOSA PXF-105), I just got off the phone with someone at a music store who told me to just use the XLR bal - 1/4" balanced cable I already have... but just put it into the RNC half way.

Is this going to be OK?

Thanks,
B.
 
When I called FMR today, the person who answered said she wasn't sure but thought that if I plugged it all the way in, it would fry the unit... she did say she really didn't know and would have someone call me tomorrow.

???
Any more confirmations?
B.
 
I just got a Sytek (nice!) and am getting an RNC in a minute. You're obviously not using the sidechain on the RNC, but the Input, right? Then the halfway thing isn't an issue cause I think the guy thought you were plugging it into the sidechain send/return jack right? Since there is no patch out on the Sytek, wouldn'y oyu just run XLR from the Sytek to the RNC, then XLR out of the RNC to whatever else?

Frying the unit....I wouldn't think so, but I am not REALLY a doctor, so just listen to the FMR people.

Happy Holidays and good Luck!
 
Phosphene said:
Then the halfway thing isn't an issue cause I think the guy thought you were plugging it into the sidechain send/return jack right?
Click to expand...

Sidechain isn't a send/return it's a trigger input. The first input on the RNC works as a send/return with a balanced cable. You should probably just use an unbalanced 1/4" cable and plug it in all the way.
 
Phosphene- the RNC has no XLR, just 1/4" Unbalanced.

TRK- I know I should use XLR - 1/4" Unbalanced, but if my XLR - 1/4" Balanced will work... I'd rather not spend the $50 on un-needed cables.

B.
 
Hi-Z 1/4 Inch M-XLR M Cable
at musicians friend for $8.99
In His Name
BK
 
Woahhh Tex.....

Are you saying that I could hook the RNC up to an insert (a 1/4" insert send/return) simply by using 1 balanced cable into input 1 of the RNC?????

...as opposed to a y-cable hooked to the input and output of the RNC???

If so thats kind of a cool option eliminating a y-cable neccessity.

-mike
 
FZ - It will work if the inserts on your board are wired the same as the RNC. Unfortunately Soundcraft boards have them reversed. Bastards...
 
Booda said:
TRK- I know I should use XLR - 1/4" Unbalanced, but if my XLR - 1/4" Balanced will work... I'd rather not spend the $50 on un-needed cables.
Click to expand...

I guess you need them! :-)

I've never been a fan of plugging cables in halfway because it almost inevitably ends up that the connection is loose, or the cable gets pulled out by accident. It often requires jiggling the connector to get it to sit "just so" before it will work. Better and more trouble-free to just buy or build the proper cables in my opinion. Worth the money.
 
I stand corrected... not XLR on the RNC (am i thinking of the RNP?)

What DO you hook up to a sidechain out/in?
 
FWIW...
Anyone who has a Sytek and a RNC... it's ok to use a XLR to 1/4"trs (balanced) cable & you Plug it ALL the way in. Connecting it this way will yeild a 6db loss of signal but it works just fine. Not sure but a loss of 6db doesn't seem like that big a deal. If you use the proper cable XLR to 1/4"TS, there is NO signal loss.

I have yet to try out the RNCs (will do in about a hour) but I'm already a Huge Fan of FMR and their customer service. (2 thumbs up!!)

B.

PS- Actually that goes for Sytek too! (& I have been using the 4aii w/ great results, can't wait to get the RNC hooked up to it)
Mike @ Sytek and Mark @ FMR are Both very pleasant to talk to and helpfull. It's nice to know my $$$ is going to such good people.
 
I hear ya brother. Mike is super nice and worked me out a nice price on a new unit. I'm glad I decided on a Sytek for my overheads and clean channels.

Can you explain why there is a 6db loss with TRS and none with TS? That sounds backwards to me, since ou are converting from bal to unbal, I'd figure you'd lose SOMETHING.

Proper cable XLR to 1/4" unbalanced? Why is that proper? I'm still learning this stuff. Thanks, Booda.
 
Well I'm by no means an electronic tech. but...
The Sytek is a balanced unit which means it has a ground, hot, and a cold (pins 1, 2, 3) the RNC is Unbalanced which is just a Hot and a ground.
There are 3 different types of balanced interface outputs... the Sytek just happens to be the one that can handle this connection... this is from the FMR site http://www.fmraudio.com/
Electronically Servo-balanced (S-BAL) This output type works similarly to the E-BAL, but has additional circuits to allow us to connect the COLD to the unbalanced inputs ground connection without: a) blowing up the output circuit and b) losing half the signal's volume.
Why the 6db loss? Not sure but has something to do w/ not connecting the #3 cold pin to the Ground (sleeve). If you connect it to the sleeve you will not lose any signal.

Hope this helps,
B.
 
Thanks, i didn't know there were different types of balanced connections....i don't want to blow anything up on accident.
Maybe for an effect or something.
 
Last edited:
Almost forgot...

FZ - It will work if the inserts on your board are wired the same as the RNC. Unfortunately Soundcraft boards have them reversed. Bastards...
Click to expand...

Thanks.
Thats a cool feature.
I have an older board with individual RCA insert sends and receives but I happen to have 2 dual RCA to 1/4" TRS Y-cables layin around and this would be ideal for them.

-mike
 
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