User Manual

This Mic Pre also has two outputs for each channel. One is balanced and one unbalanced.

The XLR is a true transformer balanced output. The 1/4" mono (tip -sleeve) jack is unbalanced

and gets its signal before the transformer.

The XLR PIN OUT is: The 1/4" PIN OUT is:

PIN 1 = CIRCUIT GROUND SLEEVE = CIRCUIT GROUND

PIN 2 = HOT or positive going phase TIP = SIGNAL

PIN 3 = LOW or negative going phase

(providing that the Phase Switch is set to 0˚ and there is no plug in the 1/4" output)

We used to only provide an unbalanced output and it fed both the XLR and 1/4". Now we

give you options. The purists amongst you will probably prefer the unbalanced output because

it goes through one less component and the purists demand that the signal gets forced through

the best and as few as possible (it's one of the big reasons they chose the Manley Mic Pre). The

Studio Pro's will probably prefer the balanced output for two reasons. The first is that they require

the easiest patching and least hassle set-up with any situation they might encounter in any studio

they might be using. Transformer balanced outputs are easily the best solution. The second reason

is that they may like the "sound" of transformers. One well known engineer told us he "loves the

sound of great transformers and hates the sound of bad ones". These are great transformers -

because they have virtually no "sound" of their own. You can verify this by comparing the

outputs. We wind the transformers ourselves and we are probably the last or only audio

manufacturer doing so. We had to, to get the quality that we wanted.

If you read the PIN OUT carefully, you may have noticed we specified CIRCUIT GROUND

rather than just GROUND. We have a few terminals on the back panel for various "ground

schemes". The CIRCUIT GROUND is the same ground as the electronics in the Mic Pre while

the CHASSIS GROUND is the same as the steel enclosure that is bolted to the rack and is

connected to the "third pin AC Mains Ground. Both terminals are normally connected together

with a small "ground strap" but this strap can be moved to the side and wire can be attached to

the terminals. These are "MINI BANANA" style and will not accept regular size bananas found

on electronic test gear. Be careful with the ground strap because it can get lost if the terminals

are loose. If it does get lost - you can use a short bare wire.

There are two good reasons for using these ground terminals. The first is finding and fixing

hum and the second is preventing hum. If you have plugged everything in right and you are getting

hum then you have a number of options with these terminals. You can try simply moving the strap

so that chassis ground is separate from circuit ground. This is similar to breaking off the third pin

AC ground but includes the ground from rack mounting . One can experiment with attaching a

wire between the console ground and the circuit ground or between a rack and the chassis ground.

These are all techniques some technicians use when wiring studios. They also often cut the

ground (shield) on one side of the cable to prevent loops. DO NOT cut the shield on MIC cables

because you lose phantom, shielding at the mic, and hum only gets worse !

One other cause of hum - Some gear may radiate a field into whatever is closest. Move the

Mic Pre or the offender away from each other.