What are the 1/4" inputs on a snake for?

[Rocket Boy]

Are they just to plug something like an acoustic guitar into, or is there more to it? What does it mean on something like this http://www.zzounds.com/item--PRCSM2030 where its like 16x4... thanks

[Big Kenny]

Running DI's or anything else you have on stage that is controlled at the board

[Track Rat]

Those are the stage returns. They go back to the stage to drive the mains and monitors amps.

[Rocket Boy]

so they cant work both ways? i mean as inputs or to power things on the stage as you said?

[Track Rat]

You could plug anything that's low impedence and balanced into them and it would work fine. You just can't plug things like guitars or keyboards into it (way to much wire to go through).

[Rocket Boy]

So they can work as inputs, but you wouldnt do that because it's to far to run that kind of signal... and that's why you need a DI?

[Track Rat]

Exactly. It'll take your guitar/keyboard/instrument or line level and make it low Z/balanced so you can make the trip through a snake.

[tollbooth]

my studio snake and wallbox 1/4" carry headphone feeds back into the live room. i have a stereo feed that goes from control to live, and a samson s-phone in the live room to distribute the headphone feeds.

i now have those feeds linked to my Mackie Big Knob (hate that darn name!) monitor controller and so i can send two or three different mixes back to the live room.