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Re: [Nature Recordists] Re: Sony PCM questions

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Subject: Re: [Nature Recordists] Re: Sony PCM questions
From: Philip Tyler <>
=C2=A0
Hi Shirane

On the XLR connectors on the MixPre there are 3 pins numbered as you would =
expect 1,2 and 3.

These are wired thus:

1 - Earth - X
2 - Live - L
3 - Return - R

Quite often to connect balanced to unbalanced it was sometimes the conventi=
on to join the 'earth' and 'return', pins 1 and 3 together at the unbalance=
d connector 'earth' with pin 2 remaining as the live. This was perfectly OK=
 when the system is transformer balanced, but not OK when 'electronically' =
balanced.

In an electronically balanced output like on the MixPre you only use pins 1=
 and 2, that's the earth and live there is no connection to pin 3. So if ma=
king a lead yourself you would wire pin 2 of one XLR to the 'tip' of the 3.=
5mm jack plug, the other channels pin 2 to the 'ring' and the two pin 1's a=
re joined to the 'sleeve' of the plug the 'earth'.

If you buy a lead just check to see if there is any connection to pin 3 of =
the XLR, if there is then using a pair of cutters just snip the connection =
and insulate it so it can't make contact with anything.

What ever the cable you buy 'claimed' I think I would check it out first to=
 be on the safe side myself. You can either open the XLR and have a look or=
 'buzz' it through using a small tester. You can get quite cheap digital el=
ectronic test meters which include a continuity tester. When you put the tw=
o probes together the meter will emit a buzz when in continuity test mode, =
or you can use an ohm / resistance meter to do the same thing.

Hope that helps?

Phil











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