balanced and unbalanced
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  1. #1
    Tech Wizard
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    Default balanced and unbalanced

    hii
    what are the difference between "unbalanced to balanced converter" and "direct box"?

  2. #2
    Tech Mentor Flaekiface's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by vladikpri View Post
    hii
    what are the difference between "unbalanced to balanced converter" and "direct box"?
    The simple version:

    A balanced converter has build in noise reduction. But in order for this to have any effect, you need balanced cables (shielded) to and from the converter.

    Unbalanced converter is without the noise reduction.

  3. #3
    Tech Wizard
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    u didn't understand me!!!

    there is a unbalanced to balanced converter:
    for example
    http://www.sonifex.co.uk/redbox/rbul2_ld.shtml
    and there is a direct box, for example:
    http://www.sweetwater.com/c957--Direct_Boxes

    what are the difference in the functions?
    both have RCA unbalanced input and XLR balanced output...

  4. #4
    Tech Mentor
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    A direct injection box is the same thing as an unbalanced to balanced box.

    They're used to send sound signals over a "long distance". This is because it cancels out any humm that may be picked up by the cables.

    There's probably not a great deal of difference between the different makes other than the more expensive ones will have better quality components, or may have functions like an earth lift etc..

  5. #5
    Tech Guru Fatlimey's Avatar
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    Balanced cables use two sets of wires to send the signal, taking an input noise and running it down both sets of wires, one running positive and one running negative. If this balanced cable runs close to a source of noise, like say a generator or a speaker, the noise gets added to both wires. At the other end, a circuit subtracts the negative from the positive signals canceling out the noise and leaving just the original signal. Crafty, eh? (Ethernet does the same thing)

    This means that balanced audio cables can run for long distances with good quality - that's how live PA systems can have the band and the mixing desk so far away from each other and still have good results. For home use where all sound sources are inside the same room, it's not that important unless you're a pro recording studio who's obsessed with audio quality.

    A DI box (http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/IMP2/) will take a line level unbalanced output of a guitar and convert it to a high impedence balanced mic level signal. A Balanced/Unbalanced converter (http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/CleanBox/) will do the same but may also change the levels, add some gain and alter the impedance along the way.

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