[sdiy] Request brain dump on balanced lines

[Grant Richter]

Can someone familiar with balanced mixing console lines summarize the
information?

What I need to know is typical voltage levels and impedance's for TRS jacks
and XLR connectors.

I'm trying to figure out a nice (i.e. cheap) way to interface +/- 5 volt
single ended synth signals to your typical mixing console balanced inputs.

Is a single ended to balanced transformer a good way to go, or is an active
differential output better?

I get asked about this all the time and don't really have a good answer.

Thank you for any information or help.