audio out

[dan thacker]

I want to hook up two monitors to LP. Would a "y" cable in the audio out be sufficient, or would the signal strength be reduced too much?Is a mixer required?

[muksys]

I would highly suggest a mixer. This is the model I use. You could go cheaper and get a Behringer which may suit your needs just fine, but theirs a reason for the saying "friends don't let friends buy behringers."

[dan thacker]

That does look pretty damn cool,nice price also!Just wondering,does this particular mixer require an expensive adapter?It's just that I've noticed some mixers [like behringer],require $30.00 adapters.Also,do you use it for anything else?I appreciate your time,thank you.

[muksys]

Depends on what the inputs are on your monitor speakers. The Main Outputs on mixers are usually 1/4" jacks, so If the monitors have 1/4" jacks, you should be ok. If it's anything other than that you would need an adapter. Hosa makes pretty inexpensive adapters.

I use the mixer only for my synths. 1 LP, 1 Moog Rouge, 1 DSI MoKey (stereo) and 1 DSI Tetra (stereo). I like the Aux Send/Return for external effects (delay, reverb, etc). Using the Aux sends keeps me from having to move effects from one synth to another. One thing about cheap mixers are the preamps are pretty noisy. I have my LP plugged into input 1 with the "Gain" at 0 and the "Level" at full and use the LP volume to control the output.

[dan thacker]

Sorry muksys,I'm referring to the 9v adaptor.My inputs are 1/4.That's good to know about the pre amps.Again,sorry about that.

[DeFrag]

Get the Mackie for $20 more as it's way better.
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/402VLZ3/

[muksys]

Dan, it comes with its own power supply.

[dan thacker]

Thanks for the info.I'll leave the fate of which type of mixer to kijiji.

[Mr Shave]

I love my Mackie and would highly recommend that company for mixers! If you use a computer for your production, you might want to consider the Onyx series... Its an analog mixer with direct "injection" to your computer via firewire allowing you to record straight from the mixer without having to go through another audio interface... They are quite a bit more expensive though.. and the smallest one is probably more than you really need... http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Onyx820i/

The only drawback i have with the onyx is that unless you go for the $1500 one, you only get two channels of audio from your computer to the mixer... and for me, thats the master out, but there are lots of times i wish i had a couple other outs so i can listen to the full mix while trying out different outboard gear.

[smut]

I want to hook up two monitors to LP. Would a "y" cable in the audio out be sufficient, or would the signal strength be reduced too much?Is a mixer required?

beside my mixers, I use a Y-connection to eventide stereo stompboxes, no problem at all.
A Mixer is needed if you want to connect some LP for polyphony.
If you use cheep mixers than you purchase some more noise, too. With a y-connection not.
Try it, the costs are limited.

[portugaljazz]

I do have same problem .. and also thanks for sharing the information .. it helps me fix the problem..

[dan thacker]

Would I be better off buying a new mackie 402VLZ3 or an Alesis multi mix 8. Alesis is second hand ,@ $75.00,Mackie is $100.00.I don't need the extra inputs,my only consideration is quality.Thanks.

[thealien666]

Would I be better off buying a new mackie 402VLZ3 or an Alesis multi mix 8. Alesis is second hand ,@ $75.00,Mackie is $100.00.I don't need the extra inputs,my only consideration is quality.Thanks.

I would buy the Mackie brand new with a manufacturer's warranty. Some online stores even offer 2 years at no additional cost. Buying something used, you always run the risk of having something go wrong (scratchy pots) after a while, or worst, having some inputs not working anymore. And fixing it would be on you. Moreover, if you don't need the extra inputs of the Alesis, so the choice seems obvious.

As for audio quality, the Mackie has received good reviews from what I've read. Alesis too.

My two cents on it...

[dan thacker]

Thank you ,I'll buy the Mackie.

[dr_floyd]

You really only need a mixer when joining two or more signals, not splitting. A "Y" cable would work perfectly fine for splitting a mono output to two inputs. A "Y" cable is not recommended for merging/mixing signals though, that's where you need a mixer.

Also, you could run your mono signal out into a stereo effect processor, and then run the L and R into your separate monitors to get some spacial goodness. The stereo effect could act as both the signal splitter and effect.