Dumb cable question

[SDB_12]

Hey!

Regarding TRS to XLR M/F patch cables, can you only use the Female side of the cable coming out of gear and into your console without any quality loss? For example, If I have a mic going into my GTQ2 pre, then send the out of that through my insert cable and into the insert on my console, is that basically the same as just patching a regular xlr cable between the two? So one end of the insert cable would be plugged into nothing in this instance...I just want to make sure it's not hurting anything that I'm unaware of.

[Ethan Winer]

I don't know the details of your setup, but I can tell you for sure that TRS versus XLR is merely a method to connect things, and doesn't affect quality. However, if you're using insert cables that are unbalanced, that could possible add hum in some situations compared to using a balanced XLR wire. But change overall audio quality? Not likely.

--Ethan

[Xander]

Originally Posted by SDB_12

Hey!

Regarding TRS to XLR M/F patch cables, can you only use the Female side of the cable coming out of gear and into your console without any quality loss? For example, If I have a mic going into my GTQ2 pre, then send the out of that through my insert cable and into the insert on my console, is that basically the same as just patching a regular xlr cable between the two? So one end of the insert cable would be plugged into nothing in this instance...I just want to make sure it's not hurting anything that I'm unaware of.

"Regarding TRS to XLR M/F patch cables, can you only use the Female side of the cable coming out of gear and into your console without any quality loss?"

I'm sorry, but the above question makes no sense whatsoever. Please read it over to yourself and re-type it in a way that we can help you.

What console are you using? Does it not have line inputs? If it has line inputs, you should be using those instead of the insert jack. The insert jack is a point in the signal path designed to allow the use of a line-level device such as an EQ or dynamics processor to be used. A TRS end is plugged into the console, and two TS ends allow the input and output of the signal processor to be plugged in. Usually it's tip=send and ring=return. Usually. Not always.

Like I said, an insert cable is TRS on one end, split to two TS on the other end. No XLR involved...so I still don't understand your question.

[SDB_12]

Sorry guys, I was in a hurry earlier when I typed that question. I have a Midas Venice F16. The snake I'm looking to get to use for inserting my hardware is this:

MTIS-MF-8x16

It is 8 ea. 1/4" TRS male insert connections to 16 XLR connector break-outs wired 8 ea. FXLR to ring and 8 ea. MXLR to tip.

My question was basically asking if I could use this snake to also patch in a pre directly to my board (line in) for recording. So mic into pre, pre out via the FXLR side of the snake and into the line in of my console via TRS end of the snake. An insert cable, such as the one above, splits the signal I believe. So I'm asking if this is going to degrade the audio if I use these cables to go straight from a pre and into the line in (the MXLR side will not be used, just the FXLR coming out of the pre and into the console via TRS end).

...and I'm assuming the above snake would work fine as a basic insert cable too, right?

Sorry if this is confusing...I completely know what an insert is for, and what a line in is for, and am not confusing them. That's not my question...my question is really about the cable and the uses I could get out of it. Let me know if I'm explaining this better or not.

Thanks!

[hasbeen]

Whenever I use an external mic pre with my console I always patch in to the insert as it bypasses the mic pre in my channel strip so I don't "pre" it 2 times. This is completely okay to do on my console. I would think the venice does the same on the channel strip as well. As long as it is not 100ft long it should be fine going in unbalanced.

Is this what you are asking?

BTW, I have always like the pres in the Venice too!

[Bookerv12]

Isn't the insert after the pre anyway?
I guess I still don't understand why you don't simply take the line out of your external pre into the line in of the board.

What am I missing here?

[hasbeen]

On my console the insert bypasses the channel strip mic pre. The line in on mine goes through 2 "pre" stages. Hence, the insert with no further coloring. YMMV

[SDB_12]

Hmm...I must not be explaining this well. Sorry guys.

I'm really not concerned about where I plug anything. I can use the insert or line in, I've heard some prefer one or the other for different reasons. That's cool.

What I'm asking is about the "insert cable" or Y cable if you will. Normally, most would probably use a standard XLR Female to TRS cable to go from an external pre and into a console (via the line in, or insert, whatever). I'm asking if it's ok to use a "Y" cable to do this as in the link I posted above (only using the Female XLR and TRS connectors of the Y cable). So I'd only be using the Female XLR and the TRS side, but the Male XLR side would not be used. I'm just wanting to know if this causes any issues, or if I should order more standard XLRF to TRS cables.

The reason I ask is all my gear will be patched in on the inserts of my console via Y cables (no patchbay for now). So my Aurora GTQ2 will be patched into 2 channel inserts on the console for mixing, but when tracking I'll have to simply unplug the "Inputs" from the GTQ2 and plug my mic into that. Instead of switching cables completely, I'd like to just leave the "insert cable" there and simply unhook the XLR Male from the inputs and let them dangle so I can plug in a mic for tracking. Make sense yet?