Balanced 1/4" Output --> Unbalanced 1/4" Input of 4-Track: The Best Way?

Recording Techniques, People Skills, Gear, Recording Spaces, Computers, and DIY

Moderators: drumsound, tomb

Post Reply
joey_p77
audio school
Posts: 4
Joined: Thu Jan 25, 2018 5:28 pm

Balanced 1/4" Output --> Unbalanced 1/4" Input of 4-Track: The Best Way?

Post by joey_p77 » Thu Jan 25, 2018 5:40 pm

After reading 3 different articles explaining the mechanics of balanced vs. unbalanced outputs/inputs I still don't understand what the best option is here.

My 4-track Portastudio has UNbalanced (-10db) 1/4" inputs. My mixer (and other devices) have balanced (+4db) 1/4" outputs. What's the best way to connect these things to my 4-track? Is there any risk of damaging the 4-track in this scenario?

User avatar
markjazzbassist
tinnitus
Posts: 1050
Joined: Mon Apr 25, 2011 11:33 am
Location: Cleveland

Re: Balanced 1/4" Output --> Unbalanced 1/4" Input of 4-Track: The Best Way?

Post by markjazzbassist » Fri Jan 26, 2018 6:41 am

what mixer and what portastudio models do you own?

Magnetic Services
suffering 'studio suck'
Posts: 444
Joined: Mon Apr 16, 2012 11:21 pm

Re: Balanced 1/4" Output --> Unbalanced 1/4" Input of 4-Track: The Best Way?

Post by Magnetic Services » Fri Jan 26, 2018 8:24 am

Read this one yet?

http://www.rane.com/note110.html

See "the next best right way to do it".

Unless you notice problems you're probably fine, but to be sure you could get a transformer isolator like the ART T-8 which would give you 4 isolated channels going in and 4 out.

joey_p77
audio school
Posts: 4
Joined: Thu Jan 25, 2018 5:28 pm

Re: Balanced 1/4" Output --> Unbalanced 1/4" Input of 4-Track: The Best Way?

Post by joey_p77 » Fri Jan 26, 2018 12:02 pm

markjazzbassist wrote:
Fri Jan 26, 2018 6:41 am
what mixer and what portastudio models do you own?
It's a 424 mkii Portastudio and an Alesis Studio 24 mixer. I'm interested in general what the best way to feed the (usually) unbalanced inputs of old tape machines with the balanced outputs of newer mixers and preamps.

joey_p77
audio school
Posts: 4
Joined: Thu Jan 25, 2018 5:28 pm

Re: Balanced 1/4" Output --> Unbalanced 1/4" Input of 4-Track: The Best Way?

Post by joey_p77 » Fri Jan 26, 2018 12:11 pm

Magnetic Services wrote:
Fri Jan 26, 2018 8:24 am
Read this one yet?

http://www.rane.com/note110.html

See "the next best right way to do it".

Unless you notice problems you're probably fine, but to be sure you could get a transformer isolator like the ART T-8 which would give you 4 isolated channels going in and 4 out.
Thanks, that's a great resource, although it seems mostly to address issues of unwanted hum and noise.

Apart from hum/noise are there any other implications of the hotter +4 db balanced output feeding the -10db unbalanced input?

User avatar
markjazzbassist
tinnitus
Posts: 1050
Joined: Mon Apr 25, 2011 11:33 am
Location: Cleveland

Re: Balanced 1/4" Output --> Unbalanced 1/4" Input of 4-Track: The Best Way?

Post by markjazzbassist » Fri Jan 26, 2018 12:29 pm

yeah it's a hotter signal so you'll be overdriving the preamps. +4db is 1.2 volts, -10db is 0.3 volts, pretty large difference there. you need something like this

http://tascam.com/product/la-80mkii/

or this

https://www.amazon.com/Tascam-8-Channel ... B002MZOWV4


that lowers/raises it safely without introducing artifacts or effecting the sound.

User avatar
vvv
zen recordist
Posts: 10139
Joined: Tue May 13, 2003 8:08 am
Location: Chi
Contact:

Re: Balanced 1/4" Output --> Unbalanced 1/4" Input of 4-Track: The Best Way?

Post by vvv » Fri Jan 26, 2018 2:45 pm

Hmmm.

Wuzzit me, cheap and lazy as I am, I'd just try it from all settings at "0", see if it works - I mean, plug in and go.

Disclaimer: If it blows up, I'll feel bad. :twisted:
bandcamp;
blog.
I mix with olive juice.

Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 64 guests