Please help! Recording balanced output to unbalanced input advise

Hi,

If i had more hair i would have torn it out already!

I currently have a vextax pcv275 mixer, and use the 1/4" jacks output which is unbalanced to record into my emu 0404 pci unbalanced jack inputs.

Was about to get the allen & heath xzone 22, but noticed their outputs are balanced.

Now I can't use the cables I currently use, because you need either XLR connection / phono on the xzone22.

So I don't know whether to get some phono to jack cables (which would use the record or monitor outputs) or XLR to jacks (which is for the PA output)

Also does anyone know if I should get balanced or unbalnaced cables?

I'm worried that because the xzone 22 is balanced outs, and the emu 0404 is unbalanced inputs, then I could be damaging something

Or should I forget about this mixer and get something more similar (in terms of connectivitiy) to the one I have.

Thansk

Get the phono to TS jack cables.

It is best to stay unbalanced or balanced and not mix and match.



More info...

There are 2 types of jack.

TS --> Tip sleve --> Has 1 black ring --> used for unbalanced
TRS -> Tip ring sleve --> Has 2 black rings --> used for balanced connections
http://community.avid.com/forums/t/58612.aspx

thank you so much! that link is wicked, my google skills were not cutting it trying find this out.

nice one man