XLR or 1/4" for Output? at DVinfo.net

Rey Lowe · November 8th, 2011, 12:02 PM

I've been using a Yamaha mixer for quite a while for recording sound for stage events. Long story short, I am mounting the mixer into a rack case and there is just not enough space in the rear for standard XLR cables to be plugged into the Main Outs. I ordered some right angle XLR cables which worked perfectly for the left channel. However, the right channel is blocked by the power supply connector. I'm thinking that the only workaround is to use the 1/4" Main Outs with a right angle 1/4" to XLR cable. Is there going to be much of a difference in the quality of the signal going this route? All of the mic inputs are XLR. Up to now, I've only used the RCA line outs, but the new camera has XLR inputs.

Any suggestions or advice would be much appreciated. Thanks!

Rey

Gary Nattrass · November 8th, 2011, 12:29 PM

Should be Ok and the same if the 1/4" outputs are balanced TRS (tip/ring/sleeve) type, It is at line level anyway so there will be very little loss if any.

I have two yamaha mixers, they are very good value and sound nice!

Rey Lowe · November 8th, 2011, 01:11 PM

Thanks, Gary.

I was finding that coming up with a right angle TRS and adapting it to a male XLR was proving expensive. In desperation, I went through all of my XLR cables and found one whose end casing was JUST short enough to squeeze in with some gentle nudging. Hopefully, it will hold up for me.

Rick Reineke · November 8th, 2011, 05:24 PM

Another option: Many right-angle XLR connectors may be rotated to different directions, however it must be taken apart though, and in some cases, re-soldered.

As I recall, on some Mackie's, the Onyx and/or the VLZ, the XLR (line) is +4dB whilst the 1/4" TRS and RCAs are 0dB.

Steve House · November 8th, 2011, 08:05 PM

On att least my Mackie (1642-VLZ Pro) the RCAs are -10dBv nominal.

Rey Lowe · November 8th, 2011, 09:32 PM

On this model, both the XLR and the phono jacks are +4db.

Rick - Thanks for the suggestion. I took a close look at the connector (in between banging my head on the table), and there does not look to be any way to change the angle.

Gary Nattrass · November 9th, 2011, 02:50 AM

Both my yamaha mixers have XLR and 1/4" TRS jack main outputs at +4db levels, the RCA/phono tape outs are -10db.

Rey Lowe · November 9th, 2011, 06:23 AM

Gary, I mispoke in the post above. I meant to say that the XLR and 1/4" mains were both +4db. The Rec Out phono plugs are indeed -10db.

Rick Reineke · November 9th, 2011, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve House

On att least my Mackie (1642-VLZ Pro) the RCAs are -10dBv nominal.

Re: XLR or 1/4" for Output?
Same here Steve, the RCA outs on my 1402vlz is around -10dB, but my Onyx 1620's RCAs are much hotter. I discovered this a few years ago feeding a Marantz 660... occasional clipping it's input stage on peaks, which never occurred on the VLZ. and other mixer's 'Tape outputs'. (including a Yamaha MG series mixer) The manual doesn't specify the output of the 'Tape Out' but all the other outputs are "Rated @ +4dBu... and I can see in the PCB schematic, the 'Tape Out ' RCAs are tapped right off the 1/4" balanced Main Output (+) point.
In fact the Onyx manual states: "The TAPE OUT jacks produce an unbalanced signal that is tapped off the MAIN OUTs. Normally, you would connect these to the inputs of a recorder, but you can use them as an extra set of main outputs for feeding another zone, for example"

Unfortunately this has little relevance to the OPs Yamaha. Sorry to get off-track.

November 8th, 2011, 12:02 PM	#1
Rey Lowe Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Central VA Posts: 156	XLR or 1/4" for Output? I've been using a Yamaha mixer for quite a while for recording sound for stage events. Long story short, I am mounting the mixer into a rack case and there is just not enough space in the rear for standard XLR cables to be plugged into the Main Outs. I ordered some right angle XLR cables which worked perfectly for the left channel. However, the right channel is blocked by the power supply connector. I'm thinking that the only workaround is to use the 1/4" Main Outs with a right angle 1/4" to XLR cable. Is there going to be much of a difference in the quality of the signal going this route? All of the mic inputs are XLR. Up to now, I've only used the RCA line outs, but the new camera has XLR inputs. Any suggestions or advice would be much appreciated. Thanks! Rey

November 8th, 2011, 12:29 PM	#2
Gary Nattrass Trustee Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Cornsay Durham UK Posts: 1,992	Re: XLR or 1/4" for Output? Should be Ok and the same if the 1/4" outputs are balanced TRS (tip/ring/sleeve) type, It is at line level anyway so there will be very little loss if any. I have two yamaha mixers, they are very good value and sound nice! __________________ Over 15 minutes in Broadcast Film and TV production: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1044352/

November 8th, 2011, 01:11 PM	#3
Rey Lowe Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Central VA Posts: 156	Re: XLR or 1/4" for Output? Thanks, Gary. I was finding that coming up with a right angle TRS and adapting it to a male XLR was proving expensive. In desperation, I went through all of my XLR cables and found one whose end casing was JUST short enough to squeeze in with some gentle nudging. Hopefully, it will hold up for me.

November 8th, 2011, 05:24 PM	#4
Rick Reineke Inner Circle Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: New York Posts: 2,039	Re: XLR or 1/4" for Output? Another option: Many right-angle XLR connectors may be rotated to different directions, however it must be taken apart though, and in some cases, re-soldered. As I recall, on some Mackie's, the Onyx and/or the VLZ, the XLR (line) is +4dB whilst the 1/4" TRS and RCAs are 0dB.

November 8th, 2011, 08:05 PM	#5
Steve House Inner Circle Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada Posts: 5,742	Re: XLR or 1/4" for Output? On att least my Mackie (1642-VLZ Pro) the RCAs are -10dBv nominal. __________________ Good news, Cousins! This week's chocolate ration is 15 grams!

November 8th, 2011, 09:32 PM	#6
Rey Lowe Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Central VA Posts: 156	Re: XLR or 1/4" for Output? On this model, both the XLR and the phono jacks are +4db. Rick - Thanks for the suggestion. I took a close look at the connector (in between banging my head on the table), and there does not look to be any way to change the angle.

November 9th, 2011, 02:50 AM	#7
Gary Nattrass Trustee Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Cornsay Durham UK Posts: 1,992	Re: XLR or 1/4" for Output? Both my yamaha mixers have XLR and 1/4" TRS jack main outputs at +4db levels, the RCA/phono tape outs are -10db. __________________ Over 15 minutes in Broadcast Film and TV production: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1044352/

November 9th, 2011, 06:23 AM	#8
Rey Lowe Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Central VA Posts: 156	Re: XLR or 1/4" for Output? Gary, I mispoke in the post above. I meant to say that the XLR and 1/4" mains were both +4db. The Rec Out phono plugs are indeed -10db.