#881647 - 10/10/00 01:30 PM
Mixing balanced and unbalanced processors
|
Bart
Senior Member
Registered: 12/07/99
Posts: 44
Loc: St.Paul, MN USA
|
Offline
|
|
On FOH, all my cables are balanced. However, my compressors and one other unit are not balanced components. I run one of the compressors inline out of the L/R main outs from the board. I always use the shortest cable possible (1ft). I haven't had any problems with buzzing or humming, but I would like to know if mixing balanced and unbalanced components in a signal chain, or in other parts of the system is something you should try to avoid.
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#881648 - 10/10/00 02:31 PM
Re: Mixing balanced and unbalanced processors
|
Anonymous
Anonymous
Unregistered
|
Mixing unbalanced and balanced outboard components is done fairly commonly for most of us "non-touring" groups. However, you have to be aware that balanced I/O gives you twice the signal amplitude than unbalanced, so there may be some signal gain compensation to deal with.
As far as the dual compressor on your stereo mix, first I hope its there for mostly a limiter (ratio > 10:1) application to save speakers from dropped mics and general speaker driver protection. If you use a board snake or drive long cabling from your compressor, I would urge you to trade up to a compressor with balanced ins and outs. Even the Behringer Composer Pro at $150 provides this feature.
Consider using your existing compressor for channel insert applications (bass, kick, etc.) and going balanced to the amp rack. If your amps and speakers are well matched, the built-in limiters on most modern amps will perform the protection function, free-ing up the compressor for other uses.
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
