Cant get a stereo mix in my mackie hm4 headphone amp

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luvtolearn

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Hi, i have a mackie hm4 headphone amp which i use with my analog mixer for in ear monitor but i only get mono mix even though im using a stereo 1/4 cable. This happens when i pick the source from my aux output and there’s no way to switch on the headphone amp mono or stereo, is there something i can do to fix this
 
luvtolearn said:
Hi, i have a mackie hm4 headphone amp which i use with my analog mixer for in ear monitor but i only get mono mix even though im using a stereo 1/4 cable. This happens when i pick the source from my aux output and there’s no way to switch on the headphone amp mono or stereo, is there something i can do to fix this
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The "AUX" send jack on almost all mixers is just a mono mix of the various channels but I am not entirely sure what you are trying to do? Make and model of mixer please.

Dave.
 
Its a yamaha MG24/14FX, im trying to use the mackie hm4 as a in ear monitor amp so i pick the source from the aux output with a stereo cable but i only get signal in the left ear.
 
luvtolearn said:
Its a yamaha MG24/14FX, im trying to use the mackie hm4 as a in ear monitor amp so i pick the source from the aux output with a stereo cable but i only get signal in the left ear.
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Yes you will because it is a mono source and therefore the signal is just on the tip. You need to solder a link between the tip and ring tabs inside your stereo cable*. Then you will get both lugs cooking!

*Mark the cable as a "special" and avoid plugging it into stereo outputs. Not really much chance of damage these days but best to be aware?

Dave.
 
The Mackie HM4 looks like several other heaphone amps, including the Behringer HA400 and the Fifine Headphone Amp 4. It's a generic stereo device.

According to the owners manual on the 24/14, the aux outputs are mono balanced outputs. You need to use the Phones output which is stereo.

24-14.webp
 
Woah! Serious mixer! If you wanted an actual stereo feed to the Mackie amp there might be a way to make a separate headphone mix with that mixer (the A&H ZED series can) Or there are left and right 'sub' outputs that might help but you would have to get creative with cables.

Dave.
 
TalismanRich said:
The Mackie HM4 looks like several other heaphone amps, including the Behringer HA400 and the Fifine Headphone Amp 4. It's a generic stereo device.

According to the owners manual on the 24/14, the aux outputs are mono balanced outputs. You need to use the Phones output which is stereo.

View attachment 149386
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Yes Rich but the headphone feed might be the same as the Main Mix output feeding , I assume, the PA?

Dave.
 
In that case, you could try using the stereo Sub out and use a 2 mono to 1 stereo cable to connect to the Mackie. Note that the output of the Aux and Sub outs are +4dBu line levels rather than headphone level. As long as the levels are set appropriately, it probably won't make a tremendous problem. Or you could use the Group outs, and sent the mix you want to monitor to Group3/4 and your main output to Group 1/2. I do something like that with my MX12/4. The Yamaha lets you select both groups if you want for an input. I sent the PA mix to the mains, and the recording mix to Group 3/4 which is different. That way I can adjust the main output levels without affecting the recording output levels.

1742225897707.webp
 
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