Wondered if anyone else has tried using a balanced output cable direct to the PA (no direct box)with their Tonelab. The manual says it has a balanced output so, I made myself a 1/4" TRS to XLR cable last week and tried it out and got some surprising results. The gain on the board had to be lowered dramatically (expected) but, what I don't get is the tone was quite different. Lots more gain, more treble, and the lots of the dreaded "digital fizzies." Can anyone explain why the tone changed so dramatically? Needless to say, I switched back to an unbalanced output to a direct box before the performance.
-Aaron
"Grab that slab, plug it in and grind me a pound."
-The Reverend Billy F. Gibbons
Aaron - a different example,
Sat, 2008/04/05 - 7:07pm — jofroAaron - a different example, but sharing as another data point. My TLSE goes from unbalanced Lineout/L output to a Tech21 PowerEngine 60. It has an XLR out direct to the PA board without a DI box. Sounds pretty good, I'm told. Similar to your test setup, the channel gain on the FOH board must be dialed back to 9 o'clock even with TLSE at 50% master volume out.
John
I haven't tried that one out
Sat, 2008/04/05 - 9:28pm — mself61I haven't tried that one out yet but when I get my space I will. of coarse mine will have my G9 chained.
www.selfdistruction.com
The direct box (if passive)
Sun, 2008/04/06 - 1:16pm — firebrandThe direct box (if passive) will take some of the top end (fizziness) out. Direct from the TL, there is no "buffer" the signal encounters before hitting the board.
I have a balanced-to-XLR adapter given to me by a sound tech from my days with a Fender CyberDeluxe.
Have you tried changing the connection of a couple of the XLR connection wires to see if it made any difference? It may make the cable inoperable, but it may make a difference too.
I would also try using the "amp" setting on the ToneLab (vs. the "Line" setting).
My ToneLab SE will be running to the poweramp in on my Traynor Custom Special 50, and then out the amps built in XLR out. I also have an old "Active" ADA MicroCab II that I am going to experiment with as well (giving me 3 outputs to the board-overkill but fun. Now all I need is a post amp processor to give the out from the amp a really wet sound so I will have left, middle and right outs to the board-finally a guitarist using more inputs than his drummer
).