xlr to 1/4 is that balanced to un-balanced?

  • Thread starter Thread starter dietcookie
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dietcookie

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I'm a little confused here. I bought this on ebay http://www.musicmarketing.ca/products/at_inca88.html its the Inca 88 sound card with 8in/8out. Now, two of the inputs have pre-amps. I want to record drums with four mics. So my plan is to have two OH mics into a mixer that will provide phantom power and has a L and R output which is line level and i'll plug those into 2 non-pre amp input ports. then the two that have pre-amps, i'll plug my kick mic into and snare into. Now my problem is that I have a SM57 and D112 both XLR of course and the inputs are 1/4". So naturally I can just get a XLR to 1/4 convertor right? Well I see two kinds, one neutral kind or one that keeps the signal balanced? Do I have to buy a specific one or is it all marketing hype and if I have a convertor it'll work? Thanks
 
The manual is HERE.

You would need an adapter that keeps the signal balanced.
 
That will work. An XLR to a 1/4" TS (unbalanced) connector would work as well, but wouldn't be recommended. You can search for plenty of threads here about balanced versus nonbalanced connections. Most will say that especially for microphone use, you run a big risk of introducing extraneous noise into the line.

Also, I don't think phantom power would work on an unbalanced line...
 
Yes, that adapter will work, but I wouldn't recommend it. It will put a lot of strain on the 1/4" jack. You're better off with a short cable with an XLR on one end and a TRS on the other, like THIS ONE.

Trogdor, you are correct that phantom power will not work on an unbalanced line.
 
However

Neither of the two mics he's planning on using this way require phantom power.
 
True, but since dietcookie mentioned phantom power, I'd guess that either (1) he's planning to someday get a mic that uses it, or (2) he's under the mistaken notion that a dynamic mic will somehow sound better with PP turned on. Best to be on the safe side and keep the lines balanced, I think.
 
yeah i use two condenser mics, since the soundcard only has 2 inputs with pre-amps and phantom power, my two condensers i will plug into a mixer I have that has pres and phantom, then plug the L and R outputs from the mixer into the non-pre input of the sound card and pan accordingly.
 
If you ever do plan to use the phantom power on the Inca, note that, according to the documentation, the Inca only puts out 12 volts. Some mics will be OK with this, but others require a full 48V in order to work properly.
 
DonF said:
If you ever do plan to use the phantom power on the Inca, note that, according to the documentation, the Inca only puts out 12 volts. Some mics will be OK with this, but others require a full 48V in order to work properly.
Click to expand...

yeah, i doubt i'll ever be using more than two condensers at a time, and i have my mixer.
 
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