XLR to RCA

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thajeremy

thajeremy

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I was recently told that when using an adapter that goes from XLR to RCA that there is a huge loss of signal. Does anyone know if this is infact the case?
 
No

That's not exactly true.

While you won't suffer any signal loss in terms of volume (dB),
RCA terminals aren't exactly the best method of interconnection.

You can suffer loss in terms of signal quality. RCA connections
don't have nearly the noise-rejection that an XLR connection has.
 
Yeah, it's true.

Balanced > unbalanced = 6dB loss.
 
If you are planning on using this on a mic you will have other problems as well. You need to plug the mic into a preamp first.
 
c7sus said:
Yeah, it's true.

Balanced > unbalanced = 6dB loss.
Click to expand...
Yup........ unbalancing a balanced signal results in a 6dB loss.......
 
photoresistor said:
...which is it guys?
Click to expand...
What Puff stated about "no signal level loss" is incorrect...... what C7 said (and I re-iterated) is correct....
 
I am using a Terratec EWS88/MT. It has RCA inputs. The guy I spoke to on the phone once when I called for some tech-support told me that the card wouldn't work if I plugged a mic directly into the breakout box using an XLR to RCA adapter. I know this is untrue because I have recorded drums by doing that. That is why I had the question about the XLR to RCA. I was looking at a snake cable that would convert that for me so I wouldn't have to have all of the adapters. Since it did record so well as far as levels are concerned, I wanted to try to record with out using my mixer as a pre. and just use Cool Edit to add anything that the tracks need.

I know you're probably wondering why I would want to bypass my mixer...Im not sure if there is a problem with the mixer of if its supposed to do this...I have a Behringer MX2004A. On the back of this mixer is an output for each channel. Written below these outputs it says, "pre fader Pre EQ / Tip - send / Ring - return"

I know what the pre fader and pre eq means...and I know that Tip and Ring is reffering to a stereo jack. Does this have anything to do with the fact that if I plug a mono jack into this output and from there I go to the Terratec, the signal is recorded fine, but the sound can no longer be monitored from the mixer through head phones, main out, or aux. out. This is so only for the channels where the pre fader / pre eq output is being used. Any channel where I dont use the channel output goes through the mixer like normal.
 
The pre-fader pre-EQ Tip=send Ring=return jack is an insert point for external effects. Not really designed to be a preamp out, but it can function as one. The reason you're not able to monitor anything if you use those is because no signal is being returned to the channel on the ring terminal of a TRS plug. Try getting insert cables (1/4" TRS on one end, two 1/4" TS on the other) and running those on your breakout box's ins and outs. As for recording without preamps, well, you're on your own with that.
 
thajeremy said:
I am using a Terratec EWS88/MT. It has RCA inputs. The guy I spoke to on the phone once when I called for some tech-support told me that the card wouldn't work if I plugged a mic directly into the breakout box using an XLR to RCA adapter. I know this is untrue because I have recorded drums by doing that.
Click to expand...
The tech support dude is right. The specs for the Terratec EWS88/MT say nothing about preamps. You need a preamp to record with a microphone to bring the signal up to line level.

thajeremy said:
Does this have anything to do with the fact that if I plug a mono jack into this output and from there I go to the Terratec, the signal is recorded fine, but the sound can no longer be monitored from the mixer through head phones, main out, or aux. out. This is so only for the channels where the pre fader / pre eq output is being used. Any channel where I dont use the channel output goes through the mixer like normal.
Click to expand...

If this is what you did when you recorded the drums then you were using the mixer as a preamp.
 
I did not use the mixer at all when i recorded the drums...I used an adapter that converted my XLR mic cable to RCA and went directly into the Terratec breakout box...the techsupport dude was just as shocked that it worked as you are, but the fact is that it did work and the levels seemed just fine.

I do however need some suggestions. Im very new to this and I know there is a lot that I need to buy, Im just curious as to where I should spend my money first? Currently, all I have is the Behringer MX2004A , the Terratec EWS88/MT and a few decent Audio technica mics. Also, I use Cool Edit 2.0.

any suggestions?
 
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