Signal splitting

[usamike]

Alright, I've had enough of Low-latency monitoring (002r, PTLE 6.9). I used to go through my Mackie mixer (which I also use for talkback) and then into pro-tools so I could monitor without any latency. However, the Mackie degrades the sound more than I'm willing to allow at this point. So now I'm just coming back out of the 002r in stereo. What would be a good way to split the signal out of my pre or compressor, one into PT and one into the Mackie for monitoring? A y-cable, some kind of splitter or signal routing box, patchbay? Thanks in advance for help.

Mike

[usamike]

15 replies to 'What is a Distressor?', but no one can give me a simple piece of advice on how to route my DAW? Wow.

[Bento]

I've done a couple of recordings into a 002 where I've done splits through transformer isolated splitters off to a small console so I can set up a number of headphone sends. The iso splitters are handy 'cause you can use the phantom power from your preamps and they won't go through the split to the console. Everyone having their own (at the very least mono) send is absolutely crucial as far as I'm concerned. I've usually just rented them from PA companies when I've needed them.
The transformer splitters usually have ground lifts on them as well which can be essential in this sort of setup.
Just make sure you label everything really well when you're patching because it can take an awfully long time to track down a mis-patch when you're doing splits.

[gainreduction]

Just make a split device yourself. Buy a 19" panel with holes for connectors or a plastic electronics box or whatever fits your workingspace and then you just put in as many splits as you need with connector of your choice. You solder them in serial ground-ground, hot-hot, cold-cold using for example a short piece of a mic cable between them. A modern unit should be able to drive more splits than you need. This goes for LINE level signals, like the preamp output. I would NOT split mic signals. I made a panel like this for my patch for the same reason and it works perfectly.

[songisking]

Originally Posted by usamike

What would be a good way to split the signal out of my pre or compressor, one into PT and one into the Mackie for monitoring? A y-cable, some kind of splitter or signal routing box, patchbay? Thanks in advance for help.

Mike

Patchbay.

Mic pre and compressor outputs on the top row half-normalled to the Mackie inputs on the bottom row. You'll always be able to raise a fader on the Mackie to check what's coming out of that pre and use the aux sends for a cue mix.

Add another bottom row for your 002R A/D inputs. When you patch from the upper row of mic pre/ compressor outputs to these inputs, the half-normalled connection to the Mackie won't be broken, leaving your cue mix unaffected.