Members Vito Corleone Posted May 3, 2013 Members Share Posted May 3, 2013 When is it necessary or at least recommended to use a transformer when either plugging a device with a 1/4" output into a XLR jack or vice versa?I've got all sorts of connectors and transformers and have interchanged all of them at various points in time. Just wondering what is the proper way to do things and what are the dangers of doing them improperly? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members trevcda Posted May 3, 2013 Members Share Posted May 3, 2013 Anytime there is a potential for 48V phantom power to be back fed into your 1/4" inputs. Most, if not all, 1/4" jacks do not have protection against this voltage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members dboomer Posted May 3, 2013 Members Share Posted May 3, 2013 Transformers add isolation. So they can block dc (as in the case of protecting from phantom power and disconnect you from direct electrical connections for safety and eliminating ground loops.Transformers can match impedances for better transfer of power and can add (or cut) voltage levels as in lo-z mic to hi-z input (which does both) You can also create a balanced signal from an unbalanced one.Transformers always create distortion and loss of fidelity (from very small amounts to large ... depending) so you don't want to add one to the chain unless you need it to do one or more of the above functions So what do you want to do? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Vito Corleone Posted May 3, 2013 Author Members Share Posted May 3, 2013 Just need to do things like running a drum module with a 1/4" output to a snake input and running XLR snake lines into 1/4" channel inputs in a mixer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members agedhorse Posted May 3, 2013 Members Share Posted May 3, 2013 You need to determine levels and then decide which solution is the appropriate one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members dboomer Posted May 3, 2013 Members Share Posted May 3, 2013 Your best bet would be to use a DI box that will handle line levels. You don't necessarly need a transformer box. Usually active DI's will handle more input level than transformer boxes in the same price range. Whirlwind Hot Box would be a good choice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.