TS unbalanced cable>TRS balanced jack?

guitaniac · #1 12-05-2019, 06:04 AM

Will this connection work decently well? I'm thinking it probably will, but would like the observations of folks who've actually tried it.

The signal from the TS unbalanced cable would be buffered by an active system or outboard preamp. I wouldn't try connecting a passive pickup directly to a mic input. The TRS mic input does have phantom power available, but it can be turned off.

pieterh · #2 12-05-2019, 06:11 AM

If you mean a balanced tele-jack input on a mixer then yes it should work fine.

It is absolutely essential to make sure there is no phantom power going through the TRS, though I was under the impression that phantom power only goes through balanced XLR-contacts. Double check to make sure because it could be an expensive and painful mistake...

keith.rogers · #3 12-05-2019, 06:31 AM

A DI is the way this is typically done, or am I missing something?

MikeBmusic · #4 12-05-2019, 07:28 AM

What are you plugging in (guitar, active/passive, etc)? I've never had an issue (phantom power always off). On an OUTPUT circuit, though - TRS balanced to a powered speaker, using a TS cable resulted in a lot of hum.

guitaniac · #5 12-05-2019, 08:08 AM

Thanks for all the responses.

I've been looking at this Pigtronix "Real Deal" blender which is on sale at Sweetwater.

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/det...r-preamp-pedal

The mic input is balanced TRS to accept a mic signal, but I'd be using it with an active internal mic like the Baggs Lyric, or an SBT like the Schatten HFN (active system or passive SBT thru an outboard preamp). The Lyric system or SBT system would have an unbalanced output thru a TS cable.

I hope that explains my interest in running an unbalanced TS cable to a balanced TRS input. I could indeed run to a DI and then take the DI to the Real Deal's mic input with a special cable (XLR plug on one end, TRS 1/4" plug on the other), but I hope that wouldn't be necessary.

keith.rogers · #6 12-05-2019, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by guitaniac

Thanks for all the responses.

I've been looking at this Pigtronix "Real Deal" blender which is on sale at Sweetwater.

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/det...r-preamp-pedal

The mic input is balanced TRS to accept a mic signal, but I'd be using it with an active internal mic like the Baggs Lyric, or an SBT like the Schatten HFN (active system or passive SBT thru an outboard preamp). The Lyric system or SBT system would have an unbalanced output thru a TS cable.

I hope that explains my interest in running an unbalanced TS cable to a balanced TRS input. I could indeed run to a DI and then take the DI to the Real Deal's mic input with a special cable (XLR plug on one end, TRS 1/4" plug on the other), but I hope that wouldn't be necessary.

Anything "active" or through a preamp is not a mic-level signal. If you want to plug into a mic input, you'll likely be mismatching impedance and voltage expectations of that device. What's going into the [Real Deal] TS *jack* that you can't use that? Confused...

guitaniac · #7 12-05-2019, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by keith.rogers

Anything "active" or through a preamp is not a mic-level signal. If you want to plug into a mic input, you'll likely be mismatching impedance and voltage expectations of that device. What's going into the TS plug that you can't use that? Confused...

Yes. I expect that I might need to keep the active system level low to avoid overdriving the mic input. That's easily do-able. Its an impedance mismatch that I'm worried about.