PlanetZ forums - scopeusers.com

I wish to connect a mic to the line in of the Scope Pro Classic card which has unbalanced i/o.

This looked like a nice cheap mic pre-amp - problem is the outputs are balanced :-

CME Matrix X Mic-Pre / Channel Strip
http://www.dv247.com/invt/37350/

How do I convert the 'balanced' signal to the 'unbalanced' input on the Scope Card - or is it of no relevance (as it is only a short distance) as the signal will default to 'unbalanced' if I am connecting a balanced output to the unbalanced Scope input.

Would it simply mean I need to increase the gain at the input in the Scope mixer?

no, you'll need to DECREASE the gain coming out of the micpre. the pre, being calibrated to +4, would output a very hot signal which might overdrive the card's inputs, but could be easily mitigated by just turning the pre down. i would think most inexpensive pres would offer both balanced and unbalanced operation. many have output level switches.

I'll look at other stuff as well - I do no recording, only a Waldorf Blofeld into the line inputs. I'll have a look at mixers as well - it seems all the cheap stuff is balanced only unless its under £50

strav100 wrote: How do I convert the 'balanced' signal to the 'unbalanced' .....

On the balanced connector, tie pin 3 and pin 1 together. Pin2 is hot.

better to lift pin 1(sleeve).
that way you are less likely to have a ground loop.

Lift at the unbalanced end, not the xlr.

*If* your are having ground loop problems and it's not a transformer or cross coupled output stage then best to just connect pin2 of the xlr to the tip of the 1/4" or rca jack and connect pin1 of the xlr to the shield of the cable and leaving the sleeve of the 1/4" or rca jack unterminated.

yes.

http://www.dv247.com/invt/37350/

Is this bit of gear OK? What do you think of it??

It seems to be a good choice, especially as it doesn't appear to have balanced outs; as your Scope card don't have that. The labels "soundcard in/out" seems to imply unbalanced jacks. Of course, there's always the option to get one of those boxes that convert between balanced/unbalanced signals. No need to mess with altering the wiring that way.

i'm sure it will be fine. at that price you can't expect much, but i'm sure it's plenty functional.

if that's your budget, i might consider a little Phonic 2 channel mixer. it's similar money, but you'll get 2 mic pres and it might be useful for other things..i DO like the matrix aspect of the CME pre you posted, though.

don't worry about the balaced/unbalaced thing too much. most inexpensive balanced devices can be connected right up to an unbalanced device with no problems.

Thanks for the replies
CME say the outputs are all balanced.
I was thinking of only connecting a cheap microphone to the pre amp - then into the line in of my Scope card (unbalanced)
I do have a Waldorf Blofeld which I got 2/3 weeks (my first hardware synth!) - just plugged it into the line in of scope (no idea if balanced or not - nothing in the manual)

Perhaps a wee mixer is better?
like pic below


I'm not sure about passing my Scope output signals through this matrix thing then connecting it to my Yamaha monitors - will it degrade the signal??

The preamps on those are very good - much better than you'd think, given the cost (they're the same Onyx pres as on the larger Mackie VLZ3 desks).

There will be a very slight degradation to your monitoring chain if you run through that, but I wouldn't worry about it at all. Are your Yammy monitors active? If so, I'm sure you'll find that the convenience of a physical, analogue pot to control monitor level will far outweigh the pretty negligible loss in fidelity.

Cheers,

Chris

The Yamaha's are MSP5s - rather small - they are OK bass response not great at low volumes (obviously with small monitors)

Should I get the Mackie or the CME

What's a nice cheap mic - I can't sing - just to mess with vocoders etc.

well, you can always rely on the Shure SM58 classic dynamic, a once-in-a-lifetime investment, barely indestructable. Not exactly cheapo, though.
But if you're after that sound (it has a special 'effect' when very close to the lips, which you know from videos) then get the original - I have a Behringer copy that's really muddy, can't compete at all.
Otherwise any Chinese large scale condensor will do, the sound is more 'clean' and possibly a bit harsh, which shouldn't matter too much for this application.

cheers, Tom

strav, i'd prefer the mackie.

as to the mic, Astro's comments are right on. i also have a couple of favorites to suggest.

for a super high quality dynamic mic i suggest an Audix OM2 or OM3(the OM3 has the same eq curve as the SM58, but it's a much better quality mic).

the Audio Technica AT2020 is a pretty cool condensor for about $80-100.

for vocoder, you'd want a dynamic. for other things, probably the condensor...

I'll go for the Mackie and that Shure mic then

Thanks guys for all your help