Attic studio build on the horizon. I have four or five old ADC TT bays loomed out to punch-down blocks that I plan to install in an effort to over-engineer my dream home project studio. I have a few unbalanced outboard pieces I'd like to make available at the bays (Lexicon LXP-1, dbx half-rack stuff). Been doing a lot of reading on the best way to handle this. Getting mixed signals (see what I did there?).
Any sage advice welcome. I found an SOS article that mentioned creating a special patch cable that connected the unbalanced sleeve to the ring (cold or -) wire--I assume on the unbalanced cable end to make use of the balanced shielding. The guy didn't specify if that was for inputs or outputs. Maybe both? Downside (is it, though?) of this approach is a 12dB signal discrepancy/expectancy 'tween the two. (Also: wouldn't it make more sense to do this alteration/soldering at the connector to the unit itself, and then just use a normal patch cord at the bay?
I've also read about balancing all my unbalanced ins and outs using transformers (coloring the sound?) or op amps (noise? distortion?). I see ready-to-populate as well as fully-populated (except for a power supply) boards on Ebay for this purpose. But it's irritatingly hard to find noise and distortion specs to inform my buying decision if I were to go this route. Would love to find sufficiently-vetted, ready-to-solder kits.
Thoughts? Please and thank you.
Connect With Us