Unbalanced out - balanced in, -10/+4dB

[rokker72]

Hi, I'm Fabio from Italy and I'm a brand new user of this forum, great job admin and all of the staff!!!!

I'm not sure about 2 hardware for reamp, because my audio card, an Apogee Duet just use a line out, unbalanced, that I can use as line out (-10dB or choose a dB level) or instrumental amp out, out set and locked to zero.

Now I'm looking for a Radial Pro rpm or a Palmer Daccapo, very similar, just the Radial with +4dB input, the Palmer input can be switched between -10 and +4dB.

Here is my question:
1 - can i plug mi Duet line out unbalanced to the reamp with XLR input? It's balanced? Should I care about it?
2 - the +4dB of the Radial is a problem for my Duet output? Can I just adjust the line output of my card or should I use the -10dB switch in a Palmer reamper?

I hope you can understand what's my problem, and thank you anyway!!!

[rokker72]

Hi newkid, thank you for your answer, so the -10 to +4 could be a problem.

But if I use a -10 out can I adjust my volume to match the +4 in? (maybe -14dB on output? Should it work?)

But this could be solved by the Palmer Daccapo with -10/+4dB input.

What about the unbalanced line out and the XLR line in? I think XLR is used 'cause of balanced signal is it right? I can just plug my unbalanced signal to the XLR input?

Thank you very much.

[tacman7]

A device that puts out +4 will send a stronger signal than a -10.

A device that has different settings for receiving +4 or -10 will amplify the signal more when set to -10 so using -10 will sound louder than +4.

I've usually been able to use +4 and -10 equipment together, the interfaces that I've had could accept either. It's certainly not going to hurt your +4 device to send it -10.
Might have too high of a noise floor when you crank it up though.

You might have to make a special cable, you do for the eclipse FX processor to use unbalanced signal in a balanced input.

[newkid]

USA professional audio +4 dBu 1.228 (approximate)
Consumer audio −10 dBV 0.316

these are analog rms values
relative to a given REFERENCE VALUE
and are the maximum intended
you need to match your input and output to keep SNR high
but also to avoid overdriving the input to cause clip/distortion


do not confuse analog type dBs with digital dBFS
0 dBFS is assigned to the maximum possible level.[1] A signal that reaches 50% of the maximum level would peak at -6 dBFS, for instance. All peak measurements will be negative numbers.

It should be remembered that a digital signal which does not contain any samples at 0 dBFS can still clip when converted to analog, due to intersample peaks. Some meters take this into account, while others do not.[2][3] This is why the official standards use a sine tone of 997 Hz to define full-scale, to avoid being a sub-multiple of any common sampling frequency.

which is another reason you do not want to record as high as possible !!

[newkid]

dBFS is not to be used for analog levels, according to AES-6id-2006. There is no single standard for converting between digital and analog levels, mostly due to the differing capabilities of different equipment. The conversion level is chosen as the best compromise for the typical headroom and signal-to-noise levels of the equipment in question. Examples:[15][16][17]

* EBU R68 is used in most European countries, specifying +18 dBu at 0 dBFS
* In Europe, the EBU recommend that -18 dBFS equates to the Alignment Level
* European & UK calibration for Post & Film is −18 dBFS = 0 VU
* UK broadcasters, Alignment Level is taken as 0 dBu (PPM4 or -4VU)
* US installations use +24 dBu for 0 dBFS
or -24dBFS for 0dBu


* American Post: −20 dBFS = 0 VU = +4 dBu
* The American SMPTE standard defines -20 dBFS as the Alignment Level
* In Japan, France and some other countries, converters may be calibrated for +22 dBu at 0 dBFS.
* BBC spec: −18 dBFS = PPM "4" = 0 dBu
* German ARD & studio PPM +6 dBu = −10 (−9) dBFS. +16 (+15)dBu = 0 dBFS. No VU.


dBFSD is an abbreviation for the standard digital audio level measurement scale. It is measured in decibels referenced to Full Scale Digital, which is the loudest possible digital audio sample value. [pictures adnn more at wikipedia]

[rokker72]

Well, thank you man, you're really going into detail, but I'm not that skilled

So, I think that the -10/+4dB can be handled in some way (if I got the Palmer the question is over).

For the balanced/unbalanced I should think about a special cable, if needed right?

Ok, if someone knows something more about the reamp hardware and can tell me exactly how does the input works please let me know.

Thank you!!!

[newkid]

Originally Posted by rokker72

Well, thank you man, you're really going into detail, but I'm not that skilled

So, I think that the -10/+4dB can be handled in some way (if I got the Palmer the question is over).

For the balanced/unbalanced I should think about a special cable, if needed right?

Ok, if someone knows something more about the reamp hardware and can tell me exactly how does the input works please let me know.

Thank you!!!

the db levels can be handled by various methods
too low - increase the gain or add another (pre)amp
too high - lower the gain or insert a pad

they sell standard cables to convert/connect bal/unbal
you probably want one. you may not really need it.

RTFM. download it first if you dont have it.

[rokker72]

Ok, now I think I've got it thank you...

The manual? I read all the docs from the productor... but more then a manual it seems to be a depliant to sell the reamper (both the product)

Thank you for your patience, now I think I'll buy a Palmer, no level input issues, and then a right cable to use it.