Old Motifator threads are available in the Archive.
Jive Talking Robot
Total Posts: 201
Joined 08-23-2010 status: Enthusiast |
My little home studio is going through a bit of a makeover, so I have only been using the XF through my AKG ‘phones until I can move it in to its new home this weekend. I will be hooking the XF up directly to a pair of powered monitors (HS 50Ms actually). The XF manual states the main outs produce a line level signal… I assume the XF OUTS are unbalanced, but can someone confirm this for sure? I don’t think I need to spend money on balanced cables here, but I wanted to double check for the sake of being thorough… thx. Edit - While we are at it: are the INs unbalanced as well? |
DavePolich
Total Posts: 6820
Joined 07-27-2002 status: Guru |
The outs on the XF are unbalanced. |
karlhp
Total Posts: 20
Joined 07-11-2007 status: Regular |
Analog IO is unbalanced. I have only once come across a situation where I needed balanced output from MOTIF due to actual noise. It was solved with a small mixer that was set up close to MOTIF that thad the balanced outputs. These days such mixers are almost free :) And, you’ll need one anyway to use good microphone setup, which obviously requires phantom power and balanced input. BR, Karl. |
ToneDeaf
Total Posts: 197
Joined 12-09-2007 status: Pro |
Excuse hijacking your debate chaps, but as you are well educated in this area, can you explain the balanced/Unbalanced concept to me please? Looking on the web I find the following from hi-fi sound and vision
Ok, that sort of makes sense, so the question is: Why would you ever want unbalanced? Thanks Steve V |
Jive Talking Robot
Total Posts: 201
Joined 08-23-2010 status: Enthusiast |
I am not smart enough to know myself; interestingly not every synth is unbalanced either. The Machinedrum is balanced; Virus as well. Many synths, however, are unbalanced. It seems balanced would be preferred in all cases, but I have short cable runs and my synths only live in my small studio setup, so it isn’t an issue for me personally. That said I have gotten in the habit of matching cables to the outs (hence the question)! And many thanks Dave P and karlhp for confirming!!! |
tuquoque
Total Posts: 563
Joined 08-15-2007 status: Guru |
Never, if you have the money. In many cases manufacturers offer two versions of their equipment (balanced/unbalanced). Some examples are Lexicon MX400 (unbalanced) vs. MX400XL (balanced) or BBE Sonic Maximizer 482i (unbalanced) vs 882i (balanced). There are no other differencies in these two cases. The difference is price and you can choose if you really need balanced connections and if you are ready to pay for it. The other way manufacturers describe the difference is balanced=pro / unbalanced/semi-pro. Therefore it is a matter of identity… |
Jive Talking Robot
Total Posts: 201
Joined 08-23-2010 status: Enthusiast |
Thanks truquoque! So to anyone with knowledge on the subjuect: if the XF outs are unbalanced, is there ANY advantage to using a balanced TRS to TRS OR balanced TRS to XLR cable to hook it up to powered monitors? Keep in mind I am only talking about 5’ cables here. The same question applies to the INs as well… my Machinedrum has balanced outs. Does using a balanced TRS to TRS cable out of the MD and in to the XF get me anything “extra”? Again it would be a short cable run. I assume the answer is “no” in both cases, but it would be interesting to better understand why. Thanks! |
DavePolich
Total Posts: 6820
Joined 07-27-2002 status: Guru |
No advantage whatsoever.
Actually you make things worse by running balanced cables from the XF or
Guitar cables (running from the guitar’s output jack to the amp input or
As to whether balanced or unbalanced sounds better - in my experience,
The number one improvement you can make to your signal path is better
|
Jive Talking Robot
Total Posts: 201
Joined 08-23-2010 status: Enthusiast |
Great read and very helpful… many thanks for taking the time to post. You saved me some money. :) One question about your comment above: would using an unbalanced cable also be the way to go in a situation where the output and the input are NOT matched? Say I have a synth with balanced outs and I am running it in to the unbalanced XF ins… in light of what you’ve written it seems I should default to using unbalanced cables as the final destination for the signal, the XF ins, are unbalanced. In fact, it seems like anytime an unbalanced out/in is involved I should default to an unbalanced cable, but I just want to make sure I understood you correctly. Thanks again! |
DavePolich
Total Posts: 6820
Joined 07-27-2002 status: Guru |
Go with unbalanced. |
Jive Talking Robot
Total Posts: 201
Joined 08-23-2010 status: Enthusiast |
Perfect. Thank you Dave! |