help with direct outs

[blaheyt]

hey all,

got a gig coming up, recording via direct outs... foh desk is an allen and heath gl2400... direct outs are jacks..
i'll be plugging this directly into my 002.

should i use balanced or unbalanced cable?
why?

thanks in advance, matty

[opentune]

You won´t benefit from using TRS cables, since the direct outs of the GL2400
aren´t balanced.
Check if someone altered the jumper position of the direct outs on
some (or all) channels. It determines wether the direct feed is pre or post fader.

Good luck with the gig!

[blaheyt]

noting has been altered on the desk!

so i should use unbalanced 1/4" cables?

thanks!

[opentune]

Use unbalanced cables then. Just in case you´re not familiar with
balanced lines, here´s a link for you: Balanced audio - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

(if only "balanced cables" are available, then use these - they won´t degrade the audio performance)

[blaheyt]

okay, cool thanks! so either way.. it doesnt matter what i use.. they will both work?

thanks for the help! appreciate it so i'll use unbalanced!


cheers, matt

[mixedupsteve]

The channel direct outs on a GL2400 are balanced and the factory preset for them is prefader. This is what most people use for multitrack recording.

[opentune]

Originally Posted by mixedupsteve

The channel direct outs on a GL2400 are balanced and the factory preset for them is prefader. This is what most people use for multitrack recording.

No, they´re not balanced - they´re "impedance balanced" (just TS, not TRS).

[mixedupsteve]

Originally Posted by opentune

No, they´re not balanced - they´re "impedance balanced" (just TS, not TRS).

They're still balanced and they are TRS. Impedance balancing is just another means to get a balanced output.

[opentune]

Originally Posted by mixedupsteve

They're still balanced and they are TRS. Impedance balancing is just another means to get a balanced output.

Damn, i stand corrected! You´re right.

When looking at the GL2400 schematics, i misinterpreted the "ring connection"
for a "ground connection". Now that i´ve looked at it again (this time with my
eyes wide open), i see that it´s indeed a TRS jack.

Thanks for chiming in. Otherwise i would´ve given out some serious
misinformation....

Ok, to the original poster: yeah, use TRS cables and benefit from the impedance
balanced outputs. Not quite the same as a transformer or servo balanced output,
but it´s worth using it.

(note to self: open your eyes, dude!)

[mixedupsteve]

That ring connection is most likely to ground through a resistor in order to provide the impedance match to the positive tip. You lose some level on these quasi balanced setups but they do work. I like transformers myself.