Connections in a home studio... have a problem here

[hirokumata]

Hi...
Here's my problem... the connections that I will have to make if I'll purchase the M-Audio Delta 44, to be more specific, how to connect a pair of headphones, with the propose of ear the instrumental that comes from the computer, while recording.
There is a picture of the connections already made without the headphones involved:

https://img461.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ligacoess4ab.jpg

I've already thinked of use for example, the 3rd or the 4th output channel to connect the headphones, but the delta 44 hasnt got any phone amps, so the headphones would be always at the max volume (I think), which means lots of noise for the normal human ears .

Can you please give me a possible solution for this? Thanks

 

[tourettes5139]

See if your mixer has a headphone out, that would be the easiest way. Generally they mirror the control room outs, or can be configured to use them. This way, you have the same mix in the headphones as you would in the monitors.

If not, you need a headphone amp to run the outputs of the sound card to, and then plug your headphones into that.

 

[hirokumata]

Yes it has a headphone out, but the button that controls the headphone volume its the same that the one that controls the CR volume, and that will make impossible to ear from the headphones with the monitors volume off while recording.

I was thinking while no1 awnsered and got this thought:
-Group bus to sound card
-C/R out to monitors
-Aux sends to phones

For recording, raise the aux1&2 send volume and low the ST fader, so there is no sound from the monitors, the track that is recorded still continues to go to the sound card and the playback track is sent through the Aux's, that are connected to the phones.
For normal use without phones, just low the aux1&2 faders and raise the ST fader

It would be like this: https://img467.imageshack.us/img467/2836/ligacoes20ih.jpg

What do you think about it?


Plug a headphone amp to the sound card output and then plug there the headphones is a nice idea too Thanks for the help

 

[tourettes5139]

That would work just fine. The main drawback that I see is that you won't be able to use those aux sends for effects, or for different headphone mixes, too. But it looks like that would work well. It would be nice to keep the aux sends free for whatever, but its not a bad setup.

 

[hirokumata]

So it would be ok since i don't use effects.
I would need to buy a 2TS-TRS cable and a Female TRS-Female TRS cable or a headphone adapter to get sound from left and right channels in the phones, right?

 

[tourettes5139]

Ah, one thing I thought of: You won't get stereo headphones with that setup, there is no point in using two aux sends. Aux sends are only mono; if you use two, you will just be getting the same thing twice. Also, in your picture where it says headphones, you will still need a headphone amp. You can't just plug the headphones directly into the aux send jacks with adapters and such. As for your cable question, I don't really get what you mean......

Hope that I am helping.

 

[TimOBrien]

Any mixer you purchase (unless you get one "dropped off the back of a truck" or second-hand) will have diagrams in the manual on how to hook it up.

Otherwise, get a good book that'll show you how to set a studio up:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/07...ce&n=283155&n=507846&s=books&v=glance

 

[hirokumata]

Hmm... what about this setup... it's more simple and it has no abstract connections :
-Group bus to soundcard
-Control room outs to Monitors
-Phones out to headphones

For recording: Just turn off the monitors and hear the tracks I want with the headphones
For normal use: Monitors on

Thanks again