And usually a DI box will convert from unbalanced to balanced as
well, which is why I think someone suggested using it to connect
balanced signals to the MOTM. I think the usual use of a basic,
passive DI box is to convert high impedance, unbalanced signals into
low impedance, balanced signals. It is true that some active DIs can
amplify/attenuate the signal, and many preamps have Hi-Z inputs and
can function as DI boxes too. But bringing this back around to MOTM;
I think the answer to the original question about connecting balanced
DAW I/O with the MOTM is that it should work fine with unbalanced TS
(instrument) cables; i.e. just plug the TS cables from the DAW to the
MOTM and from the MOTM back to the DAW. Any decent DAW interface
with balanced line ins/outs should accept a TS plug and the
unbalanced signal it carries (and in fact have been designed to do so
since this would be a common thing to do with most keyboards and many
mixers, etc). The thing to realize is that obviously you won't have
a balanced signal, but unbalanced to and from the MOTM (even though
the connections on the DAW ins/outs are balanced). This should not
be a problem unless you have really long cable runs - running through
a long snake for example, would probably be a bad idea. But assuming
your DAW interface is reasonably near your modular rig (say 10 to 20
feet; shorter is better) I think you should be fine.
My $0.02. Ok, now someone correct me. :-)
Larry D.
On Mar 29, 2006, at 4:23 PM, Henry Till wrote:
> Actually, this is factually incorrect as well.
>
> A true passive direct box simply changes the impedance of a signal
> from low to high (or vice-versa), and does not amplify the signal in
> doing so.
>
> An active direct box may amplify the signal as well, but this has
> absolutely nothing to do with its primary function, which is to
> change the impedance of the signal.
>
> -Henry
>
> On Mar 29, 2006, at 3:46 PM, Jonathan Snipes wrote:
>
>>
>> On Mar 29, 2006, at 12:36 PM, ivancu@... wrote:
>>
>>> Don't use a direct box. Most direct boxes will take a line-level
>>> input
>>> and attenuate it to mic level. You WANT a high-level line input
>>> going
>>> to the MOTM.
>>
>> I'm sorry to chime in, but this just isn't true. DI boxes take an
>> unbalanced signal and AMPLIFY it to a balanced line-level signal.
>> Useful when you're plugging an unbalanced instrument in on-stage,
>> then running in 200 feet back to the console, and don't want to add
>> ground hum & lose signal.
>>
>> Just because there's an XLR output from a DI Box, doesn't mean that
>> it's mic-level.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Yahoo! Groups Links
>>
>>
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> Yahoo! Groups Links
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