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I currently have two sound devices (M-Box and Audiophile 24/96) that I would like to feed into my single set of monitors. I want the Pro Tools output on the M-Box obviously, but I want to have everything else in Windows to go out of the Audiophile. The M-Box just has an annoying latency issue with playback and I can't play anything out of other software when Pro Tools is open (play reference material, quick mastering etc.), even if it's idle.

I want both devices connected to the monitors at all times, although I'll only use one at a time. Can I use a simple TRS Y-adapter to get both sources into the monitors, or does that reduce impedance or screw with anything else signal-wise? I don't want to spend money on a Samson C-Control etc. if I don't need to.

Thanks!
David

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Boswell Sun, 04/08/2007 - 06:06

What type are your monitors? Some powered monitors will perform passive mixing of their XLR and TRS inputs - check whether yours will do this. Obviously, the sort with combo jacks will not.

If you need to combine the signals before feeding to the monitors, you have several options, bearing in mind that your signals are probably balanced:

1) A switch box (as Remy suggested), but this means that you have to change a switch to listen to a different source. This may be too much effort.

2) A resistive mix. You could make this yourself if you are handy with a soldering iron. Just use 4K7 resistors from each source hot to the monitor input hot and ditto for the colds. You will need to increase the gain on the monitors by at least 6dB.

3) A cheap mixer. Beware of compromising your signal quality.

4) A dedicated unit such as the Mackie Big Knob. Big bucks, too.