Transformer splitters Vs. XLR Splitter cables

[jimcroisdale]

HI all,

I've recently put together a mobile recording rig.

As a means of helping to pay for it, I'm going to be doing some live recording for bands! I can record up to 16 channels with my current setup, which I think will be ok. I'm going to need some way of splitting the stage mics to feed the recorder AND the FOH desk at the same time.

I thought about the ART S8 (x2) which is a passive transformer design.

And then I saw simple XLR 1 female to 2 male leads!

What are the benefits of each, and what should I be choosing?

Cheers,

Jim

[midigod]

You should be using transformer-isolated splitters with a ground lift option.

When you're dealing with clubs and their house rigs, the power and grounding are going to be sketchy right off the bat, but the potential for hum and other electrical issues is tremendous, as you're going to be pulling your power off of a different circuit than the house.

If you're setting up right next to the house, on the same power, you're a little better off, but there's still a great risk of interaction of many types if you don't use isolation. Those Y-cables are just hacks, but can be used in certain controlled circumstances. Yours is not one of those circumstances.

Craig

[jimcroisdale]

I'm going to be setting up right next to the band - my rig is small and fits in my car.

So i WILL be using the same mains supply as the band (who do their own PA), however I reckon I'll be going with the ART S8's, as I've not seen any others here in the UK.

I'll probably have two of them in a separate rack case which I can set down next to the FOH desk. The band can put their inputs into that, then I can give them more XLRs to go to the mixer, while I run a 16ch snake to the recorder.

Would you recommend a Furman power conditioner for the rack, while I'm at it?

Jim

[AaardVaaark]

The ART S8 is a functional but cheap unit providing just two, unbuffered splits. Many touring PA systems will include active 3-way splits by eg
BSS BSS Audio Active Signal Distribution Systems

or XTA XTA Electronics
in order to split to Front of House, Monitors and Recording or OB truck.
These units are pretty common in this field, but substantially more expensive than the ART. Without going to these lengths, you could easily DIY a much higher quality box than the ART using, say, Sowter or Lundahl transformers, for not much more cash - or replace the ones in the ART later

Remember you'll need XLR looms to tail into the house system....

All the Best

AV

[Alex Specht]

The Art S8 looks good. Im glad to know about that product.

You might also consider building a stage box with multipin connectors for fast setup.

For example you can run the mics into your stage box which connects to your S8 racs with a multipin and then another multipin to tails which goes out to the house stage box.

This will save you time in setup by having 32 less tails to plug.

Also you should make sure that you use the transformer Iso out to go to your rig and the direct out goes to the house.

[tINY]

Transformer isolation was manditory before modern high-impedance mic inputs. It's still nice to have in some situations.

It is not required, especially if you are using a recording interface with 2k-10k input impedance and running dynamic mics....

Expect to pay at least $100 per channel to get decent transformer isolation/splits.



-tINY

[jimcroisdale]

Wow!

Good stuff here guys! Lots of things for me to think about!

Jim

[memphisindie]

Jensen used to have a schematic posted on their site how to build isolation for just such a purpose and you could build your own split snake. We did it when I was doing stadium and outdoor stuff. They sounded great. They had a specific Xformer and it wasn't very expensive.
Go to their site, don't be scurred.

[jimcroisdale]

The Jensen site is really very good! I never realised what a big name in consumer electronics they are. No-one over in the UK has ever heard of them!

The transformers are £30 each however, plus shipping.

16 of these would be £480 (already more than 2x ART S8's)

Then I'd need a rack chassis, wiring etc.

I know they would probably offer better quality than the ART unit, but that doesn't really bother me that much. Don't tell anyone, but I'm going to use the direct out for recording and give the band the transformered split for the PA feed!

Most rock band PA's in the UK (pubs and clubs) are old, tired and sound somewhere from Ok to quite bad. I'm sure the 0.005% THD will get lost in there somewhere......

What? Stop looking at me like that!

[memphisindie]

I'm in Memphis, there are some great bands here, but, I've been around a while and
I FEEL YOUR PAIN.
I think those xformers were the same price 15 years ago. Amazing, they were very good.
I wouldn't get too nutty about it. You could buy a sack of small breadboards, a sack of xformers, some good wire and a Neutrik patchbay and wire the whole thing up as a xformed split patch.
Some place have a xformed split out. I have a friend here in memphis that has 2 xformed split snakes with a separate xformed split out, all xlr or various large format multi-pin outs.

[Alex Specht]

Check this out:

Mic Splitter & Snakes - Transformer Isolated