Balanced/unbalanced cables

[funkyjojo]

Hi
What cables should I use from my V-drums to BBE.
I know BBE uses balanced cables but does the drum module use it too??
This is the scenario: 2 1/4 jacks from v-drums to BBE; 2 XLR from BBE to JBL's; 2 1/4 jacks from BBE to PA.
Which ones should be balanced??
Can I use two unbalanced from v-drum and two balanced to BBE??
Thanks

[CAH2112]

I'll take a stab at this. I don't have a lot of experience but I did this exact research a few months ago. A 1/4" plug is always an unbalanced where a xlr is usually balanced. For short runs (less than 25-30 feet) unbalanced isn't a problem. It's when you get those long runs through snakes and stuff that you have to be concerned about unbalanced. The thing I've been wanting to know is how to convert 8 1/4" in to 8 xlr cheaply. I could buy 8 direct boxes and that would look qute and cost a bundle. Hope that helps and as always, we thank you for your support.

[Boingo]

Originally posted by funkyjojo:
Hi
What cables should I use from my V-drums to BBE.
I know BBE uses balanced cables but does the drum module use it too??
This is the scenario: 2 1/4 jacks from v-drums to BBE; 2 XLR from BBE to JBL's; 2 1/4 jacks from BBE to PA.
Which ones should be balanced??
Can I use two unbalanced from v-drum and two balanced to BBE??
Thanks

I'm getting some confusion from your post.

1) The Roland units use UNbalanced signals. They are 1/4" and have a tip and a sleeve (standard mono cable).
2) The BBE most of us use is model 482. It uses 1/4" UNbalanced signals.
3) The BBE model 882 uses Balanced signals. It takes XLR or 1/4" Balanced which has a tip, ring and sleeve (TRS) and looks like a stereo headphone connector.
4) An XLR cable is preferred by many because it locks in and is robust. see this site for a brief explanation on balanced cables. http://www.bath.ac.uk/~su2bc/infogui...info/bal.shtml
5) Short cable runs (up to 15 - 20') can use 1/4" UNbal. Longer runs should use a Balanced signal (XLR or 1/4" TRS).
6) There are ways to convert an UNbal signal to a Bal signal. A direct box (DB) is common for this purpose. A simple version of a DB takes the 1/4" UNbal signal in and provides a 1/4" UNbal out AND an XLR Bal out. A pic's worth 1000 words... http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...8.jpg.orig.jpg

Which model BBE do you have?
Which signal will the JBL accept for inputs?
Which signal does the JBL send as output (it may not have an output).
Most PA's require Balanced signals and use XLR's. What is your requirement?

Here's a typical scenario assuming you are using just the BBE 482, the JBL accepts 1/4" UNbal and the PA needs Balanced XLR cables:

Run 1/4" UNbal from the TD-? to a direct box. Send the DB 1/4" UNbal out to the BBE inputs. Send the BBE UNbal outs to the JBL inputs. Send the DB XLR Bal out to the PA. If you use both R & L master outs, you need 2 DB's or one which handles 2 sets of signals.

CAH: how to do it cheaply? I'd like to hear that too. There are 1/4" balanced but it has to be the TRS variety. Maybe this will help. http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...1.jpg.orig.jpg


[This message has been edited by Boingo (edited January 13, 2002).]

[ufotofu]

Did I miss something? What have you done with Kildrum??

[Louis]

You could get two of these: (4 channel rackmounted direct boxes)

http://zzounds.com/love.music?p=p.RLLRDB104&z=1276238489324

(edited)
err..i mean..if you wanted to take all 8 outputs from the TD-10 into a mixer/p.a. and convert them..

sorry..it's late and im wiped out..nevermind!



[This message has been edited by Louis (edited January 17, 2002).]