Most all my preamps and comps are wired pin 2 hot (+). I have a JBL/UREI 7110 comp and in the manual it states that it is wired pin 3 hot (+).

Maybe this is a stupid question, but is this reversing the phase of my signal if I run though a preamp with pin 2 hot into the comp with pin 3 hot and then into a converter with pin 2 hot?

I could wire up some pigtails to the comp barrier strip with pin 2 hot if that is the case. Or am I messed up here?

amigo,

Yes wire the unit as PIN 3 HOT on one end of the cable, and pin 2 as HOT on the other. Both input and output. (reverse polarity on both input and output)

This is kind of strange, and usually does not sound out of phase. I think that is because while it uses pin 3 as hot on the way in, it is also using pin 3 as hot on the way out. So the signal never got 180% out of phase. But what it seems to do anyway is: internal to the compressor the siganl is out of phase. Meaning the compressor is reacting to the 180% side of the signal, and not the top side.

So while I think you don't get a phasey sound with pin 3 hot, you will get a reduce performance. The other thing is: On some "ballanced" gear the cold or low side (normally pin 3) is internally tied to ground somewhere. So while the gear is supposed to be ballanced, sometimes it is just "pseudo" ballanced. Where as other gear like the "F" series 1176 used an electronically ballanced input that keeps the input fully ballanced. So in the case of the "pseudo" ballance, your chassis have the potential to be at opposites potentials. This will cause a whole new set of problems.

On my old Semetrics Compressors (with Pin 3 hot), I just made a cable with Pin 3 hot on the compressor side, and reverse it on the other end.

edited to correct my stupid ass spelling!

Not sure that made sense...or did it?

Another words, pin three will always be hot on that unit. period. to interface with items with pin 2 hot, it is best to make a cable that has pin 3 hot on one end. Then reverse the two wires at the other end. So the cable is out of phase. Do this on both input and output. Make sure you mark these cables with polariy changes. Otherwise later you will grab them and certainly notice a problem.

If you plan on never selling the unit, open it up and reverse pin 2 and 3 on all connectors. Then use a standard cable.

Thanks Jackl! I think this makes sense to me now.

So if I make pigtails for input and output, with a normally wired XLR on the outer end and connect the wire from pin 2 of the XLR that connects to my preamp to (-) on the barrier strip of the comp and the wire from pin 3 to the (+) on the barrier strip, and the braid to ground, that would be the same thing, and no chance of using that cables for any other gear where it would be wrong?

Polarity gets flipped going in to the comp to suit it and flipped back on the way out.

Also is the LA-4 OK with pin 2 hot? I made pigtails for it by cutting a short Mogami cable in two, and wiring them up pin 2 hot to the barrier strip.

Wait a minute.

If you are saying I could open it up and reverse wiring on the connectors in the comp, couldn't I just wire it up with pigtails to the barrier strip with pin 2 hot? The unused XLR connectors on the comp would still be wired pin 3 hot but I would not be using them.

Now I'm confused again.

LOL!

Dudge,

You are correct on your first statement. Make a pigtail with the normally connect pin 2 on the end that will connect to your external gear. Lets say you used RED for that wire. Then connect that same RED wire on your compressor to pin 3 or to the barrier strip labeled Hot/high.

I was also saying, later could just open the unit up and reverse the wiring to the modern standard. But from our previous conversations, I would steer clear of that for now.

As for the LA4. As long as you connected the screw on the barrier strip marked "high/hot" to the PIN 2 of your connector or TIP on your TRS you are in good shape.

Just remember Hot/High goes to Hot/high. Cold/low goes to Cold/low. Shield to Shield

OK. Got it. LOL

It's just the XLR connectors on the comp that are bassackwards.

Thanks for clarifying the clarification.

quote:

Originally posted by Jacl Daniels:

I was also saying, later could just open the unit up and reverse the wiring to the modern standard. But from our previous conversations, I would steer clear of that for now.

Yeah, you know I'm not a soldering dude.

The LA-4 mod turned out great though.

Thanks for your help!

Glad to hear about the LA4. I think I may try that threshold mod myself.

Later!

If BOTH input & output connectors are wired pin 3 hot & are proper balanced ins & outs, then you can leave it as is.

There is no phase change through the unit if both are pin 3 hot.

Peter

Agreed that there is no phase change within the unit.

But it sounds different (to me) when your are using the low side of the signal interanal to the processor, verses the high side. Meaning comming from the first unit, the high is pin 2. That signal will now be the low side signal on the unit wired in reverse. For somethings, like effects, and compression, this sounds different.

I am guessing it has to do with the negative side of the phase being used to drive the circuit, and not the positive side of phase.

Peter, maybe you could help clear up Phase vs Polarity. They are not the same, but it is still confusing!

JD

quote:

I am guessing it has to do with the negative side of the phase being used to drive the circuit, and not the positive side of phase.

Well, that is why I say properly balanced. The first stage of most pieces of balanced gear will be a bal-unbal converter (component or transformer), so it should not matter which phase is which. Also the last stage will probably be an unbal- bal converter. That is why a lot of mastering houses run their gear unbalanced, because it actually works unbalanced (mostly).

Not trying to contradict you JD, they may very well sound different, but theoretically should not sound different.

Some people claim to hear absolute phase. I myself cant hear the diff.

Peter