Splitting Snake

[63hz]

Ive been doing some live recording at bars and clubs to an Alesis HD24.
Currently I'm using direct outs and the results are actually pretty good, but i want to take it to the next level and get rid of the live desks eq and processing I'm stuck with in mix down.

So my question is what is the best way to split? Is there a big difference between iso and non iso splitters? I would like 24 splits, I can see 24 plain Y-splits getting quiet tangled and messy behind a desk and I'm looking for a clean and easy way, 70% of the time i will be mixing the band also. so i'd like it to be at FOH.

thanks

[therecordinghous]

well, a good split snake is going to cost you well over $2000. however, check in to the art s8. it really isnt a bad splitter. by the time you buy enough for 24 channels of split, and the sub snakes you need, it is still under $1000.

ART S8 | Sweetwater.com

[macleod]

also you need to factor for adding 24 channels of pre amps to your hd24.

[mixedupsteve]

Originally Posted by macleod

also you need to factor for adding 24 channels of pre amps to your hd24.

And make sure if you go transformer isolated that the transformers are line level.
I have one of these. It's direct but I've never had any problems.

[Barnabas]

The transformers in the splitters help keep the recorded sound isolated from the live sound. If you do not have transformers splitting the mic signal, changing the level on the house console will conversely change the level on your recording. Transformers will keep this from happening.

Better (more expensive) transformers sound better then cheap ones.

[63hz]

ah thanks i haven't been able to find much information on what the transformer actually helps.
now for those rack mount splitters, do you just carry xlr looms to patch in and out of normal FOH setup?
and yes I'm aware about the preamps i will be purchasing some yamaha 8 way pres.

[Barnabas]

Originally Posted by 63hz

.
now for those rack mount splitters, do you just carry xlr looms to patch in and out of normal FOH setup?

Yes, but it's a pain to do all that connecting and disconnecting.

I have a few of those 4-ch rack-mount splitters for small gigs, but have a splitter snake for the large recording gigs.

My splitter snake is a stage box with XLR input connectors on top and a multi-pin connector on each end of the box. One multi-pin is the direct output and the other multi-pin is the transformered split.

I have a 150-ft multi-pin cable and a 50-foot multi-pin cable. The fans are about 6-feet long and have the multi-pin at one end and lots of XLRs at the other.

Thus If I was splitting the signal at the FOH mix desk, I would take just the stage box and the two fans. Unplug the XLR cables from the house board and plug them into your stage box. Then one fan goes to the house board and the other fan goes to your recording setup.

You could do a multi-pin connector on your rack to make the setup go faster.

Snakes like this with nice transformers are expensive.

I have a friend with a 32-input stage box with permanent fans coming out of both sides. That's what you need if you never need the extra length I get with my snake. Each multi-pin connector can add a hundred or more dollars to the cost.

A single box like this might take up less space than several rack-mounted splitters.

Here is a link to a picture of my snake in action. It's on the floor next to the racks of my gear under the table. One fan goes to the house console on the table.

http://www.gearslutz.com/board/attac...2353-small.jpg

[aussie_techie]

Originally Posted by Barnabas

The transformers in the splitters help keep the recorded sound isolated from the live sound. If you do not have transformers splitting the mic signal, changing the level on the house console will conversely change the level on your recording. Transformers will keep this from happening.

No.

Transformers simply reflect AC from one side to the other they isolate DC but they do NOT isolate audio signals.

If you have gain pot that is changing the impedance enough to change the sound/level of the mic then that is still going to be reflected across a transformer. Under normal circumstances you wouldn't be affecting the recording by simply changing the gain on the live desk anyway, however engaging a pad on most desks will raise the impedance enough to change the sound of a mic and then you may also get a greater impedance mis match between the two pre amps which could affect the sound even more. Simply adding a transformer does not solve this.

To truly isolate audio paths you need to use an active splitter.
An active splitter is basically a mic pre anyway with 2 independent outputs so changes at the destination can not be directly reflected to the input as with passive splits.

[Fuzzy Logic]

just came back from my friends shop where he has all sorts of splitters. in the active splitter side he has xta and bss. he uses them for the exact reasons explained above but it is not the cheap way to go.

[macleod]

Originally Posted by Barnabas

The transformers in the splitters help keep the recorded sound isolated from the live sound. If you do not have transformers splitting the mic signal, changing the level on the house console will conversely change the level on your recording. Transformers will keep this from happening.

Better (more expensive) transformers sound better then cheap ones.

Thats not the case, The transformers will isolate the DC and not really interfere with the signal. Your standard live setup with FOH and monitor desks use passive splits ( in most mid sized rigs ) and there is no problem. As there are no transformers you only need to phantom the mics from one desk.

Although the impedence is changed it will not be enough to hear any difference. If you want to hear some level change try unplugging your feed and pluging it in again while the FOH signal is live. Everyone will compliment you on your great banging sounds.

[grindx]

Switchcraft has two new rackmount, 8 channel splitters.

The RMAS8 isn't shipping until August, not sure about the RMAS8Pro.

See here
http://www.switchcraft.com/products/..._splitters.pdf

[mixedupsteve]

Just to clear up terminology. Direct "Y" and 1:1 transformer splitters are both passive and they both pass through the impedance. If you have 2 loads of 1,000 ohms each connected to a passive splitter then the new load will be 500 ohms.
An active splitter has an amplifier in it and requires power.