Signal loss using y-cable to split mic signal?

[indie]

Hey slutz,
Is there much signal loss when splitting a mic signal coming from say, snare>sm57>cable>y-cable to 2 different preamps? I'm going to pick up a y-cable and try it of course...but want to know other people's experience.
Thanksthumbsup

[redroom]

Only ever noticed a small drop nothing to freak about

Go for it as its great to try a couple of pres at the same time

[John Suitcase]

You can pick up a cheap ART Splitcom for like $25 that works much better. It's got a transformer (admittedly, a cheap one), so it doesn't change the impedance that your preamp and mic see. Also, it helps a little with noise.

If fidelity is very important (I don't imagine it is if you're using a y cable, no offense), then you can get something with a Jensen transformer, which will be marginally better.

[indie]

hmmm ART eh? I'll check it out. Seems questionable though -- since it's ART.

[John Suitcase]

Hahaha, yeah, they're pretty basic. But they work, and sound good enough from what I can tell. I usually use them to split a live vocal mic, when I do the occasional live recording gig, haven't tried them in a 'critical listening' situation, though.

[redroom]

I have one of those little art gizmoa they work really well but they shure in hell change the sound thats why Im happy with a Y cable.

[indie]

Originally Posted by redroom

I have one of those little art gizmoa they work really well but they shure in hell change the sound thats why Im happy with a Y cable.

ahhh..good to know, thanks.thumbsup

[John Suitcase]

Originally Posted by redroom

I have one of those little art gizmoa they work really well but they shure in hell change the sound thats why Im happy with a Y cable.

Yeah, I imagine they do, particularly on the transformer isolated side. I think anything you do is going to change the sound a bit.

You could try recording something that's reproducible, like playing a recorded sound through a speaker and recording that with the mic. Then try hooking up the y cable to both preamps and see if the sound changes significantly. I'm guessing that it'll be noticeable, but probably not bad enough to make comparisons done that way unusable.

Anytime you change the topology of a circuit, you're going to change how it responds to signal a little bit. I don't think there's any way around that.