6 Jan
2012
6 Jan
'12
5:44 p.m.
On Fri, Jan 06, 2012 at 10:50:12AM -0500, Chris Metzler wrote:
1. Some PCI interfaces (like the Delta 1010LT) have
RCA jacks rather
than 1/4". What about issues relating to noise/degradation introduced
by a 1/4"-to-RCA adapter? I've read elsewhere (on the M-Audio forums)
of people complaining about unpleasant noise with guitars when using an
adapter that's then plugged into an RCA plug on the Delta 1010LT.
Adapters don't normally introduce noise or degradation. But they
are often used to connect things that are not compatible anyway,
and they tend to fail (bad contacts) after some time. Try to avoid
them, they are in general a nuisance.
RCA inputs are 'consumer line level' and unbalanced, which is
a disadvantage.
Line inputs are not meant for guitars, so those people who
are complaining get what they ask for.
2. Some interfaces seem to have a combination jack
that allows XLR and
1/4" inputs. Are these good? Or is there a tradeoff between
convenience and sound quality?
Sound quality is not determined by the connector. But the use of
such connectors can indicate 'budget quality'. Very often they are
used as a combined mic/line input (mic = XLR, line = TRS). Then
it depends: if the line input is just an attenuator feeding the
mic input that's not really very good. A real line input does not
pass via the mic preamp.
3. ... Put another way, if you have the chance to pick
up at a
really good price Z-Audio's UberSuperDuperInterface, with a gazillion
ins/outs and a lot of features, and right now you only need a small
fraction of what it can do, are there non-cost reasons why you
*shouldn't* get it?
No.
a) Guitar cables typically use a TS connector while
line-level devices
(analog outs on drum machines, keyboards, etc.) typically use TRS,
right? I'm presuming there's a difference in voltage range as well
(hence why guitars aren't referred to as line-level)?
Guitars are not line level, they produce a much weaker signal and
need a preamplifier with a high input impedance. Some sound cards
have 1 or 2 inputs that can be switched for use with guitars.
Without those you need a DI box.
b) Am I correct in thinking that a cable with TS
connectors is
unbalanced and a cable with TRS connectors is balanced?
A cable with TRS connectors *can* be balanced, one with TS
definitely is not balanced.
c) My understanding is that in order to plug a guitar
into a balanced
input, there needs to be a DI box in-between to change the impedance.
But in advertising blurbs, some 1/4" inputs on interfaces are billed as
accepting balanced or unbalanced input. Does that mean that both
guitars and line-level devices can be plugged into them?
Any balanced input will accept balanced and unbalanced signals.
If an interface only has mic/line jacks, does that
mean you *must*
get a DI box to plug in a guitar?
Yes, unless the line input can be switched to high impedance and has
enough sensitivity. As already mentioned, some interfaces have such
inputs. But you can't use a standard mic or line input for a guitar.
d) Since guitars aren't at line level, do they
need preamplification
like microphones do?
Yes. Normally the DI box is connected to a microphone input.
Or if an interface has unbalanced inputs, can you just
plug a
guitar in and go?
In most cases not, see above.
Some other things to consider:
Usually you get what you pay for. Quality is not only sound
quality, but also construction and reliability, and it has
a price.
If you are a musician, consider the combination of a simple
but good quality soundcard having only balanced line inputs
and outputs (even fixed level) with one the many small
musician's mixers. These usually have mic and guitar inputs,
a headphone output etc. Such a combination is much more
flexible than any soundcard.
Ciao,
--
FA