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#967149 - 07/14/01 06:02 AM

Phono Plugs to 2408

trick fall
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Registered: 07/18/00
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Loc: Somewhere btwn America & the r...

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First off I know this is a dumb ass question................I just got a drum machine with phono outs and I wanna record through my Motu 2408. Can I plug it straight into the 2408 or do I need to put it through a direct box or preamp? Thanx

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#967150 - 07/15/01 03:19 AM

Re: Phono Plugs to 2408

Stephen Fortner
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Registered: 01/18/01
Posts: 2383
Loc: Bump City, CA, UNITED STATES

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Do you have an original 2408 or 2408 mk II ? The first one had phono (RCA, home-stereo type) jacks for the 20-bit analog I/O. The mk II version has 1/4" phone plugs, and can certainly accept the presumably line-level, -10dB outputs from your drum machine. Everybody and their grandma makes a 1/4" - to - phono adaptor cable, so you should be set.

_________________________
"I'm just a confused musician who got sidetracked into this damned word business..." -Hunter S. Thompson

Stephen Fortner
Technical Editor, Keyboard Magazine
NewBay Media LLC

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#967151 - 07/15/01 03:25 AM

Re: Phono Plugs to 2408

Stephen Fortner
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Registered: 01/18/01
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Loc: Bump City, CA, UNITED STATES

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I'm a dumbass. Actually just one too many glasses of cab. I should have mentioned that the 2408 mk II's inputs are balanced, TRS (tip-ring-sleeve) type. Ideally, you should take your source's unbalanced outputs (which RCA jacks are by defnition) into a DI which makes the 2408 see a balanced input for best signal quality. A Mackie VLZ mixer will do the job nicely. The 2408's inputs, like the 1/4" jacks on a Mackie, might do double-duty as unbalanced, but feeding it a balanced source is the best thing.

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#967152 - 07/15/01 06:41 AM

Re: Phono Plugs to 2408

trick fall
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Registered: 07/18/00
Posts: 414
Loc: Somewhere btwn America & the r...

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Thanks Steve. I have the 2408mk 2. I got some phono to quarter inch wires today and I think the inputs on the 2408 can be changed to unbalanced. I have to pull out the manual to check. Thanks again.

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#967153 - 07/17/01 09:39 PM

Re: Phono Plugs to 2408

Anderton
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Registered: 01/28/00
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Generally, plugging a mono plug into a TRS balanced input automatically converts it to unbalanced because the mono plug's ground shorts out one of the inputs to ground, thus unbalancing the input. This should work fine.

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Craig Anderton
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#967154 - 07/17/01 10:40 PM

Re: Phono Plugs to 2408

AudioMaverick
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Registered: 05/19/01
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That is right... Going "Tip-Sleeve" on the input will just drop the input level about 11.8dB. If the 2408 has a switch on the input for "+4/-10", it will cut/boost the signal appropriately.

The output is where you worry about shorting the ring to the sleeve. Some units can be damaged this way, if the switch is not in the correct position. My Delta-1010s warn me of this.

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