Duet Break Out box question

[winonatele]

I just got a Apogee Duet and the Break Out box(unbalanced) and I'm wondering how you best hook the thing up to monitors. I still need to get cables. I will be using M-Audio BX5A monitors and they have 1/4" trs and an xlr inputs.

I'm assuming the only way out of the break out box is to use a 1/4" trs. What's better into the monitor, a 1/4" trs or an xlr male?

Any help is much appreciated. Thanks!

 

[SteveO]

I run TRS into my BX5as, because that's the only outputs on my Firestudio Mobile. So, for my application, that is my ONLY option, therefore it is the best one!

 

[winonatele]

I run TRS into my BX5as, because that's the only outputs on my Firestudio Mobile. So, for my application, that is my ONLY option, therefore it is the best one!

Thanks! I figured I should ask what works before I go on the hunt for cables to avoid getting the wrong ones.

 

[SteveO]

Thanks! I figured I should ask what works before I go on the hunt for cables to avoid getting the wrong ones.

Standard instrument cables are all I use. Don't remember if the outputs on the PreSonus are balanced or not, but I don't really worry too much about it, because standard cables work just fine.

 

[localmotion411]

Standard instrument cables are all I use. Don't remember if the outputs on the PreSonus are balanced or not, but I don't really worry too much about it, because standard cables work just fine.

Do you mean speaker cables?

My Event ASP8's have xlr inputs, so I use 1/4" to xlr cables.

 

[winonatele]

My main confusion is what type of 1/4" plug goes into the Duet and/or break out box. I have to use a 1/4" on the interface end.

The monitor end is easy- it's labelled trs and xlr. I looked in the Duet's manual to see if it matters if you use a trs or ts plug, or if that even matters. I couldn't find anything.

 

[SteveO]

Do you mean speaker cables?

My Event ASP8's have xlr inputs, so I use 1/4" to xlr cables.

Nope, standard guitar cables.

 

[SteveO]

My main confusion is what type of 1/4" plug goes into the Duet and/or break out box. I have to use a 1/4" on the interface end.

The monitor end is easy- it's labelled trs and xlr. I looked in the Duet's manual to see if it matters if you use a trs or ts plug, or if that even matters. I couldn't find anything.

The PreSonus manual specs TRS, but in just about every application I've ever encountered you can use a standard TS in place of the TRS in situations like this, the ring shorts harmlessly to the sleeve and everything works just fine. I guess I could invest in a couple TRS-TRS cables to link my monitors to my interface, but the mono cables I use work just fine.

 

[SteveO]

Just reread your first post. If the breakout cable is listed as unbalanced, then it would be TS instead of TRS. The M-Audio 1/4" inputs can take either a TRS balanced input or a TS unbalanced, so it's looking like guitar cables are the ticket for your application.

 

[altruistic8]

I just got a Apogee Duet and the Break Out box(unbalanced) and I'm wondering how you best hook the thing up to monitors. I still need to get cables. I will be using M-Audio BX5A monitors and they have 1/4" trs and an xlr inputs.

I'm assuming the only way out of the break out box is to use a 1/4" trs. What's better into the monitor, a 1/4" trs or an xlr male?

Any help is much appreciated. Thanks!

I have a very similar setup to this and yes 1/4" trs to 1/4" trs or xlr is what you need. xlr or trs into the monitor will make no difference, they are both essentially the same. Don't use a speaker cable as someone suggested because it is much more likely to introduce noise into your signal. Here is a link to a guide that explains everything in further detail. http://www.sweetwater.com/shop/cables/cables_buying-guide.php#1

 

[winonatele]

Cool- thanks! If I have to get the cables at GC, I'm trying to avoid a pointless conversation like the one I had today at Radio Shack when I was trying to buy a 400 to 800 fire wire cable. I knew what I needed and they tried to tell me that that sort of thing doesn't exist. So when I pulled it up online to show the guy what I was talking about, he then tried to tell me how much better usb 2.0 is. Kinda makes me wonder why I even try sometimes...

 

[altruistic8]

Cool- thanks! If I have to get the cables at GC, I'm trying to avoid a pointless conversation like the one I had today at Radio Shack when I was trying to buy a 400 to 800 fire wire cable. I knew what I needed and they tried to tell me that that sort of thing doesn't exist. So when I pulled it up online to show the guy what I was talking about, he then tried to tell me how much better usb 2.0 is. Kinda makes me wonder why I even try sometimes...

Yeah those conversations are never fun when they have no idea of what you are talking about, which seems to be pretty common at both Radio Shack and GC. I was having a difficult time finding a firewire 400 to 800 cable around my town as well, but I ended up ordering one from Oyen Digital and saving a bunch of money compared to what other stores were charging.
http://oyendigital.com/cables-accessories.html

 

[SteveO]

I picked up a 400 to 800 cable at Fry's electronics, which is like a huge toy store that is only 10 minutes from me.

Radio Shack employees are the people who couldn't get a handle on the phrase "Would you like fries with that today?" and had to seek alternate employment.

 

[winonatele]

I found a 400>800 FW cable online at Other World Computing. I need some more memory anyway, and it avoids driving all around to come up empty-handed. You're not going to get me to go the the Mall of America(Apple Store) to get a 2GB memory module and a cable.

 

[winonatele]

Yeah those conversations are never fun when they have no idea of what you are talking about, which seems to be pretty common at both Radio Shack and GC. I was having a difficult time finding a firewire 400 to 800 cable around my town as well, but I ended up ordering one from Oyen Digital and saving a bunch of money compared to what other stores were charging.
http://oyendigital.com/cables-accessories.html

Thanks for the link! Do you know if their external drives are any good?
They have a 1.0 TB for $180. It may be worth trying out.

 

[altruistic8]

Thanks for the link! Do you know if their external drives are any good?
They have a 1.0 TB for $180. It may be worth trying out.

I have never used their drives myself but a friend of mine has one and has been really happy with it. I know they use the Oxford chipset for firewire which is the one recommended for audio purposes.

 

[winonatele]

Thanks for your help! Found a couple of 1/4" trs to xlr male cables and I'm up and running. Those M-Audio monitors are surprisingly good. Now for the fun part of figuring all of this gear out to make it sound good.