In researching mixers, I've found that alot of the higher-end have both "unbalanced" and "balanced" outputs. What exactly is the difference and which should be used in which situation? I got the impression that unbalanced = RCAs, standard output, and balanced = XLR (3-pin) cleaner output? Do most club inputs require a mixer with an XLR out? Is the sound better/cleaner/more dynamic from the balanced? Someone set me straight on this.

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i turn to the music
cause it never lets me down

balanced interconnects usually are less vulnerable to line noise. In club situations it's really important b/c at the high gain levels hums and other noises will be more noticable than at home.

I would go on but just read this:

http://www.rane.com/note110.html

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quote:

Make it idiot proof and someone will make a better idiot. He who laughs last thinks slowest!

The reason that balanced lines were developed was to cope with the problem of wiring the mixer (or whatever stage eq you need and amp for) to the amp over long distances. When you try this with RCA cables your signal will drop to poop after about 15-20 feet. (You actually can carry a signal that far, just don't expect to be able to have it sound good when the volume is cranked up.) So they developed balanced XLR which reduces line noise via the grounding and allows it to travel 100 feet or more with a pretty well retained signal strength. This occurs because the resistance in the wire is much much less than what is in an RCA cable.

Because the resistance is much less, you obtain a much more accurate signal over larger distances and the result is that your signal is cleaner and better than if you were to use RCA cables over that distance. There are plenty of places for your signal to get "dirtied", so just by using XLR cables doesn't guarentee you a clean sound. I wouldn't base a purchase of a mixer by whether it had XLR outs or not, becuase if you are looking at good mixers, they will ALL have them anyway. If they don't then you won't want to use your mixer on a loud PA system anyway.

As far as places requiring you to have XLR, well if it's a rave setup, then be prepared for anything...at least ask if you have to bring your mixer. Any club will have an XLR setup if the amps etc are far enough away (ie it's on a stage which bands can play on as opposed to a dance club where the amp is right next to you).

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When you dance, the DJ takes you on a journey, but he or she is usually not the focus of your experience at a club or festival or wherever you hear the music. Dancing is. Music is.

unbalanced and balanced lines have to do with electric differential.
(for those who know electroncs at all)

In the balanced connections, there's usually 2 pins of the 3 that are out of phase which cancells out the noise. balanced connections also have the ground lead, which allows for venting of unwanted static and RF noise. unbalanced have no ground lead.

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'-.SgtFoo.-'
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yes, RCAs are unbalanced. 1/4" (phone plugs) can be 2 conducter (TS = tip sleeve, unbalanced mono signal) or 3 conductor (TRS, tip ring sleeve, can be used for a mono balanced signal or a stereo unbalanced signal). XLRs are 3 conductor, and can be wired for balanced or unbalanced signals.

balanced.. it's a three-wire circuit - 1 hot (positive side of the wave, pin 2 xlr, tip TRS) 1 cold (negative side of the wave, pin 3 XLR, ring TRS) and a ground (pin 1 XLR, sleeve TRS) that shields the two internal wires.

to go from balanced to unbalanced, you can short the ground and cold wire together and use it as the negative, hot wire as the positive. a TRS jack will do this automatically - when you plug a TS plug into a TRS jack, it shorts the ring and sleeve (cold and ground) and it becomes unbalanced. this is one thing I like about TRS outputs, and the reason I prefer them over XLRs.

XLRs are nice for perm installed rack gear - they have a very solid connection (electrically) and lock in place physically. XLR cables go from male to female, not male to male like 1/4" and RCA cables. male connectors on the chassis is used for output. female connectors on the chassis are used for inputs - so, you can chain XLR cables together without a barrel (female-female) adapter. it also makes it harder to miswire stuff - you can assume which direction things go based on the gender of the jack.

so both TRS and XLR connectors have thier benefits.

but regardless, definitly look for a mixer with balanced outputs, if you ever plan to connect it to any pro gear or tour with it. if you plan to take said mixer to clubs or whatnot, it'd be in your favor have this. besides, just about any decent mixer has this!

idealy, it'd have both TRS and XLR (like the rane empath *drool) but adapters can be bought/made.