OT: What gizmo do I need to split audio?

smhontz wrote on 8/2/2005, 6:15 PM
Have an audio mixing board in our church. Need to hook the output of it to both a video camera and a CD-Recorder. Mixer has one set of Record Out (RCA) whose output levels are fixed and unaffected by any fader changes. Also has a mono output (XLR) controlled by the mono fader.

The video camera and CD-Recorder both take RCA inputs. We tried routing the Rec Out from the mixer to our video switcher (an MX4) and then using two audio outputs on the switcher, but going thru the video switcher dropped the strength of the signal to where it was unusable.

Someone thought we could just plug a Y-cable in to split the signal and feed it to both the video camera and the CD-Recorder. But doesn't that cause ground loops and such? Don't we need some sort of distribution amp, a small mixer, or some other gizmo to essentially take a single line-level audio output and split it into several outputs?

Comments

farss wrote on 8/2/2005, 6:19 PM
Distribution amp would be the way to go.
VOGuy wrote on 8/2/2005, 6:47 PM
Yeah, a "Y" adaptor (available at Radio Shack) will probably do the trick. Most consoles have an output impedance much lower than the camera and video recorder, so they'll feed audio to a good number of devices.

However: Yes, there's chance that you will have ground-loop problems. There are two relatively easy solutions.

1) If you have a ground loop (Presuming the camera/recorder is already connected to your system ground, unplug one end of the RCA cables partway, so the center connector is connected, but the ground is not. (I've done this many times, and it works, but it should be considered a TEMPORARY fix - though one radio station I worked at used this for several years without ever being fixed.

2)


You connect your "Y", then plug it into the Isolator.

There are more elegant solutions, but one of these should work well enough.

Good luck.

Travis
B.Verlik wrote on 8/2/2005, 7:11 PM
From Radio Shack for about $45. A/V splitter/amplifier
http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=CTLG&product%5Fid=15-1172
(copy and paste)
ArthurDent wrote on 8/2/2005, 8:07 PM
Another issue to consider is cable length. Unbalanced audio (RCA) won't hold up well over more than 20 feet of cable. Balanced audio (XLR) can go long distances.
jetdv wrote on 8/3/2005, 7:24 AM
We use different sub outs to feed multiple devices. I *DO* want the output affected by my sliders.