XLR, corrosion, and other problems

iksrazal · Post by **iksrazal** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 11:47 pm

Hi all,

Finally about to get an oasys! Its already paid for, just waiting for it to arrive. I live on the ocean (Fortaleza, Brazil) and have huge ocean corrosion problems this close to the equater. Aluminium is mostly immune to these ocean corrosion and oxidation issues.

I can't seem to find out what type of material the oasys is composed of - metal, aluminium, rubber, wood etc. Anyone have rust or corrosion issues with the oasys? I just lost a PC to corrosion after two years. I've now been told WD-40 can help, but its not safe for rubber and wood. I'm hoping standard 88 key dust covers will help. Maybe keeping it in the SK case I got for it perhaps?

Because of my corrosion problems, I'm thinking I have to go with the genelec 8030a monitors due to space considerations and that they have die-cast aluminium enclosures. I hope to buy the 7050b subwoofer to go with them some day. My work room is small, 10 feet long and 7 feet wide so I hope these monitors are a good choice!

The 8030a monitors, however, have XLR inputs only whereas of course the oasys has only 1/4" unbalanced outputs. I have a triton classic I plan on keeping since its a bit worn and couldn't get much for it anyways, so I'm supposing I need a mixer with XLR outputs. I found a m-audio mixer relatively cheap with XLR outputs - anyone got advice on this subject?

http://www.sweetwater.com/c125--M-Audio--Analog_Mixers

I can't find what material that's composed of either - argh! If anyone knows of a aluminium mixer with XLR outputs, please advise!

Sina172 · Post by **Sina172** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 1:34 am

kenackr · Post by **kenackr** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 1:36 am

24/7 air conditioning is the one of the best defences against corrosion. Salt air is one of the most corrosive environments on earth, ask any sailor.

Having an aluminum casing on a mixer or speakers is not the answer. Corrosive atmosphere will ultimately get thru any mechanical openings (like fader slots on a mixer) or directly attack speaker cone fabric and /or the voice coil.

As far as matching output to input type connectors, there are adapters and cables that can get you there. If you desire a mixer, make sure that the Genelec input requires a balanced signal (since it's xlr) and then make sure what ever mixer you get also has a balanced output (either xlr or TRS 1/4"). I assume the Gene's you mention have internal amplification.

The other solution is to move to Kansas or something like it.

Ken

Rainer · Post by **Rainer** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 6:10 pm

Hi Sina,

found it quite interesting that the noise issue is so important for you. Good musical instruments always produce an enormous amount of noise (my minimoog does, my paula does, my violin does; the list can be continued without end). Rainer

Sina172 · Post by **Sina172** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 8:16 pm

iksrazal · Post by **iksrazal** » Fri Jan 18, 2008 1:26 pm

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You actually don't need XLR outs on your mixer. If you REALLY want to maintain the quality of your OASYS this is what I'd do (and I have it setup this way):

Get 2 TRS-XLRM Cables to go from the Main L/R Outs of the OASYS DIRECTLY to the Monitors. Then, if you REALLY need the Mixer take the Individual Outs 1/2 and connect that to your mixer using a Stereo Channel.

Sina, you seem to be the right person to ask. Considering how conscious you are of noise, you feel then its OK to go directly from the oasys unbalanced 1/4" jacks to the XLR inputs of the Genelecs via TRS-XLRM Cables?

Also, your sig says you have a OASYS 88 and Triton Classic 76 . I have a triton classic 88 that I plan on using with the oasys at least for some moss sounds I use. Do I need a mixer to combine those two or is there another way? I just looked at the oasys user guide and I'm not sure if the oasys line level inputs can help me?

I've read the rest of the other comments a few times and I'm researching some ideas, thanks!

Robert

kenackr · Post by **kenackr** » Fri Jan 18, 2008 4:46 pm

You actually don't need a mixer, the O can do everything for you.

Lay down your midi tracks to the O's sequencer, then record any additional tracks in audio from the Triton thru the line input jacks on the O. Set the O to mixdown and twiddle the controls to your heart's delight.

Ken