Dumb monitoring question

[jmasek]

I have a basic setup... instruments into a Behrenger mixer, main out to my Soundblaster soundcard, and then soundcard output into the Berhenger tape in, which I monitor by headphones.

Well, now I want to take a step up and hook up a set of monitoring speakers w/ preamp so that I can hear how the mix sounds both with and without headphones.

Here's my dumb question: where's the best place to split the output signal and send it to the speakers? Or does it matter? In other words, if I hook up the preamp/speakers to the soundcard output, will that have the same tonal characteristics as the headphone out from the Behrenger?

Thanks!

- JM

 

[mixsit]

Shouldn't matter much. Any appropriate line level point. Headphone outs are actually hotter than the typical line level -more like mini speaker outs.

 

[Treeline]

One difference is that you have some control by routing the signal through a mixer. Consider getting a seperate mixer just for the monitor signal - do everything the same except input the soundcard out into 2 channels of the mixer, or a stereo channel. Use the mains for your monitors and you'll still be able to use a headphone. You'd be using an inexpensive mixer as a monitor patchbay. Something like this would work:

http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/item--PEVPV6

 

[jmasek]

Ah... good idea - it never occurred to me to have a separate mixer for the output. Thanks.