Does this mean that pin3 is hot?

[manthe]

I've patched a used compressor (probably 20 years ols or more) into my balanced setup. This is a balanced compressor (XLR).

My patch bays are balanced TRS. i use XLR to TRS plugs for a lot of my gear, including this one. I have these cables run from the IN and OUT of the comp to my PB.

Anyhow, in order to get a sound out of it, I have to pull the patch cable out about halfway. I actually have to 'feather' it out until I hear the signal. If I have the cable all of the way in, I hear a severely attenuated and slightly distorted signal.

I am assuming (especially given the age) that the comp is pin3 hot.

In this case, Is it better to go ahead and solder a custom cable, reversing pins 2 and 3 coming FROM the comp to the PB?

Thanks!

[Remoteness]

Whatever it takes to get it right. Rewire the PCB or make a new "special" XLR to the patch bay.

Before to hardwire it in do a dry run test first.

[tINY]

Something ain't right.

Even if it's pin 3 hot - it stays pin 3 hot on the way back out. So, as long as the balanced connectors are wired consistently (and pin 1 is ground), it doesn't matter.

Sounds more like a ground fault or a balanced / unbalanced issue.



-tINY

[Han]

Originally Posted by tINY

Something ain't right.

Even if it's pin 3 hot - it stays pin 3 hot on the way back out. So, as long as the balanced connectors are wired consistently (and pin 1 is ground), it doesn't matter.

Sounds more like a ground fault or a balanced / unbalanced issue.



-tINY

Agreed, something else must be wrong.

[cornboy7x]

pin 3 hot pluging into unbalanced insert?

[manthe]

Interesting. I guess the 1st place to start would be my patch cables. I seriously dobt a cable issue, given that this happens on both the left and right side. The device is balanced (the connectors are XLR), as is the PCB. I'm pretty clueless as to what else it could be.

Why do you not think it is a crossed pin issue?

Originally Posted by tINY

Something ain't right.

Even if it's pin 3 hot - it stays pin 3 hot on the way back out. So, as long as the balanced connectors are wired consistently (and pin 1 is ground), it doesn't matter.

Sounds more like a ground fault or a balanced / unbalanced issue.



-tINY

[Remoteness]

Wire up a phase reversed (pin 2/pin 3 cross) cable and see if it works with your unbalanced device or insert point.
You have nothing to loose.

[tINY]

You aren't using an unbalanced insert somehow, are you?



-tINY

[manthe]

Originally Posted by tINY

You aren't using an unbalanced insert somehow, are you?



-tINY

Nah. It is a straight patch from the XLR INs/OUTs from the compressor to the back of my fully balanced, Neutrik PCB (TRS).

I emailed the mfr yesterday and they replied that pin 3 is, indeed hot on this unit. I am still curious about the notion that it could be another issue, though...

[Remoteness]

Mike,

You stated that your compressor and patch bay is wire balanced, but are you sure?

You have not told us what you're plugging it into.
What device or devices are you connecting this compressor to?

[neilio]

Originally Posted by tINY

Something ain't right.

Even if it's pin 3 hot - it stays pin 3 hot on the way back out. So, as long as the balanced connectors are wired consistently (and pin 1 is ground), it doesn't matter.

Sounds more like a ground fault or a balanced / unbalanced issue.





-tINY

agreed as well, it sounds like a normalling/ half normalling issue...if it was just an issue of pin2/pin3 then it would just be a phase/-3db situation...

or are the cobwebs in my mind really thick?

[manthe]

Originally Posted by Remoteness

Mike,

You stated that your compressor and patch bay is wire balanced, but are you sure?

You have not told us what you're plugging it into.
What device or devices are you connecting this compressor to?

Oops! Sorry. I am running a 100% balanced signal path.

[manthe]

Originally Posted by neilio

agreed as well, it sounds like a normalling/ half normalling issue...if it was just an issue of pin2/pin3 then it would just be a phase/-3db situation...

or are the cobwebs in my mind really thick?

OK - now I'm starting to think harder. I had a nagging feeling, once someone mentioned that the pin crossing didn't sound right, that they were correct. I don't know much about it, but it seems like attenuation would be the prime effect of that...NOT what I'm hearing.

I will check the normalling when I get to the studio. You may have just solved my problem! Thanks for kick starting my brain!

[kellyd]

In a balanced setup you would still have audio on pin2 and pin3 so if you pulled out the jack you would see signal on the ring. I might be down 6 db depending on the circuit but it should be there. Sounds more like you have a problem with your patchbay. Like pin3 is dead.

[kellyd]

Sorry I meant to say pin2 is dead.

[manthe]

Well, I solved my problem, in an odd way.

Turns out that it was a crossed pin issue, but that isn't really the whole story.

Apparently, DESPITE the fact that both the INPUTS and OUTPUTS are XLRs, the OUTPUTS on this unit are UNbalanced. Couple that with the fat that pins 2 and 3 were 'crossed' (in reference to most 'modern' gear. Anyhow, it turns out that there is actually a set of jumpers on the IC board inside the unit that allows you to easily change the pin 2/3 configuration. I opened it up, moved the jumpers and problem solved. Luckily, this compressor uses a chipset that prevents any signal attenuation when going from balanced to unbalanced. I can also use balanced and unbalanced patch cables and they both sound exactly the same and produce the exact same signal levels.

I guess it was technically a great engineering idea to put this jumper on board to accommodate any system.; There is also, according to the mfr, a piece I can buy to make it balanced on the output.

Klark Teknik makes GREAT sounding gear. Their stuff is also built like tanks! It turns out they are smartly engineered and very flexible as well!