9746 patch bay used as an I/O?

[James]

can I use the 9746 as an I/O module to my mixing board or other outboard gear?

What I'm thinking is that I'll be using TS patch cords into to the module from my 9700 system and then use the I/O cable from the 9791 kit out to mixing board / converters. Is this the proper way to do this?

Trying to avoid ground loops etc.

James

[PAiA-Scott]

Hello James.

Within a P9700S, the audio or control patches can be made using a single conductor patch cable as the modules all share ground via the MIDI2CV8 working as the power source for the modules in the system.

When you go to an external module, the grounds should link via the sleeve of the mini-phone plug.

Once one cable establishes the ground between the P9700S and an external 9746, then other patches between the system and this module can be with single conductor cables (tip to tip).

Connections between the system containing the 9746 would need one sleeve-sleeve connected cable -- others can be single. It probably wouldn't result in ground loop sorts of noise using two-conductor cables for all connections in and out of the 9746, but the cabling is simpler otherwise and good practice.

Thanks!

[James]

thanks for the explanation, which makes perfect sense. In my case though, I want send the output from my P9700S system (via the 9746) to my digital converts, so my concern is that if I want to record in stereo, do BOTH the outputs from the 9746 need to be grounded via sleeve or just one of them?

[PAiA-Scott]

It should be OK either way, but if using one of the two in a two-channel patch, as tip-tip only, there is a benefit to using shielded cable on the tip-tip cable, and cutting the shield wire short at one end and covering it so it doesn't touch the tip or the sleeve. Then, it will surround the single conductor run, with ground, helping to keep interfering signals off the tip-tip line.