Quick question about Mic Splitters

[laddie.music2]

I know mic splitters have been discussed before,

But I could not find a final decision on the direct outputs..

Take the radial for example, it has direct output and isolated outputs, as does most mic splitters.

My question is, does the 'direct output' mic signal remain uneffected as if it never plugged into the mic splitter...

We want to use multiple preamps on some vocal sessions, but would like the direct output to be completely original to the mic signal, if you get my drift...

I understand that the isolated outputs will be degraded somewhat... but i'm just asking about the direct output here...

[Chunky But Funky]

I just got a Radial OSX8-J last week. I used it for the first time on a remote this weekend using all three of the splits. I recorded the direct out to my system (MH ULN8), the Jensen transformer isolated split was sent the a second recorder (Presonus FW box) and the Aux out was sent to front of house. (We were running all three, and mic reinforcement for FOH was very minimal).

I'm not sure how much degradation of signal you get in a $1,200 splitter with Jensen transformers, but I'm guessing not much! I didn't get a chance to compare the two recordings yet, but I'm interested to see the differences. Any differences we hear will much more likely have been due to differences between MH & Presonus convertors rather than Jensen transformers or not in the signal path. The Radial is totally passive and their stuff is top notch. From what I understand from the manufacturers mouth, the Direct Out is as close to "bare wire" through the box as you're gonna get. That's why I payed the premium over something like the Whirlwind or ART pieces.

Doug

[mixedupsteve]

The direct output is unaffected except that the impedance that the microphone sees will be the combined load of all the connected devices.

And BTW. the direct split is just wire like all direct splitters.

[Chunky But Funky]

Originally Posted by mixedupsteve

The direct output is unaffected except that the impedance that the microphone sees will be the combined load of all the connected devices.

And BTW. the direct split is just wire like all direct splitters.

While I don't consider myself an audiophile or total gear snob by any means (I just upgraded from MOTU to Metric Halo for my home rig very recently), I do tend to agree with the statement that you get what you pay for. Asserting that the direct out of "any" splitter will not affect the sound in any way might be a stretch. And if you're in a situation where FOH guys have the final say, you probably want to have the best transformers in the split that you can afford, because that's the signal you're going to get to record.

However, that is straying a bit from the OP's original question. In the original posters scenario, I would probably use the direct out for the cleanest / most transparent pre-amp or the tried and true one from previous sessions. I would reserve the transformer isolated split for the more "colored" / "character" pre-amp options.

Doug

[mixedupsteve]

Originally Posted by Chunky But Funky

While I don't consider myself an audiophile or total gear snob by any means (I just upgraded from MOTU to Metric Halo for my home rig very recently), I do tend to agree with the statement that you get what you pay for. Asserting that the direct out of "any" splitter will not affect the sound in any way might be a stretch. And if you're in a situation where FOH guys have the final say, you probably want to have the best transformers in the split that you can afford, because that's the signal you're going to get to record.

However, that is straying a bit from the OP's original question. In the original posters scenario, I would probably use the direct out for the cleanest / most transparent pre-amp or the tried and true one from previous sessions. I would reserve the transformer isolated split for the more "colored" / "character" pre-amp options.

Doug

Better transformers are usually more expensive I agree. But a direct split has no transformer and is just a hardwired parallel thru connection so there's nothing in the signal path other than wire, solder, and the connectors.
But having a splitter in the circuit that is connected to multiple preamps will affect the mic signal due to the lower combined impedance and this will affect all the outputs of the splitter.

[laddie.music2]

Wow, awesome, thanks guys

Yeah well we are in a situation where we have a 'tried and true way', with Brauner mic, into avalon 737, we would like to try a VT-2 Fearn,
So we would like to just make sure the "Brauner / avalon" is really staying the same as per normal,

From what you guys are saying, it seems that with the Fearn VT-2 plugged into a Isolated output, it will change the impedance???,
therefore the Brauner / avalon, will sound different?,

Is that what you are saying?

Anyways, good to know others are happy with Jensen, it's what Doug Fearn reccomended to me.

Laddie.

[baze sax]

hi, maybe I'll find an answer about splitters here. I want to split the signal of my wireless mic live to use two channels of the mixer. the second would be just a compressed 5 khz fill of the main channel. so, is this safe phase wise and what type of splitter would fit the job best.

[tourtelot]

Into the same mixer? I'd use a "Y" cable. Should be no problem and a lot less expensive than a Jensen transformer<g>.

D.

[mixedupsteve]

Originally Posted by baze sax

hi, maybe I'll find an answer about splitters here. I want to split the signal of my wireless mic live to use two channels of the mixer. the second would be just a compressed 5 khz fill of the main channel. so, is this safe phase wise and what type of splitter would fit the job best.

Shouldn't cause any problem unless it's a digital compressor. If so the latency may cause comb filtering depending on the latency and the mix etc.

[Remoteness]

Just like Douglas mentioned, a simple Wye cord will work fine.

If there isn't a FOH engineer playing with the balances between the two channels, why not just compress the vocals without the extra channel?