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1/4" - XLR Cables

Author	Comment
Jaaye	1/4" - XLR Cables	Lead	[-]
Posts: 282 (05/14/09 09:53:02) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Tags : None Dear Forumites, I have been told by several sources whose names escape me that if one has a 1/4" on one end and an XLR jack on the other, the ideal solution is a 1/4" cable, an XLR cable, and a DI box between 'em. The reason being is that a 1/4" - XLR cable is prone to signal loss. Can anyone bear this out for me? Is there any evidence I can look at? All my data is anecdotal and I don't have the means to test it myself. Thank you kindly. -Jon
JeepnDrummer		#1	[-]
Posts: 322 (05/14/09 13:16:01) Senior Member Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	It depends. Are you dealing with a TRS 1/4" (balanced) or a TS 1/4" (unbalanced)? What's the application? Once this is known, the answer will be easy.
Jaaye		#2	[-]
Posts: 283 (05/15/09 08:16:36) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Sorry; you're right, i should have been more specific. 1/4" will be mono, I believe that makes it TS/Unbalanced. Applications will either be connecting a microphone to an amplifier input or connecting the line out of an amplifier to the balanced input of another. Thanks.
JeepnDrummer		#3	[-]
Posts: 325 (05/15/09 15:00:06) Senior Member Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	The DI box will match the impedance between unbalanced and balanced lines, which is why DIs are typically used on the outputs for most musical instruments that are run through a sound system. You lost me with "connecting a microphone to an amplifier input..." Have you considered buying a small, inexpensive mixer? This will allow you to properly connect the balanced line from the mic to the balanced input of the mixer. The balanced output the mixer can then be connected to the balanced input of the amp. Generally, you can't or shouldn't ever try to connect a mic directly to an amp. Okay, I just reread this ... are you trying to connect a mic to the 1/4" input of a guitar amp? I'm also confused by "...connecting the line out of an amplifier to the balanced input of another." Of another what? And what type of amplifier....I presume you mean a guitar or bass amp? If you're referring to the line out of a guitar amp, then it depends on whether it's a balanced or unbalance out. If unbalanced, use a DI. If balanced, connect directly to the snake or sub mixer.
Jglas		#4	[-]
Posts: 14 (05/16/09 04:53:09) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Balanced, unbalanced, mono send, stereo send, xlr, 1/4 inch, what a good time huh. This is what I've been told. When using long cable runs it is best to use a balanced cable. I too have a question though, what if it is not a stereo output? If you have a mono out and you want to run a long cable do you use a balanced cable, does the grounding provide less noise or something. Hey Jeepndrummer, what do you think? Let me share what I know about DI boxes. If you want a good direct out sound from a tube amp you need a box that provides a load against your amp. Make sure you get a box that does this. It's called a load box. Don't just buy any DI box and expect the amp direct out to sound good. If it sounds thin and frail it is because the amp is not saturating like it would with speakers in line. A good DI (load box) fools the amp into thinking it is driving speakers and it works like it would when pushing signal through a cabinet. This saturates the tubes and gives the warmth and distortion that makes tube amps desirable to begin with. This is why alot of players always want to mic the speaker cabinet and not go direct, they get better tone. With a good box you can get close to this tone, and many times satisfy the player. Jason
JeepnDrummer		#5	[-]
Posts: 326 (05/17/09 02:29:29) Senior Member Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	A balanced cable uses three conductors (pos, neg and grnd) whereas an unbalanced cable uses two. The benefits to using balanced cables include low noise and making use of the higher gain of balanced outputs (balanced output = +4 dB vs. unbalanced output = -10 dB). In pro audio with regard to the cables we're talking about in this thread, a single balanced or unbalanced cable doesn't carry stereo; it's mono. To run stereo, run two lines. There are many active and passive direct boxes on the market. The idea of a DI is to increase the impedance (impedance loading) so you don't load down the source (e.g., guitar pick-up), which yields better audio results. Passive DIs work great for keyboards and guitar and bass amps that have 1/4" outputs, because the impedance of those sources isn't super high. Acoustic guitar pick-ups tend to have higher impedances. Active DIs also have higher impedances, which is why they usually work better than passive DIs on acoustic guitars. I haven't worked with any high quality active DIs, but it's my understanding they provide a more detailed sound. A passive DI will still work fine on most acoustic guitars with pick-ups.

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