long balanced/unbalanced stereo/mono run etc?

FiddlerMD

FiddlerMD

Well-known member
I recently got a projector that i'll be using at various events like weddings/birthdays to show movies that we make for our clients. The issue of audio is somewhat tricky since I'll have to hook into whatever PA the house has.
I can play the movie off a dvd player, a camcorder or a computer... either way, all have your regular consumer-grade stereo rca outs.
PA's usually will have 1/4" or XLR balanced. There's also the stereo/mono issue.
I want to get a cable that's somewhere around 50' just to be safe. Ideally i'd like it to be stereo just in case the PA can accomodate.
So first decision is - should i even bother with stereo or is it pointless in the case of your local DJ/ reception hall.
question 2 is, what kind of setup would minimize the chance of induced noise. I realize 2 balanced runs would be best but none of my equipment outputs balanced audio anyway so that wouldnt really matter i guess.
would the following work:
- a twin RCA run that's around 50'
- rca -> 1/4" and rca->XLR adapters
- rca stereo to mono adapter
* maybe a DI box of some sort just in case the PA can't accomodate anything but XLR

let me know if there's a better way to accomplish what i'm trying to do
 
Easiest thing I would suggest is to have multiple connectors and cables, find out beforehand what you will be dealing with, and add to your collection as the situation demands.

Cheers
 
finding out beforehand might be difficult as the dj's / bands that play at the events are always different and I don't know if i'll be able to get in touch with them everytime
 
I would go with a DI box that can take the unbalanced signal from a laptop to a 50 foot balanced XLR cable and connect that to the PA board. I wouldn't bother with stereo as I doubt the clients will notice in a banquet hall or room. If you wanted to do stereo just duplicate the preceeding. Take the RCA left (DVD Player) and run it to a DI and XLR cable, and then take the right RCA and run it to a DI and XLR cable. The balanced 50 foot run should be cleaner than if you left as a 50 foot unbalanced run.
 
I would second the DI. Unbalanced hi-z (-10db) audio is not intended to be run over about 15 or 20 feet. Particularly in a club environment where you have lighting dimmers, you're likely to introduce RF noise (60 hz hum) from the lighting dimmers as well as potentially other RF (radio stations and the like.)

The DI will all but eliminate any RF introduced in the run between the projector and the audiol amp.
 
Another tip in regards to running the audio lines to the PA, try to avoid power cords ie: don't run the audio lines along the same path as the power as that can introduce noise like the previous posted mentioned.
 
DI boxes take 1/4" instrument inputs... arent instrument inputs run at different levels than consumer electronics like dvd players?
also, on the DI20 behringer, the reviews seem mixed (although the price is right).. any other suggestions?
 
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