general question concerning cables

[kidcrappyhead]

if you have a cable that is one side 1/4" for a guitar and the other side split red/white RCA cables..does the sound from the guitar go through both cables..(so if both RCA cables are put in the inputs of an audiophile soundcard) should both inputs register sound..or does it only go through one since guitar sound is mono.....if it does only go through one side what is the purpose of having a split RCA cable?...i'm recording right now with my audiophile but i have to record parts twice..once through one input and again through the other...is there a way to make this easier..i've tried panning already but nothing gets panned over to the other channel..

[jfrog]

I'm going to guess that the 1/4" end is a stereo plug and if plugged into a mono source, will only send it to one side - one of the RCA plugs. If you had it plugged into a stereo out (e.g., the headphone out on a drum machine or an effects processor) you'd get a signal on each of the RCA's.

[apl]

Hey, Kid.

Does the 1/4" end look like a headphone plug (three seperate metal parts) or like a guitar cable (two seperate metal parts)? It sounds like you've got a stereo 1/4" tip-ring-sleeve (TRS) adapted to stereo RCA, which would explain your issue. Radio Shack has a mono 1/4 to two RCA.

[kidcrappyhead]

so can you get a cable that sends a mono source from a guitar to two RCA cables, or will the signal from the guitar always go into one RCA output

[jfrog]

Originally Posted by kidcrappyhead

so can you get a cable that sends a mono source from a guitar to two RCA cables, or will the signal from the guitar always go into one RCA output

If I remember correctly, you can get one that splits the signal and sends it to both RCA's. I think I actually got one of those years ago at Radio Shack

[apl]

Hey, Kid.

Here is what you need: Two 1/4" phono (RCA) plug to one mono 1/4" phone plug Y adapter.

I've got one that I use in the opposite way, to take the stereo out of a CD player into a mono channel in a mixer.

[gordone]

If you're recording a MONO guitar signal, just plug the guitar into ONE of the RCA inputs (forget the Y-adapter). Think of the 2 RCA inputs on the audiophile as 2 MONO inputs (rather than 1 stereo input) When you mix your song, the one MONO guitar track can be panned to either the right or left side of the stereo field (or anywhere in between). If you end up recording your MONO guitar in stereo, you'll just be wasting Hard Drive space.

[kidcrappyhead]

the problem i'm having is that i cant pan the sound ...i recorded into one of the inputs and when i try to pan it to the other it goes silent