RK3 Outputs into Delta1010LT Inputs: Balanced vs Unbalanced...

I've been running the outputs from my Rig Kontrol 3 using unbalanced TS 1/4" to a pair of RCA unbalanced inputs on my M-Audio Delta 1010LT soundcard. However, in rethinking this, it would seem to be a better approach to instead use balanced TRS 1/4" from the RK3 outputs to the pair of balanced XLR inputs provided on the Delta 1010LT. Any comments as to whether this would make for a reasonable improvement in the overall signal quality?

 

Why are you going back into your Delta in the first place? That's your problem...

ew

 

EW, thanks for the response. I'm using the Delta 1010LT as my primary audio interface for Pro Tools 8 and then tracking using GR3 in "stand alone" mode and I have the GR3 Audio ASIO Device set to use Rig Kontrol. So, I'm setting up my sound in GR3, then outputting it via the RK outputs into a pair of inputs on the Delta 1010LT. Then, within Pro Tools, I'm assigning the track I'm recording on to use "Inputs 1 & 2". But, I'm also not always running a ProTools session, so I like to just launch GR3 in stand alone mode so I can just plug in and play.

I did make the change to using balanced connections, which actually seem to have made a worthwhile improvement in the audio quality. However, perhaps I'm missing a more fundamental concept in my overall configuration, as suggested by your response. I'll do some additional homework to consider some alternative approaches to my signal routing, but if you wouldn't mind elaborating as to a better approach to possibly take, I'd be very interested to know what you'd suggest.

Cheers,

 

Hey slenderfungus,

I've got the 1010LT as well, and that's the way i've been connecting for years (using the unbalanced rca's). I've always been unhappy with the level of the noise floor when I choose to run the signal through any of the GR amps. Never occurred to me to use the balanced XLRs. Time for more experimentation when I get home.