x
anonymous 8 January 2006

I am making some more cables for my new 32 ch. Ghost.
In the Ghost manual (page 5.10) it shows that all the inputs are balanced. Then under that it shows that the insert points are unbalanced. Lastly it shows that the AUX's are ground compensated.

What the @#!% is ground compensated?

Comments

RemyRAD Mon, 01/09/2006 - 00:14

I think what they are referring to is that there is a capacitor on your ground wire where the other end is then connected to your chassis ground. This makes the circuit see a ground with AC signals, but not with DC. It is a method of decoupling. It is included to help prevent ground loops. So, it is an AC ground not a DC ground. And after all all audio is AC.

Now I could be wrong but probably not.

I am frequently more left than right however. Vote Democratic in 2008.
Ms. Remy Ann David

anonymous Tue, 01/10/2006 - 03:57

Thanks RemyRAD,
That was the first question.
The second question is...which cable to use? balanced or unbalanced?

My guess is balanced. :oops:
The 2 effect units I'm trying to hook up are both Eventide. With stereo in & stereo out.
The Left and Right input jacks can use either XLR "or" 1/4" plugs.
And all the Ghost jacks are 1/4"
So what do I do?
TRS 1/4" on both ends? (3rd question)
Or XLR to 1/4" TRS.

anonymous Tue, 01/10/2006 - 06:57

Pre Amp wrote: Thanks RemyRAD,
That was the first question.
The second question is...which cable to use? balanced or unbalanced?

My guess is balanced. :oops:
The 2 effect units I'm trying to hook up are both Eventide. With stereo in & stereo out.
The Left and Right input jacks can use either XLR "or" 1/4" plugs.
And all the Ghost jacks are 1/4"
So what do I do?
TRS 1/4" on both ends? (3rd question)
Or XLR to 1/4" TRS.

Treat your "ground compensated" outputs as if they were balanced, first of all. Second of all, beat yourself in the foot with a deadblow hammer until you can confidently say "I DON'T CARE WHAT THE CABLE LOOKS LIKE, ONLY THE SIGNAL CAN BE BALANCED OR UNBALANCED!"

That is, it doesn't matter what style of connector you use, so long as you take into account what SIGNAL TYPE you're putting down the wire. Cables, in and of themselves, cannot be balanced or unbalanced. They can be suitable for those types of signals, or not, but they cannot be balanced in and of themselves, really.

Are you using a patch bay for these connections? Don't Ghosts have integrated patchbays? One of those Soundcraft boards does doesn't it? Anyhooters, use whichever connectors is more convenient to you. XLR connectors have a technical advantage over 1/4" ones because of greater contact area and the fact that they lock in place, but if 1/4" connectors are more readily available or easier for you to use, or whatever, use them and fear not.

~S

x

User login