I'm somewhat a newbie to mixers/live sound. I just got an A&H MixWizard wz16:2dx mixer and have a question regarding the channel inputs. I've got a some 1/4" unbalanced connections (<3' each) that I need to plug into the mixer. They have both XLR and 1/4" jacks for each channel's inputs. Per the manual, the XLR and 1/4" jacks are balanced and (if I read it right) should only be used with balanced connections. Is this correct or can I use unbalanced 1/4"? Or, should/can I modify the 1/4" cable connectors so that ring and sleeve are grounded? Thank you. -- Splat
I'm somewhat a newbie to mixers/live sound. I just got an A&H> MixWizard wz16:2dx mixer and have a question regarding the> channel inputs. I've got a some 1/4" unbalanced connections> (<3' each) that I need to plug into the mixer. They have both XLR> and 1/4" jacks for each channel's inputs. Per the manual, the XLR> and 1/4" jacks are balanced and (if I read it right) should only be> used with balanced connections. Is this correct or can I use> unbalanced 1/4"?
Michael R. Kesti 9 January 2005 23:21:09 [ permanent link ]
Splat wrote:
Thanks Mike. I didn't want to kill this baby. Better to be safe than sorry.
With the exception of power amp outputs, there is very little that one can do by way of interconnecting audio devices that can result in actual damage to those devices.
-- ======================================================================== Michael Kesti | "And like, one and one don't make | two, one and one make one." mkesti@gv.net | - The Who, Bargain
Thanks Mike. I didn't want to kill this baby. Better to be safe than > sorry.
Won't kill it... Basically here's what happens. The internal connector has a tip, ring and sleeve contact. When you plug in the unbalanced one the two tips connect. Then the internal ring and sleeve contacts both contact the sleeve on the unbalanced connector. This effectively makes the same connection as building a balanced to unbalanced cable.
"Mike" <no_mail@no_spam.com> wrote in message news:awfEd.19083$Xs6.6338@twister.nyroc.rr.com...> Won't kill it... Basically here's what happens. The internal connector> has a tip, ring and sleeve contact. When you plug in the unbalanced one
two tips connect. Then the internal ring and sleeve contacts both contact> the sleeve on the unbalanced connector. This effectively makes the same> connection as building a balanced to unbalanced cable.
Hmm, I did not know that. I learn something new every day. Thanks for learnin' me. --- Splat
Splat wrote:> (snip) that I need to plug into the> mixer. They have both XLR and 1/4" jacks for each channel's inputs. Per the> manual, the XLR and 1/4" jacks are balanced and (if I read it right) should> only be used with balanced connections. Is this correct or can I use> unbalanced 1/4"? Or, should/can I modify the 1/4" cable connectors so that> ring and sleeve are grounded? Thank you.> Splat
The MixWiz channel 1/4" jack input is a stereo, 3-pole TRS (tip, ring, sleeve) socket. It is balanced for tip = + and ring = - signal, with ground on the sleeve. To work with an unbalanced source the ring contact must be grounded. However, if you plug in an unbalanced source using a mono, 2-pole TS (tip, sleeve) jack, the console ring contact will be automatically grounded by the extended sleeve of the plug touching the socket ring contact. In this case you do not need to modify the cable.
If you do not ground the balanced input - connection, the preamp will work 'half legged', and likely to sound thin, low in volume, and may even buzz. Shorting the - to ground should restore the correct sound.
Hope that helps. Let me know if you want more help with this. Regards, Carey (A&H design)
