Very confused about DI unbalanced out, using mono loop switcher

[Esppse]

Hello,

I am setting up a pedalboard chain that incorporates mic preamps for direct recording. It gets a bit strange.

I am using a free routing switcher which allows you to program them in any order. Now 2 of them are balanced mic preamps (no built in DI, transformer balanced IO), and one is an outboard studio type compressor (transformer balanced IO).

These 3 units are going to be in the loop switcher.

So for most of the time, it'll be this chain:

FX Pedals ---> Passive DI ----> Preamp 1 or Preamp 2 ----> 1176 Compressor

Sometimes I will run the 2 preamps in parallel, with different pedals before each; 2 signal paths. The loop switcher is able to split the signals, and mix them back to one point (which is the compressor). To put the Preamps and Compressor in the loop switcher, they would have to be forced into unbalanced (ground the cold pin).

And I would need to use a DI before going into the preamps. So the DI also has to be in a loop that is unbalanced. This is very confusing because the DI output is always balanced. When I force it's output to be unbalanced, will the signal still be able to hit the Mic preamps properly?

Is this signal path ok?

[FiveseveN]

I'm not clear on whether you want to use those preamps or you believe you need to, because you shouldn't. Nor the DI for that matter.

[GibsonGM]

Maybe a diagram of what you want to do would be helpful?

[Esppse]

Maybe a diagram of what you want to do would be helpful?

This is basically the plan. 4 Possible signal paths, sometimes to interface, and sometimes to amp. The reason for the preamps is both for tone, and to bring it to a proper line level to feed the 1176. All normal pedals are unbalanced. The DI has balanced out. The preamps and compressor are all transformer balanced IO.

I was curious if it would be ok to make them all unbalanced by grounding all the cold pins. This way they all fit into a mono fx loop switcher.

[FiveseveN]

make them all unbalanced by grounding all the cold pins

That's what I was thinking, it would be the simplest solution.

[Esppse]

Ok cool i figured this was the only way, thanks