Author Topic: 5-Pin XLR stereo output to 2x mono 3-Pin XLR direct input? (Read 1342 times)

edwin · « **Reply #15 on:** January 12, 2012, 10:34:18 PM »

If you do not own a multi meter then Battery and a light bulb in a series circuit .

Wolf, that is so old school! I think we both remember the days when things like that were right at hand for all growing bass players and experimenters! I can just imagine the wooden board with the ceramic bulb holder and a knife switch along with some screw terminals with some nice cloth covered wire.

edwin · « **Reply #16 on:** January 12, 2012, 10:36:54 PM »

If you do not own a multi meter then Battery and a light bulb in a series circuit.

Wolf, that is so old school! I'm sure we can both remember the days when those items were right at hand for the young bassist and experimenter. I can just see the wooden board with the ceramic bulb holder, a big knife switch and some screw terminals all connected with some nice cloth covered wire.

haddimudd · « **Reply #17 on:** January 12, 2012, 11:50:11 PM »

Thanks again, guys, for all your good thoughts!

I am planning to make some example recordings of the noise for you to hear exactly what it sounds like. Unfortunately only when I tried to connect my FA-101 to my new computer I realized my new computer doesn't have firewire, thus I couldn't connect the FA-101. Now I ordered a USB device instead and expect it in the mail today, so possibly the weekend will allow me to finally get some sound bits together for you.

I also had a simple Behringer UC6102 Guitar interface lying around and did some testing with it during the last days.

What I can say so far is this:

I go directly from the DS-5R to the recording input. (Bradley, can I connect headphones to the DS-5R?)
The noise is audible there already, although I must admit it is less annoying to me now than how I remembered it from the last time I tested it. It probably grew in my memory over time. But it is there nevertheless. Dead silent is not what I would call it.

The noise (hiss, hum, whatever) is non-directional. It is present even without the bass connected to the DS-5R. I guess that's an important insight because it should eliminate the possibility of the bass and the cable being the source.

What Jimmy says is what I thought too: It could also simply be a ground disagreement between his Alembic PSU... and, well, maybe not necessarily with my computer because the noise is present even when connecting to an amp instead of the computer, if I remember correctly. I sold my power amp therefore I can't test it right now.

I'll keep you posted when I recorded my example sound clips.

Thanks to you all!

Hartmut

sonicus · « **Reply #18 on:** January 12, 2012, 11:57:58 PM »

Edwin , yes I made a nice wooden panel with various knife switches . SPST.DPDT , SPDT . I had those ceramic bulb holders as well . I really felt swell when I added the little volt meter and potentiometer and electric motor with a prop from a rubber band airplane , do you remember those ! lol ___ But i did not have the cool cloth wire , I had to settle with 18 g bell wire from the corner hardware store with plastic insulation. BIG fun at the time for an eight year old! I remember my father saying when I was not making lots of noise and tinkering was machst du schon wieder ?
(what are you doing again ?)

sonicus · « **Reply #19 on:** January 13, 2012, 12:40:20 AM »

Hartmut , to answer your question :

Yes, You can connect headphones to your DS-5R. If you want to hear in stereo get 2 male 1/4 mono plugs (TS tip, sleeve) that bring both channel A&B to a female stereo jack (TRS tip,ring, sleeve). make sure that the female is the correct specifications to connect to your headphones . Plug your head phones into the female . This in a common adaptor that can be purchased easily .

The amount of volume perceivable on your headphone will be dependent on the sensitivity and impedance of the head phones and and the preamp gain and volume knobs on your bass.

It will be important in your trouble shooting process to rule out problems through the systematic process of elimination this way .

haddimudd · « **Reply #20 on:** January 13, 2012, 12:51:19 AM »

Thanks, Wolf!

I just gave it a shot but the volume is too quiet to judge the noise. Maybe my headphones aren't too great for that. I'll wait for the USB unit today and see how it goes from there.

Thanks again!

Hartmut

811952 · « **Reply #21 on:** January 13, 2012, 06:12:01 AM »

You might also play with the routing of the cables between the power supply and the computer/input module. Computer power supplies, motherboards and other electronic devices (iPod? cell phone?) have been known to produce quite a bit of hash (the other kind) if you run unbalanced audio cables nearby.

John

sonicus · « **Reply #22 on:** January 13, 2012, 06:47:31 AM »

John , yes ! agreed___ and some very strange sounds . There were in fact many reports and complaints to Digidesign with the MBOX2 USB model in that regard, I heard such intermittent noise my self that was remedied by such means as you mention. I also have had a similar problem with a DAW HUI MIDI type of controller that once was so annoying that I had to mix with a mouse for a few hours until I figured out that problem.That HUI was controlling an old Protools TDM system. EMI / EMF is often the culprit. I have been fighting off 'Smart Meters with the utility company (PG&E)for that reason . I wrote a report for the CCST in that regard. ( California Council On Science and Technology) I have also been active with the EMF Safety Network for similar reasons including public safety and the fact thats some folks really do have bad reactions to EMF even health wise ;asthma , tinnitus ,head aches ,etc

http://www.ccst.us/projects/smart2/ ( scroll down to personal accounts for my report ; type in guest for the passwords)

http://emfsafetynetwork.org/

(Message edited by sonicus on January 13, 2012)

mica · « **Reply #23 on:** January 13, 2012, 10:27:44 AM »

Dad is think something is awry with the power supply as well. Maybe you can find one nearby (club member or store) to compare? If not, I'll have to send one your way. Let me know.

Also, Alembic Club really rocks! I really appreciate everyone's willingness to help.

haddimudd · « **Reply #24 on:** January 13, 2012, 11:17:56 AM »

Yes, Mica, definitely thanks to everyone!

I guess, I will do what David suggested and take a look inside the DS-5R to see if anything looks suspicious. Thanks a billion for the great and detailed instructions, David!

And hopefully I can record the sound examples tomorrow.

Mica, would you know any Alembic users or stores located near Lake Constance in Germany (or Austria/Switzerland)?

Hartmut

mica · « **Reply #25 on:** January 13, 2012, 01:00:31 PM »

Station Music is only a couple of hours away if you are ever up in Jettingen-Scheppach. I say a couple of hours like it's nothing, you know since we had driving adventures before!