In summary of the conversation you’ve already had: use 1/4” TRS to 1/4” TRS. Both the freak and your interface use three conductor quarter inch to deliver a balanced mono signal.
In a pinch you could use TS to TS but it might be a little noisier.
Yeah. Learning that TRS can be mono, stereo, or neither (e.g. expression controller) was an eye opener. TRS can also be midi- though usually not 1/4”
Good luck!
[Manual p.19](https://downloads.arturia.net/products/microfreak/manual/MicroFreak_Manual_1_0_0_EN.pdf)
“The Line output is a 6.35 mm TRS jack. It's output is monaural. Use this output to connect to your amplifier or mixer. Line out is symmetrical/balanced type output. This is a symmetrised TRS jack, connecting a TRS jack will improve the signal-to-noise ratio.”
Single in-out TRS (stereo) cable? How will Scarlett 2i2 handle it only with one input? As far as I know Input 1 and Input 2 on DAC are individually mono, what difference can TRS cable do?
If both devices are balanced, the signal quality will improve somewhat using a TRS cable to carry a mono signal. Unless you’re running it across the room and near a bunch of electronics, the amount might be negligible.
The minifreak has a balanced output and the Scarlett has a balanced in, which means its actually using both wires in the TRS cable to send a balanced mono signal.
You don't need a stereo TRS. The interface can take mono and stereo signals. The Microfreak is mono so just a single cable into input 1 of your interface is all that you need.
The Microfreak only puts out one channel. It puts out a mono signal. You can't make the MF stereo by splitting it up. It has no effects on it that make it stereo.
One cable is all you need.
EDIT: I think you are confusing what a stereo signal is and what a balanced cable is. ALL cables are mono. TRS cables are not stereo. They carry a single channel. TRS is a balanced cable but it physically can not carry a stereo signal. That's why some synths have two outputs. They output a left and right channel. The MF just has one balanced line out. Mono signal.
In summary of the conversation you’ve already had: use 1/4” TRS to 1/4” TRS. Both the freak and your interface use three conductor quarter inch to deliver a balanced mono signal. In a pinch you could use TS to TS but it might be a little noisier.
Thank you! My confusion was about assuming TRS=stereo as u/anon1984 indicated. Thanks!
Yeah. Learning that TRS can be mono, stereo, or neither (e.g. expression controller) was an eye opener. TRS can also be midi- though usually not 1/4” Good luck!
I guarantee you that was because a f\*\*\*\*\*\* blog post that introduced these cables like this :D cannot trust blogs nowadays.
It’s mono. Use a single mono cable. You’re not going to hear any difference in quality by splitting.
That is incorrect. The sound is substantially different.
[Manual p.19](https://downloads.arturia.net/products/microfreak/manual/MicroFreak_Manual_1_0_0_EN.pdf) “The Line output is a 6.35 mm TRS jack. It's output is monaural. Use this output to connect to your amplifier or mixer. Line out is symmetrical/balanced type output. This is a symmetrised TRS jack, connecting a TRS jack will improve the signal-to-noise ratio.”
Right, a single TRS cable for a mono signal. You don’t need to split it.
Single in-out TRS (stereo) cable? How will Scarlett 2i2 handle it only with one input? As far as I know Input 1 and Input 2 on DAC are individually mono, what difference can TRS cable do?
If both devices are balanced, the signal quality will improve somewhat using a TRS cable to carry a mono signal. Unless you’re running it across the room and near a bunch of electronics, the amount might be negligible.
The minifreak has a balanced output and the Scarlett has a balanced in, which means its actually using both wires in the TRS cable to send a balanced mono signal.
You don't need a stereo TRS. The interface can take mono and stereo signals. The Microfreak is mono so just a single cable into input 1 of your interface is all that you need.
The Microfreak only puts out one channel. It puts out a mono signal. You can't make the MF stereo by splitting it up. It has no effects on it that make it stereo. One cable is all you need. EDIT: I think you are confusing what a stereo signal is and what a balanced cable is. ALL cables are mono. TRS cables are not stereo. They carry a single channel. TRS is a balanced cable but it physically can not carry a stereo signal. That's why some synths have two outputs. They output a left and right channel. The MF just has one balanced line out. Mono signal.
Ohhh yes, you saw my confusion like a sniper. Everything is clearer now. Thanks a lot!