XLR and 1/4" jacks

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Navin

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Got a question that I haven't been able to get answered - When you have a digital multitracker like a Fostex FD-8 for example, and you have the 1/4" line inputs, and all you have are XLR mic chords, how do you record into the FD-8? I have seen a lot of you talk about mic preamps. Is this what is needed?
 
Look into a ART Tube mic preamp.
It has both XLR and 1/4" in's and out's.
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by MISTERQCUE:
Look into a ART Tube mic preamp.
It has both XLR and 1/4" in's and out's.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Where do you plug in the ART into the FD-8? Isn't there an adapter from 1/4 to XLR that I can use instead of a pre-amp?
 
Yo NAVIN: [WHICH IS NIVAN BACKWARDS AND THAT IS ALMOST A PALINDROM!!!]

If you use the mic pre, say the ART, you can plug your XLR into the XLR INPUT on the mic preamp; then, use a 1/4 inch plug from the preamp's OUT and put the other end into the Recorder.

Easy and efficient.

And, radar spelled backwards is radar, a pure palindrom.
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by The Green Hornet:
Yo NAVIN: [WHICH IS NIVAN BACKWARDS AND THAT IS ALMOST A PALINDROM!!!]

If you use the mic pre, say the ART, you can plug your XLR into the XLR INPUT on the mic preamp; then, use a 1/4 inch plug from the preamp's OUT and put the other end into the Recorder.

Easy and efficient.

And, radar spelled backwards is radar, a pure palindrom. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Ok, thanks all for your replies so far. So if I do go the route of the preamp (which I've seen are fairly expensive or else I'm just ignorant) then will I have to get a preamp for every XLR I want to convert? Or are there preamps that have numerous XLR inputs to 1/4" outputs?



[This message has been edited by Navin (edited 05-18-2000).]
 
The FD-8 has built-in preamps. In the future, you may want Art tube MP's, but all you really need to get up and running are lo-z xlr to hi-z 1/4" transformers like the AT Big Kahuna mentioned, they have em at radioshack too. Should be $10-15 each.

Sorry if I'm insulting your intelligence, but I was afraid some of the MP talk was misleading.-lzb
 
No insult taken lazyboy. I'm fairly new to the digital recording arena and I'm trying to get familiar with all the aspects before I take the plunge.

Another question: Now that I know I can use both the HI-Z transformer or a mic preamp, does anyone know if there is a difference in sound quality by using one or the other?
 
Behringer makes one the is a rack unit with 4 tube preamps for mics I believe its the tube ultragain dont know the price range unfortunetaly
 
The transformers won't change your sound hardly at all. The tube preamps will add a gentle little golden aura to the sound. Pay less, or pay more - your choice.

[This message has been edited by dobro (edited 05-19-2000).]
 
Can you buy a mic preamp with more than one XLR input to 1/4" output on it? For example, the ART preamp only has one, correct?
 
What the hell, man? All you need to do is buy a stereo (that way it'll be balanced) male 1/4" plug, take off the male XLR plug off the end of a cord, and solder on the 1/4" plug. Then plug in the cord and enjoy!

Or, just go to a music store and get a cord that is XLR to 1/4". It's really quite simple, and you DON'T need to get a seperate pre-amp (added costs as well as more cords in the chain), and you DON'T need to get an adapter, just modify an existing cord you have or buy a different one.

And there you go!
 
The only reason you will want to have more than one out to your recorder is to record more than one thing at a time. Such as stereo. Otherwise you just plug and unplug.

If you have a digital multitracker with a built in mixer they have an internal assign that tells the input to feed whatevertrack you want. So the only reason you would need to is for more than one source at a time.

The ART MP is cheap and works. The digital recorder's preamps are usually low quality, and that's why most people by an external preamp, not because it will hook up to the recorder. Radio shack and every decent music store will carry the adapters only.

[This message has been edited by Ears (edited 06-08-2000).]
 
Electronic engineers claim that XLRs only show their value when running long distance cables. They may be right - I have never heard a difference between XLR & 1/4s in my studio with lines 25' and under. I'm sure there are situations that contradict that train of thought, but I have
always had the same results from XLR & 1/4s under 25'. I have only heard a radio interference twice in my studio in seven
years. When many see XLR as the thing, I see a problem child; the manufacturers mix up the pins, don't stay consistant. I still use both, but not for better results,
only for traveling my signal through the plug types on different gear. Happy plugging...

Chuck
 
In defense of XLR's,they are a bit sturdier than jacks,and they lock to their connection(most of the time),and at least 2 manufacturers I know of claim higher output when using their devices' XLR outputs(ART Tube PAC and MACKIE 1402 VLZ mixer). Cheers!
 
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