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Paul
August 28th 06, 04:15 AM
I just bought an Edirol R-1 recorder. Some people
will certainly consider it already obsolete, but I
think it's pretty cool. It fitted my immediate
requirements better than others like the R-09.

Sometime in the future I would like to add a couple
of real microphones through a two-channel mic preamp
and use the R-1 as recorder only.

I do not intend to put together a professional
recording studio, just a low-cost way of recording
maybe four acoustic instruments or voices in a
simple live stereo capture (like a jam in a living
room) or a single guitar-playing folk-singer
closer-up. No mixing and little post processing.
The final quality doesn't have to be perfect, but
the higher the better.

One item that seems to meet my requirements is the
M-audio DMP3 microphone preamp. However, it has
balanced output whereas the R-1 has unbalanced input.
The back panel of the DMP3 says only "balanced".
However, the DMP3 user's guide says :

"Generally speaking, if the DMP3 outputs connect to
a system that accepts a balanced line at +4dB
(nominal level) operating level, you should use TRS
plugs on the outputs."
....
"An unbalanced line on the DMP3 outputs connects to
a 1/4” TS (tip positive,sleeve ground) plug on a
shielded cable with a single conductor, and is
appropriate to use when your sound card or sound
system accepts a 1/4” TS plug, RCA plug, or the
right or left mono side of a stereo mini-plug.
Typically, the signal on unbalanced lines has an
operating line level of –10dB (nominal level),
though this may vary somewhat."

Does this mean that I can connect the output of the
DMP3 directly to the line-in stereo mini-plug on
the R-1 with no problems ? (with an appropriate
Y-cable ).

Some info on the web seems to suggest that I need
quite a bit more than that, see :

http://www.jensen-transformers.com/an/an003.pdf

- which would require two 80$ transformers.

Any comments would be much appreciated.

Suggestions for solid lower-end microphones for the
above would be welcome as well.

Thanks.

Laurence Payne
August 28th 06, 11:35 AM
On Sun, 27 Aug 2006 23:15:36 -0400, Paul > wrote:

>"An unbalanced line on the DMP3 outputs connects to
> a 1/4” TS (tip positive,sleeve ground) plug on a
> shielded cable with a single conductor, and is
> appropriate to use when your sound card or sound
> system accepts a 1/4” TS plug, RCA plug, or the
> right or left mono side of a stereo mini-plug.
> Typically, the signal on unbalanced lines has an
> operating line level of –10dB (nominal level),
> though this may vary somewhat."
>
>Does this mean that I can connect the output of the
>DMP3 directly to the line-in stereo mini-plug on
>the R-1 with no problems ? (with an appropriate
>Y-cable ).

Yes, that is what it says.

Scott Dorsey
August 28th 06, 03:39 PM
In article >, Paul > wrote:
>
>DMP3 directly to the line-in stereo mini-plug on
>the R-1 with no problems ? (with an appropriate
>Y-cable ).

Yes.

>Some info on the web seems to suggest that I need
>quite a bit more than that, see :
>
> http://www.jensen-transformers.com/an/an003.pdf
>
> - which would require two 80$ transformers.

If you're going to run a couple hundred feet, by all means you should
definitely use transformers. If you are going to run three feet, just
unbalance the line and don't worry so much.
--scott

--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

Mike Rivers
August 28th 06, 03:46 PM
Paul wrote:

> "An unbalanced line on the DMP3 outputs connects to
> a 1/4" TS (tip positive,sleeve ground) plug on a
> shielded cable with a single conductor, and is
> appropriate to use when your sound card or sound
> system accepts a 1/4" TS plug, RCA plug, or the
> right or left mono side of a stereo mini-plug.

> Does this mean that I can connect the output of the
> DMP3 directly to the line-in stereo mini-plug on
> the R-1 with no problems ? (with an appropriate
> Y-cable ).

Yes, but you may not be able to find the appropriate Y cable. There are
cables with a stereo mini plug on one end and two RCA plugs on the
other end, and a 1/4" TRS plug on one end and two 1/4" TS plugs on the
other end, but end but I've never found one with two 1/4" TS plugs
opposite a mini plug. RCA-1/4" adapters are your friend here.

Paul
August 28th 06, 07:57 PM
Thanks all.

I plan to mount everything on a small piece of furniture,
sort of a mini-console, so I don't knock anything to the
floor and to get all the wires out of sight. I can make
a suitable Y adapter.

After reading for hours I hadn't found proof that I could
just connect the two components together. Wanted to make
sure.

Cheers,

Paul

Mike Rivers
August 28th 06, 08:25 PM
Paul wrote:

> After reading for hours I hadn't found proof that I could
> just connect the two components together.

This is one of those things that's so fundamental that nobody ever
really proves it other than by doing it. If you remember that outputs
go to inputs, line levels go to line levels, mic levels go to mic
levels, and you can mix balanced and unbalanced connections as long as
you have electrical continuity, you'll be fine.

The proof is in the pudding, as they say, particularly when it's bread
pudding doused with 100 proof brandy.