Rane MP26 MP26 Mixer Owners Manual - Page 19

RaneNote SOUND SYSTEM INTERCONNECTION Sound System Interconnection • Cause & prevention of ground loops • Interfacing balanced & unbalanced • Proper pin connections and wiring • Chassis ground vs. signal ground • Ground lift switches Rane Technical Staff RaneNote 110 © 1985, 1995, 2006, 2007, 2011 Rane Corporation Introduction This note, originally written in 1985, continues to be one of our most useful references. It's popularity stems from the continual and perpetual difficulty of hooking up audio equipment without suffering through all sorts of bizarre noises, hums, buzzes, whistles, etc.- not to mention the extreme financial, physical and psychological price. As technology progresses it is inevitable that electronic equipment and its wiring should be subject to constant improvement. Many things have improved in the audio industry since 1985, but unfortunately wiring isn't one of them. However, finally the Audio Engineering Society (AES) has issued a standards document for interconnection of pro audio equipment. It is AES48, titled "AES48-2005: AES standard on interconnections -Grounding and EMC practices - Shields of connectors in audio equipment containing active circuitry." Rane's policy is to accommodate rather than dictate. However, this document contains suggestions for external wiring changes that should ideally only be implemented by trained technical personnel. Safety regulations require that all original grounding means provided from the factory be left intact for safe operation. No guarantee of responsibility for incidental or consequential damages can be provided. (In other words, don't modify cables, or try your own version of grounding unless you really understand exactly what type of output and input you have to connect.) Interconnection-1