Headphone/Mic connections from interface to vocal booth

[Mdrake]

I've been lurking through these forums for a few years now and finally decided to post a question on here. I've already learned a lot on this forum when it comes to mixing and I'm doing real well with that. However, I have 0 experience when it comes to setting up a recording space so forgive me if this is a dumb question.

In the next few months, I'll be building a little studio for both recording and mixing. I'm planning ahead and trying to make sure to make it a very comfortable space. I'll be purchasing the Focusrite Pro 40, AKG C214 mic, and will be building my own desk and vocal booth. Here's where I'm slightly confused......

When I build my desk, I'll have some rack space to be able to put in a power conditioner and the Focusrite interface. The weird thing to me is that the headphone 2 mic connections are in the front of the interface. I find it very strange to have 2 important connections go from the front of the interface with wires going all over my desk and to the vocal booth. Even if I don't have a vocal booth, it's a mess to have the wires just going from the front of the desk to wherever the mic is in my room. Is this how it's usually done in professional studios? There must be a "cleaner" way to get the wires going to the vocalist.

 

[Flei]

I would suggest 3 things...

1. Don't sweat the small stuff. If you are new to this, and you get all your equipment connected and running correctly, the two cables are the least of your worries. Honestly. You could just zip-tie them out of the way...

2. If you are a perfectionist and can't stand the thought of it not being "right" (I can relate), allow for some space under the interface (since you're making a custom desk). I assume you are going to need an "extension cord" for your 2nd set of phones, so get one with a 90 degree connector, and run the cable under the interface. Same with the XLR cable.

3. This option is probably the "best" (IMO), but also the biggest pain in the ass, and most expensive. You can do all sorts of routing options with your interface. I'd use two of the outputs (on the back) to run to a headphone amp/box that is in the booth. Route the mix to those outputs. The benefits are: you get (depending on the amp you get) more power for your phones, and you'd be able to hook up multiple sets of phone in the vocal booth. That is a luxury most home studios don't offer. That way if you have lore than one vocalist, they can all hear the mix, and adjust their own volumes independently. You can also use one of the XLR inputs on the back (just set up your routing accordingly).

Mix Control (IMO) isn't the most user friendly application out there, but once you get your head wrapped around it, it's very capable. Also, once you get it all set up like you want - SAVE THE SETTINGS. I got mine all set up, then (for some dumb ass reason) I was messing with it one day, and forgot how I had it routed originally. I got it fixed, but took me days to undo the stupidness... Good luck man.

Flei

 

[Mdrake]

Option 3 is actually the type of thing I'm looking for. When it comes to connecting wires, I get extremely lost. If you look at the outputs on the Pro 40, you'll see 1-10. 1 and 2 will be for my monitors. Let's just say 3 and 4 will be for the headphones. If you look at the CAD HA4 headphone amp for example (sorry I can't put any links since I'm a new member), I see the input port. However, it only takes 1 wire. How would outputs 3 and 4 go into that one?

I've watched some videos about Mix Control. That's one thing that might hold me back from getting Pro 40. Is it actually required to use the interface?

 

[Flei]

I've got the Scarlet 8i6, so your interface will be different than mine, but I believe that Mix Control is the same for all the interfaces (somebody please correct me if that's wrong). I also am pretty sure that Mix Control is a requirement, so that you can set the interface up the way you want. It's actually a really good program, it just has a steep learning curve. Of all the software I've used (been doing this for 10+ years) Mix Control was the hardest for me to figure out. Once I did, you can do some cool stuff with it. Example - I've got my guitar going into input 1. My guitar effects program has it's input set to pick it up on 1, but send it to "DAW output 7/8" (virtual stereo port). Then my DAW (I use Acid Pro) is set to record on 7/8, but send its output to DAW 9/10. When I am recording a track, everything comes out of the monitors and headphones, but the DAW only records the guitar (after the effects are applied). I've also got 2 keyboards, a mic, and turntables. All of these have their own input, routed accordingly. Plus I have another input so I can hook up random shit like my phone or a toy keyboard that makes a cool sound. The point is, it's a pain to set up, but awesome once it's done. Just be ready to put some time into learning it.

On the interface:
I am assuming that outputs 3 and 4 are mono, that's is why I said to use both of them. If they are stereo outputs, than you only need to use one of them. If mono: simply get a Y adapter to go from the two outputs to one input. If stereo, make sure you get a stereo 1/4 cable, and you'll be fine. The input on the headphone amp box is stereo. Also, I checked out the CAD HA4. Not a bad option, but also check this one out:

ART HeadAmp4 4-Channel Headphone Amp at zZounds

I've never used this particular box, but I do own other ART stuff (they make an amazing, cheap tube preamp for vocals), and it's worked flawlessly for years. Also, I like the fact that the ART box has both 1/4 and 1/8 inputs so you have more flexibility - and it's the same price...