Not enough headphones for singers

[4ever]

The background music is ready and I'm about to record vocal tracks for a group of about 10 people. I can provide 6 mics but my headphones amp has only 4 outs. How can I let all the singers hear the background music? Thanks.

[Pedullist]

- Buy a new headphones amp (expensive)
- Buy a splitter (hifi shops sell them, usually)
- Solder a splitter yourself (much cheaper)
- Kill some of the bandmembers (the cheapest)

[moskus]

I use a Behringer HA4600 with my Inca88 which has 8 outs. It's brilliant for setting up different mixes for different musicians.

[dafduc]

I've thought about this before - how hard would it be to "conduct" them?

As long as they've got their starting notes, can follow your rhythm, and can hear each other, I think the conductor might be the only one needing the phones. Or, if their pitch starts sinking (a common phenomenon in a capella singing), give the phones to a few key voices, have the rest follow.

Anyhow, I hope that'll work, 'cos I only have 4 sets of phones and a Rolls 4-channel mixer.

Anyone actually try this?

[moskus]

Yes, had no luck. That's why I bought the HA4600...

But it could work for you.

[4ever]

Thanks to you all... POWERPLAY PRO HA4600 ? That's what I have but how do you get 8 outs since I see only 4 outs? If there's a trick I need to know right away, please.

For now, I think I'm going to buy a couple of splitters and solder them myself like Pedullist has suggested. Then, I'll have to buy acouple of headphones too... Yike... Last December Radioshack sold "not bad at all" studio headphones for $11 or something so I bought 3. You may not believe it but they work pretty good-- to a certain degree I don't think they have it now though.

I don't know if the singers can perform well without hearing the music to inspire them.

Thanks again, guys.

[moskus]

HA4600 is able to provide outputs for 12 headphones! Just check the back of the unit. You got 4 on the front and 8 on the back.

And for 8 outs... that gives me 4 stereomixes. Nothing more.

[4ever]