Topic: Balanced to Unbalanced without losing balancing between conversion

[12milluz]

if that makes any sense...
Basically, I want to run cables from my mics in the air as balanced down to my unbalanced recorder. I figure if I "unbalance" them near the recorder, I will maintain basically all of the benefits of balancing as the long run of cable will be balanced. Would an adapter like this: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/431406-REG/Hosa_Technology_MIT_435_MIT_435_Female_XLR.html maintain the balancing from the mics to the adapter? I know the 1/4" is unbalanced, but will the mic to xlr on the adapter still be balanced? Is this the right type of adapter? If not, does one exist?

[ghellquist]

The adapter will do the job.
But it will modify the sound and probably not for better. Small, low-price are not things that suggest good sound in transformers.
My suggestion is that you get a preamp instead.

// Gunnar

[guysonic]

I've supplied many with a DIRECT WIRED (NO TRANSFORMER) dual XLR Balanced Jack-to-3.5mm miniStereo R/A plug connected directly into the deck.  Using this you would run your balanced extension cables down from your stand, then connect to the patch adapter near deck.  I see no issues if not running over power cords on way to patch adapter.  This and other patch cords on my site at http://www.sonicstudios.com/access.htm#adapters.

[12milluz]

That's a step-up transformer, you don't want that.  A regular ol' 600:600 will do, or a 500:10K would be OK if your mics are low impedance.  But that thing is 200:50K, that ratio is far too high for what you want to do.

Also, you need to consider how you are powering the mics; that would work with dynamic mics, otherwise you need a power supply between the mics and the transformer.

These take a AA battery and are self powered so no worries there. Where could I get a tranformer like that?