VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

[D Voice]

If I understand correctly, we want USB cables as short as possible, as speed/quality(?). Whereas XLR mic cables are not so negatively affected over distance. Right?

Is there a great difference in the quality of audio signal between XLR to XLR and XLR to 1/4 inch?


[I have a Yamaha-UW500 which is an AD/DA converter with Midi and 1/4 inch (as well as optical) inputs, but no XLR inputs, and no phantom power. If I am plugging my Mic into a PreSonus pre-amp, and from there via a 10 foot cable to the UW-500, which is next to the computer. Wondering how that would compare with other possible choices, or whether I should just get rid of the UW500 ...]

[Monk]

The reason XLR cables do so well over distance is the built in phase canceling. There's a +1 pin a -1 pin and a ground. Once the signal reaches the destination, the +1 and -1 are matched up, and any noise that was picked up along the way is canceled out.

With standard 1/4 inch cables, with just the tip and sleeve, over a long distance they will pick up noise. If you use a balanced 1/4 connection, Tip Ring Sleeve, TRS then it acts as a XLR and provides a cleaner signal.

That's IF both ends of the signal chain support TRS.

Looking at the specs for the UW500, it does not support TRS.

If it were me. I would upgrade. There are so many better choices out there now that will have phantom power, XLR inputs and decent pre-amps.
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[Mike Sommer]

I'm going to bet that those 1/4" inputs on the front of the UW500 are TRS.

A 15' unbalanced run, under normal conditions, should be fine.

Quite frankly you may get more noise from the PreSonus than you will the long unbalanced run- at least that's been my experience.

ANd I love OPTICAL interface hookups.
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The Blog:
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Acoustics are counter-intuitive. If one thing is certain about acoustics, it is that if anything seems obvious it is probably wrong.

[D Voice]

is there any difference between using the 1/4" output and a 1/4" cable into the Yamaha; and using the XLR output and an XLR to 1/4" cable?

[Mike Sommer]

I'm having difficulty understanding your query. Can you rephrase that?

But I'll try to decipher. 1/4-inch ins and outs on equipment can either be balanced or unbalanced, one needs to check the manuel or call the manufacture for details. Most modern pro equipmnet uses balanced ins and outs, for line-level signal (this would include signals from preamplifiers).

(Power outputs, the signal that comes from power amplifiers, such as the signal that drive speakers, are unbalanced.)

When interconnecting line level equipment, you should always used balanced lines. This would be 1/4-inch TRS and or XLR cables.

Even if the 1/4-inch receptacle/connector is not balanced using a TRS should be fine, since it is only the tip and the sleeve that are making the connection.
_________________
The Blog:
http://voiceoveraudio.blogspot.com/

Acoustics are counter-intuitive. If one thing is certain about acoustics, it is that if anything seems obvious it is probably wrong.

[D Voice]

On the (TubePre) preamp, the 1/4" outputs are Unbalanced; the XLR outputs are balanced.

The Yamaha UW-500 only has 1/4" input jacks ("Standard TS").

Wondering whether it is better to use:
a) a regular 1/4" cable' (1/4" male on both ends); or
b) one of the XLR to 1/4" cables that I already own (XLR on one end, 1/4" on the other).

I have used the latter before with Dynamic mics directly into the UW-500).

[Mike Sommer]

[D Voice]

Thanks!

No buzz or humm with either. They both sound decent, to my ears. Just wondering which to expect a better sound from.

Actually computer noise (from the other room) is a bigger problem- working on dealing with that.


Unfortunately, looks like I might have to use this setup for a little while. Had a new E-mu 0404 brought over as an upgrade, but its got a nasty crackle. But that's another story...