MTRX Studio distortion on outputs

[Tone_Mechanic]

Originally Posted by menno1000

Hi All,

Tone_Mechanic is right. MTRX is sensitive to balanced /unbalanced.
This is the cause of the distortion.

@Tone_Mechanic do you have fix for the unbalanced issue? A different way to connect balanced to unbalanced?

It may require some experimentation to find what works the best, and doesn’t cause an unnecessary drop in level.

You might want to try to contact Digital Audio of Denmark tech support (the makers of the MTRX and MTRX Studio) and find out. It’s a bit surprising to me that if this is a problem, they haven’t documented it already in the install manual.

But I would experiment with disconnecting either the ground, or the - signal.

Traditionally with a transformer output (which the MTRX is not) you would connect:

Balanced XLR
+ (pin 2) = + (Tip)
- (pin 3) = GND (Sleeve)
GND (pin 1) = GND (Sleeve)

For electronically balanced outputs, the configuration would be either:

+ (pin 2) = + (Tip)
- (pin 3) = GND (Sleeve)
GND (pin 1) = not connected

Or

+ (pin 2) = + (Tip)
- (pin 3) = not connected
GND (pin 1) = GND (Sleeve)

The last setup was what was recommended for the 192 I/O.

One of the above setups should work, and will be clean and without distortion.

The other one will probably not work, be filled with hum or just not pass signal at all.

So you’ll just have to try both.

You could get balancing transformers, but that would add coloration and expense.

[ntp-jl]

The output of the MTRX/MTRX Studio should always be connected to an unbalanced input like this:

+ = +
GND = GND
- = do not connect

Do note that this will result in unbalanced operation and the output level will therefore be 6 dB lower when compared to balanced operation.

[menno1000]

You might want to try to contact Digital Audio of Denmark tech support (the makers of the MTRX and MTRX Studio) and find out. It’s a bit surprising to me that if this is a problem, they haven’t documented it already in the install manual.

I wrote an email and they said i had to turn to AVID or my reseller. Non of them responded. Avid i had to pay, ofc.

But I would experiment with disconnecting either the ground, or the - signal.

Thanks Tone_Meachanic. It turns out you got it right!

[menno1000]

Originally Posted by ntp-jl

The output of the MTRX/MTRX Studio should always be connected to an unbalanced input like this:

+ = +
GND = GND
- = do not connect

Do not that this will result in unbalanced operation and the output level will therefore be 6 dB lower when compared to balanced operation.

Thanks for this Jan, very happy you joined.

Now i have confirmation about this. A 6dB loss is no problem. Without the described connection i had a 18dB loss.

Just to get the picture: is the signal still good if i did remain below the +6dB of output trim when if connected - to GND? Or is the signal already compromised below that output level in that order?

[Tone_Mechanic]

Originally Posted by ntp-jl

The output of the MTRX/MTRX Studio should always be connected to an unbalanced input like this:

+ = +
GND = GND
- = do not connect

Do not that this will result in unbalanced operation and the output level will therefore be 6 dB lower when compared to balanced operation.

Thank you for the confirmation!

[ntp-jl]

Originally Posted by menno1000

Just to get the picture: is the signal still good if i did remain below the +6dB of output trim when if connected - to GND? Or is the signal already compromised below that output level in that order?

Signal is only good if you connect as I have described.

[menno1000]

Originally Posted by ntp-jl

Signal is only good if you connect as I have described.

Thanks!