Topic: SBD CAbles/balanced unbalanced questions

[paulbaptiste]

Hey i've been trying to read up on SBD cables, and saw that great post showing everything i would need, but was curious of the balanced unbalanced thing.

I'm planning on getting an R-44.

So My original cable would be XLR to RCA and then all the adaptors after that.  I didn't see a balanced XLR to RCA Cable.  Only unbalanced, of course i may have not been looking in the right place.  So do i need to convert back to balanced, or i am i making this too complicated.  Thanks

Nick

[boojum]

I bought a pair of RCA > TRS convertors at RadioShack.  Some SBD's are TRS so either way I am covered with my TRS > XLR cables.  I just connect 'em and they work.  I am a Liberal Arts major and all that stuff is way too compolicated for me.  You don't have to understand electricity to turn on the lights.       

[H.A.V.E.]

RCA is by nature unbalanced.  So, even a converting adaptor only converts the physical connection- it doesn't turn an unbalanced signal into a balanced one.  That said, yes the signal path will work- it just won't be balanced.  Balanced lines and connections are more important for long runs, and helps where there's lots of possible radio or electro-magnetic interference.

[Teen Age Riot]

The R44 has XLR inputs, right?
If so, for most of the bigger boards, all you'll need is two standard XLR>XLR cables.
Of course, you should always have a complete set of adapters in your bag, just in case. But I can't even remember the last time when a console I was patching from required 1/4 or RCA plugs.

[paulbaptiste]

ya the last plug in i had was RCA, so i'm thinking xlr's from the r-44 to RCA, then adaptors after that.  Anybody got an XLR to RCA Cable they wanna get rid of?

[Diamond_D]

I went to guitar center and bought a pair of Hosa XLR-RCA adapters

http://www.beachaudio.com/Hosa/Gxf-132-p-107934.html?utm_source=froogle&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=gxf-132&utm_content=atr

1 pair of 1/4" to RCA adapters

and a 6' run of RCA male-to-male cable, now I'm covered for XLR, 1/4", and RCA outputs (I've used all three this year) and only have 1 cable to carry around

[batchain]

I went to guitar center and bought a pair of Hosa XLR-RCA adapters

http://www.beachaudio.com/Hosa/Gxf-132-p-107934.html?utm_source=froogle&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=gxf-132&utm_content=atr

1 pair of 1/4" to RCA adapters

and a 6' run of RCA male-to-male cable, now I'm covered for XLR, 1/4", and RCA outputs (I've used all three this year) and only have 1 cable to carry around

Yep, same here. This covers any kind of feed you may encounter with just one cable.