Headphone Mixes + Cable snakes?

[-Noodles-]

Okay, so I've been trying to work out how to expand my system..

I need to integrate a headphone amp into my current system - but i like to utilise cable snakes, with 4 returns, for tracking things [due to tracking in different rooms now!].

How do I connect them up to a headphone amp?
The returns are XLR's, and I'd prefer to keep the headphone amp at my end of the snake - but what would the musician plug their headphones into by doing this? [there'd be a xlr return at their end]..

I am very confused about headphone amps and how to get them wired in by using XLR (and not 1/4").
I thought about using a small behringer mixer to plug the aux return into, then using the headphone out on that - but that can't be the best way?

My gear is listed below, but any suggestions will be welcomed [since i don't own a cable snake yet, just rent] for different routing methods.

[-Noodles-]

No-one..? I know it's late in the UK but i figured there'd be a large amount of the US community to help out

[loujudson]

You can use mic snakes and cables for heaphone feeds with XLR to TRS adaptors - I've done it many times. Is that your question? It is a very simple basic wiring thing, so maybe nobody here thought it was worth replying?

L

[-Noodles-]

So what you mean is that you'd use a TRS adapter on the XLR return aux?

So the artist would be plugging their headphones into an adapter from the snakes XLR return?

It maybe easy to understand, but I've never seen it covered any where - and noone seems to ask. I figured it was a worth while question!

[loujudson]

Yeah, simple and done a lot, just not mentioned here because it isn't an expensive boutique piece of gear!
Balanced Cables: XLR to TRS | Sweetwater.com (don't buy the monster junk, the Proco is better)
Two XLR to TRS cables from the 002R to the snake - and XLR to TRS adaptors at the other end, making sure you have the right sex plug to match... I'd put the headphone amp at the artists end so they can adjust their own volume.

In remote sessions I use the snake to send talkback to the recording room, too, with a little amp and speakers there.

[-Noodles-]

when i first started looking at headphone units, i thought as though they're supposed to be wired..

But, why are Behringer / Samson ones 19" units if they're played at the performers end?
Is that so they can be "built" into studios?


I guess I just thought a little differently and literally!
Thanks though

[Steffmo]

Many over here use Red Cue boxes by Redco audio (www.redco.com). Take a single XLE in and makes 4 feeds with individual volumes. there is also an XLR out to daisy chain.

You need to make an adapter into the snake.....pin 1 is common, 2 and 3 are the l/r hot. Sends the mix from the amplifier on 1 xlr. Then a mic cable works from the remote end of the box to the Red Box. You then have 4 headphone sends. If you need more add another box.

[-Noodles-]

Ah okay, I wondered what those style boxes were when I saw them on Mic stands / music stands.

Thanks.

[Legacy Audio]

As a suggestion, I would recommend you investigate the HearBack monitoring system from Hear Technologies. It's inexpensive and works very well.

Basically it consists of a central unit (called a Hub) which then connects via Cat5 cable to satellite Mixers. The Hub accepts up to 8 inputs and the mixers have 1 stereo and 6 mono level pots. You send signal from your DAW/console (usually via aux sends) to the Hub and from there each musician has control over each instrument's independent volume. The mixer's also have an inbuilt limiter to prevent the level exceeding a user defined threshold.

Typically the Hub will go in the control room and the Mixers will be with the musicians in the studio. The great part about it all is that the talent can create their own headphone mix, and they seem to get a kick out of it too.

[Jonathan Starr]

When I first set up my snakes, I sent amplified signals through the returns in my snakes and plugged the headphones directly in with adaptors.

I felt I was noticing a bit of crosstalk induced noise in my mic lines when using low output mics and a lot of preamp gain.

This was remedied by sending balanced unamplified signals down the return pairs, and moving small headphone amps into the rooms.

The headphone amps I use (Oz Audio - now made by Mackie) allow me to send 2 sets of feeds and the talent can mix the two for more-me or whatevah.

[-Noodles-]

Thanks for the suggestions - A lot of them are a fair bit of money, but I will certainly be book marking them for reference and in the future!

I've heard that routing from the outputs (3-8) via a headphone amp will introduce latency..? Is there anything to combat this?

[lane thaw]

Good topic, don't feel bad about asking as I'm about to run 3 xlrs into a Piano room. (1 headphone, 2 mics).

[-Noodles-]

Am i reading that you're just using 3 xlr snakes? Or just normal xlrs?

[lane thaw]

Yes just three XLR cables and one will be for phones. I believe the run is under 50 feet and just need the Grand Piano. May run a fourth if I want a room mic. Will mount the XLRs to a wall mounts in a room. I don't think there will be latency issues with that type of run, and will use good cables. If I'm wrong, somebody please correct me.