Splitting the preamp output for monitoring

[Sean Conolly]

I will soon be receiving my first outboard preamp, which is an RNP (thanks
Mike!). Up until now I've just used the pre's on my 1202, taking direct outs
to the PC and the mix out to headphones for monitoring. Adding the preamp is
going to require me to split the preamp output so I can still monitor what's
being recorded, but I have a concern about the 1202 polluting the signal
going to the converters through the split.

Should I just split the signal and use a transformer isolated XLR to 1/4
unbalanced to feed the 1202, or would the transformer color the recorded
signal? I've also thought about using resistors to ground to pull a little
more current on the recorded leg of the split, and inline resistors on the
monitoring side to reduce the current of any noise back from the 1202.

Or should I even be concerned at all?

Thanks to all,
Sean

[Mondoslug1]

Sean wrote:

>I will soon be receiving my first outboard preamp, which is an RNP (thanks
>Mike!). Up until now I've just used the pre's on my 1202, taking direct outs
>to the PC and the mix out to headphones for monitoring. Adding the preamp is
>going to require me to split the preamp output so I can still monitor what's
>being recorded, but I have a concern about the 1202 polluting the signal
>going to the converters through the split.
>
>Should I just split the signal and use a transformer isolated XLR to 1/4
>unbalanced to feed the 1202, or would the transformer color the recorded
>signal? I've also thought about using resistors to ground to pull a little
>more current on the recorded leg of the split, and inline resistors on the
>monitoring side to reduce the current of any noise back from the 1202.
>
>Or should I even be concerned at all?
>
>Thanks to all,
>Sean
>
>
I just recently did the same with an off the shelf Female XLR to 2 Male XLR Y
cable.
One XLR into the PC interface & the other one into the mixer for
monitoring....worked like a charm...although I was pointed out other more
efficient, more expensive ways to do it, this seemed to work just fine for me.

[Michael Putrino]

Just be carefull of phantom power. It might be better to use a
balanced 1/4" phone plug for going in to the mixer (usually no phantom
there).

Maybe there's no phantom power on the 1202 (not sure), but you may be
tempted to use this with another mixer and you never know...

Mike Putrino
----------------------


(Mondoslug1) wrote in message >...
> Sean wrote:
>
> >I will soon be receiving my first outboard preamp, which is an RNP (thanks
> >Mike!). Up until now I've just used the pre's on my 1202, taking direct outs
> >to the PC and the mix out to headphones for monitoring. Adding the preamp is
> >going to require me to split the preamp output so I can still monitor what's
> >being recorded, but I have a concern about the 1202 polluting the signal
> >going to the converters through the split.
> >
> >Should I just split the signal and use a transformer isolated XLR to 1/4
> >unbalanced to feed the 1202, or would the transformer color the recorded
> >signal? I've also thought about using resistors to ground to pull a little
> >more current on the recorded leg of the split, and inline resistors on the
> >monitoring side to reduce the current of any noise back from the 1202.
> >
> >Or should I even be concerned at all?
> >
> >Thanks to all,
> >Sean
> >
> >
> I just recently did the same with an off the shelf Female XLR to 2 Male XLR Y
> cable.
> One XLR into the PC interface & the other one into the mixer for
> monitoring....worked like a charm...although I was pointed out other more
> efficient, more expensive ways to do it, this seemed to work just fine for me.

[John Cafarella]

"Sean Conolly" > wrote in message
...
> I will soon be receiving my first outboard preamp, which is an RNP (thanks
> Mike!). Up until now I've just used the pre's on my 1202, taking direct
outs
> to the PC and the mix out to headphones for monitoring. Adding the preamp
is
> going to require me to split the preamp output so I can still monitor
what's
> being recorded, but I have a concern about the 1202 polluting the signal
> going to the converters through the split.
>
> Should I just split the signal and use a transformer isolated XLR to 1/4
> unbalanced to feed the 1202, or would the transformer color the recorded
> signal? I've also thought about using resistors to ground to pull a little
> more current on the recorded leg of the split, and inline resistors on the
> monitoring side to reduce the current of any noise back from the 1202.
>
> Or should I even be concerned at all?
>
> Thanks to all,
> Sean

Take the output direct to the recorder and use the insert to feed your
monitoring system.

