inserts / balancing / patchbays
- chuckfurok
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inserts / balancing / patchbays
Not sure if this should be in gear talk or not.....
So I have a Digimax FS in the mail to me and I have been thinking about how to hook it up. One reason I was excited about this piece of gear (besides not having to have anything made by behringer in my signal chain) is that by using the inserts you can bypass the pre-amps. But if I do this it will be unbalanced right? If I have all 8 inserts routed to my patchbay (oh crap that's behringer!) that is half-normalled does my signal become unbalanced even if nothing is patched in?
Along the same lines if I have the inserts on my console all routed to a patchbay does the resulting signal become unbalanced or does it get rebalanced somehow? Is there such a thing as balanced inserts?
I am thinking about this correctly? I am not super paranoid about everything being balanced but would like it to be if possible.
So I have a Digimax FS in the mail to me and I have been thinking about how to hook it up. One reason I was excited about this piece of gear (besides not having to have anything made by behringer in my signal chain) is that by using the inserts you can bypass the pre-amps. But if I do this it will be unbalanced right? If I have all 8 inserts routed to my patchbay (oh crap that's behringer!) that is half-normalled does my signal become unbalanced even if nothing is patched in?
Along the same lines if I have the inserts on my console all routed to a patchbay does the resulting signal become unbalanced or does it get rebalanced somehow? Is there such a thing as balanced inserts?
I am thinking about this correctly? I am not super paranoid about everything being balanced but would like it to be if possible.
- chuckfurok
- steve albini likes it
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- chuckfurok
- steve albini likes it
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- Joined: Fri Sep 19, 2003 3:49 pm
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Due to the overwhelming feedback I have gotten on this thread I thought I would add some more questions and thoughts.
I figured out that I cannot put the inserts on my
digimax into a balanced patchbay. In order for an
unbalanced insert to be normalled the tip has to
connect to ring. right? And this is not possible on a
balanced patchbay because ring is normalled to ring
and tip is normalled to tip and they do not cross.
I have to get an unbalanced patchbay for inserts. Is this correct?
I figured out that I cannot put the inserts on my
digimax into a balanced patchbay. In order for an
unbalanced insert to be normalled the tip has to
connect to ring. right? And this is not possible on a
balanced patchbay because ring is normalled to ring
and tip is normalled to tip and they do not cross.
I have to get an unbalanced patchbay for inserts. Is this correct?
Incorrect.
Tip never connects to ring. In order to un-ballance your TRS connector you connect ring to sleeve. you can connect inserts to a ballanced patchbay and it will work fine. I do it all the time. You are overthinking the inportance of the signal becoming unballanced ate the insert. It causes little to no problem that you will notice. The insert jack itself is a normaled connection.
Tip never connects to ring. In order to un-ballance your TRS connector you connect ring to sleeve. you can connect inserts to a ballanced patchbay and it will work fine. I do it all the time. You are overthinking the inportance of the signal becoming unballanced ate the insert. It causes little to no problem that you will notice. The insert jack itself is a normaled connection.
If you really wanted to run the insert cables to the back of the patchbay in some permanent installation, you'd just have to use an insert cable (TRS>2xTS) and put the return above the send. Then they're normalled together.
Of course, you've just extended the signal path of your mixer with a whole bunch of wire when you don't need inserts. I usually just plug in the insert cable when I need it and run it to the front of the patchbay.
Of course, you've just extended the signal path of your mixer with a whole bunch of wire when you don't need inserts. I usually just plug in the insert cable when I need it and run it to the front of the patchbay.
- chuckfurok
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The thing is I tried this and then the mic pres would not pass signal. I double checked that they were set to normal. It may just be the piece of shite behringer patch bay. Thanks for your inputs.ashcat_lt wrote:If you really wanted to run the insert cables to the back of the patchbay in some permanent installation, you'd just have to use an insert cable (TRS>2xTS) and put the return above the send. Then they're normalled together.
I also would like to have the inserts on the patchbay A. because the insert jacks are on the back of the digimax and a pain to get to and B. I would like to be able to bypass the pres using the return of the insert.
Does the Patch bay have the cards that you flip to change the normal? A friend of mine has a Nady patch bay and the function does not work on half of the cards. IF I were y?u I would spring for a better (Neutrik/switchcraft) patch bay. They can go for fairly cheep on Ebay. I got 2 Neutrik bays and 4 30', 12 ch. Snakes for $60.
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