--
John Cafarella
EOR Studio
Melbourne Australia
[ cafarellaj at powertel dot com dot au ]

[Sean Conolly]

"John Cafarella" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Sean Conolly" > wrote in message
> ...
> > I will soon be receiving my first outboard preamp, which is an RNP
(thanks
> > Mike!). Up until now I've just used the pre's on my 1202, taking direct
> outs
> > to the PC and the mix out to headphones for monitoring. Adding the
preamp
> is
> > going to require me to split the preamp output so I can still monitor
> what's
> > being recorded, but I have a concern about the 1202 polluting the signal
> > going to the converters through the split.
> >
> > Should I just split the signal and use a transformer isolated XLR to 1/4
> > unbalanced to feed the 1202, or would the transformer color the recorded
> > signal? I've also thought about using resistors to ground to pull a
little
> > more current on the recorded leg of the split, and inline resistors on
the
> > monitoring side to reduce the current of any noise back from the 1202.
> >
> > Or should I even be concerned at all?
> >
> > Thanks to all,
> > Sean
>
> Take the output direct to the recorder and use the insert to feed your
> monitoring system.

You know, I forgot the RNP has inserts - D'OH!

Still some of the other preamps I'm considering don't have inserts, so the
question is still valid.

Thanks,
Sean

[Sean Conolly]

"Michael Putrino" > wrote in message
om...
> Just be carefull of phantom power. It might be better to use a
> balanced 1/4" phone plug for going in to the mixer (usually no phantom
> there).
>
> Maybe there's no phantom power on the 1202 (not sure), but you may be
> tempted to use this with another mixer and you never know...

The 1202 does, and that's exactly why I was looking at a 1/4" input, either
balanced or unbalanced. I just don't want to compromise the signal to the
converters by adding the Mackie to the circuit, and I'm curious what is the
right way to do this job. Like I said, I may be worrying over nothing.

Thanks,
Sean

[Kurt Albershardt]

John Cafarella wrote:
>
> Take the output direct to the recorder and use the insert to feed your
> monitoring system.


Just an FYI that the insert out passes through one less amplifier stage
than the XLR-M; so assuming I had no grounding or level issues with my
ADC, I'd probably reverse those tow.

[John Cafarella]

"Kurt Albershardt" > wrote in message
...
> John Cafarella wrote:
> >
> > Take the output direct to the recorder and use the insert to feed your
> > monitoring system.
>
>
> Just an FYI that the insert out passes through one less amplifier stage
> than the XLR-M; so assuming I had no grounding or level issues with my
> ADC, I'd probably reverse those tow.
>

Cool, thanks for the info Kurt. I'll give it some thought.

--
John Cafarella
EOR Studio
Melbourne Australia
[ cafarellaj at powertel dot com dot au ]

[Mikey]

"Sean Conolly" > wrote in message >...
> I will soon be receiving my first outboard preamp, which is an RNP (thanks
> Mike!). Up until now I've just used the pre's on my 1202, taking direct outs
> to the PC and the mix out to headphones for monitoring. Adding the preamp is
> going to require me to split the preamp output so I can still monitor what's
> being recorded, but I have a concern about the 1202 polluting the signal
> going to the converters through the split.
>
> Should I just split the signal and use a transformer isolated XLR to 1/4
> unbalanced to feed the 1202, or would the transformer color the recorded
> signal? I've also thought about using resistors to ground to pull a little
> more current on the recorded leg of the split, and inline resistors on the
> monitoring side to reduce the current of any noise back from the 1202.
>
> Or should I even be concerned at all?
>
> Thanks to all,
> Sean


Sean,
One thing to look at is finding out if you can mult in the digital
domain. With my Creamware Pulsar-scope system, I can send the input
signal to both the recording software (Sonar 2.2 for me) and back out
of the Pulsar's analog (or digital) outputs, then to my mixer &
monitoring system (with no latency). It may not be possible with your
sound card, but it's worth checking into.

Good luck,
Mikey
Nva Music Productions

[Mikey]

"Sean Conolly" > wrote in message >...
> I will soon be receiving my first outboard preamp, which is an RNP (thanks
> Mike!). Up until now I've just used the pre's on my 1202, taking direct outs
> to the PC and the mix out to headphones for monitoring. Adding the preamp is
> going to require me to split the preamp output so I can still monitor what's
> being recorded, but I have a concern about the 1202 polluting the signal
> going to the converters through the split.
>
> Should I just split the signal and use a transformer isolated XLR to 1/4
> unbalanced to feed the 1202, or would the transformer color the recorded
> signal? I've also thought about using resistors to ground to pull a little
> more current on the recorded leg of the split, and inline resistors on the
> monitoring side to reduce the current of any noise back from the 1202.
>
> Or should I even be concerned at all?
>
> Thanks to all,
> Sean


Sean,
One thing to look at is finding out if you can mult in the digital
domain. With my Creamware Pulsar-scope system, I can send the input
signal to both the recording software (Sonar 2.2 for me) and back out
of the Pulsar's analog (or digital) outputs, then to my mixer &
monitoring system (with no latency). It may not be possible with your
sound card, but it's worth checking into.

Good luck,
Mikey
Nova Music Productions