Hopefully a simple question..

[patrick29]

How come when I plug my ipod into one of the phono jack inputs on my mixer, I can't hear it playing through my monitor mix along with my mics?

I'd like to be able to play along to a track or tracks with my drums, and record that as a single mono track in Cubase.

It's a Yamaha MG166C-USB mixer. Each of the inputs has XLR, and a couple of standard jacks that an instrument can plug into, and I noticed if I took the cable out of the ipod on the ipod end of it, I could hear THAT in the mix..that scratchy noise stuff.

I'm just using a guitar cable at the mixer, stepped down with a little adapter thingy (which I've proven good..all components are verified good) to a small headphone jack at the ipod. I've used the guitar cord to patch through some simple microphone applications before, with the same headphone adapter to the microphone IN port on my laptop, with no problem.

But could this be a stereo/mono problem with the mixer's input? I'd think it would at least playthrough one side of my monitor headphones if that was the case.

Help?

 

[The Black Circl]

How come when I plug my ipod into one of the phono jack inputs on my mixer, I can't hear it playing through my monitor mix along with my mics?

I'd like to be able to play along to a track or tracks with my drums, and record that as a single mono track in Cubase.

It's a Yamaha MG166C-USB mixer. Each of the inputs has XLR, and a couple of standard jacks that an instrument can plug into, and I noticed if I took the cable out of the ipod on the ipod end of it, I could hear THAT in the mix..that scratchy noise stuff.

I'm just using a guitar cable at the mixer, stepped down with a little adapter thingy (which I've proven good..all components are verified good) to a small headphone jack at the ipod. I've used the guitar cord to patch through some simple microphone applications before, with the same headphone adapter to the microphone IN port on my laptop, with no problem.

But could this be a stereo/mono problem with the mixer's input? I'd think it would at least playthrough one side of my monitor headphones if that was the case.

Help?

First guess is because the mixer is designed to accept the input power of a mic and amplify it where and ipod sends a signal with different specs.

If your console has mic line switches - switch the ipod to line (turn it way down because it should be loud as fuck.)

 

[SouthSIDE Glen]

How come when I plug my ipod into one of the phono jack inputs on my mixer, I can't hear it playing through my monitor mix along with my mics?

First, by "phono" jacks I assume you mean RCA jacks. The question is which ones are you plugging into? If you're plugging into either stereo channel strip (13/14 or 15/16), you need to set the input and mix gains on those channel strips just like any other channel.

You shouldn't need to worry about the whole mic/line thing, the RCA jacks are likely set up to expect standard -10dBV consumer line level (just like any home stereo device outputs). There should be enough gain room to be able to dial in the levels from a headphone jack output OK.

If you are using the "2track in; jacks, then you need to make sure you have the button and the gain for "2tr in" down in the main mix section (bottom right of board) set so that it mixes those inputs into the main mix.

G.

 

[patrick29]

Sorry for not making myself quite as clear as I should have. I was actually referring to the 1/4 inch jacks that are on inputs 1-10 or so. I confused myself because every time I go into Radio Shack and look for a cable with an RCA end, it says "phono," and I confused that with the 1/4" plug..LOL

Anyway...I was trying to send the ipod signal into one of the 1/4" inputs.

Can I not do that? I guess I can go buy an RCA out cable for the ipod and do it that way.

 

[SouthSIDE Glen]

Can I not do that? I guess I can go buy an RCA out cable for the ipod and do it that way.

Hee hee, yeah, "phono" refers to the RCA side. The 1/4" are usually simply referred to as 1/4".

There's nothing that says you *can't* use the 1/4" ins, but the RCAs are probably an easier and better match.

You can probably use the 1/4"ers, but there are a couple of extra caveats there:

1. As Black Circl said, levels will seem quieter going into these jacks as they are expecting a different line level of about 12dB higher than what the RCAs are expecting (the difference between "pro" and "consumer" line level.)

2. On your mixer there are two 1/4" jacks per channel. Line In is on the top, and the one immediately below that is what's called a channel insert jack. You should be plugging into the top Line In jack only.

3. These are all mono jacks whether you use the 1/4" or the RCA jacks. You should be splitting you headphone out into dual mono plugs. If you go to RCA, there are aleady L & R jacks to accept these and route them as L & R properly.

If you use the 1/4", you should be sending each mono to seperate channel strips (e.g. channels 1 & 2, or 3 & 4, etc.) and then panning each strip har left or right accordingly.

G.

 

[patrick29]

Hee hee, yeah, "phono" refers to the RCA side. The 1/4" are usually simply referred to as 1/4".

There's nothing that says you *can't* use the 1/4" ins, but the RCAs are probably an easier and better match.

You can probably use the 1/4"ers, but there are a couple of extra caveats there:

1. As Black Circl said, levels will seem quieter going into these jacks as they are expecting a different line level of about 12dB higher than what the RCAs are expecting (the difference between "pro" and "consumer" line level.)

2. On your mixer there are two 1/4" jacks per channel. Line In is on the top, and the one immediately below that is what's called a channel insert jack. You should be plugging into the top Line In jack only.

3. These are all mono jacks whether you use the 1/4" or the RCA jacks. You should be splitting you headphone out into dual mono plugs. If you go to RCA, there are aleady L & R jacks to accept these and route them as L & R properly.

If you use the 1/4", you should be sending each mono to seperate channel strips (e.g. channels 1 & 2, or 3 & 4, etc.) and then panning each strip har left or right accordingly.

G.

So, if I understand that correctly, I'd need to split my ipod off into two 1'4" mono jacks (don't worry, I'm going to get an RCA cable and do it the easy way, but I'm curious now), and actually utilize TWO mixer channels to get my audio input? I'd have one in each ear and have to mirror the levels and such to get it sounding the same?

And if I got that correctly, then I'm also understanding you that each of those line input 1/4" jacks is a MONO jack, right?

Thanks a lot for the help, by the way.

 

[SouthSIDE Glen]

So, if I understand that correctly, I'd need to split my ipod off into two 1'4" mono jacks (don't worry, I'm going to get an RCA cable and do it the easy way, but I'm curious now), and actually utilize TWO mixer channels to get my audio input? I'd have one in each ear and have to mirror the levels and such to get it sounding the same?

If you're running into the 1/4", that's absolutely correct. Each of those XLR/1/4" channel strips can handle only one mono channel of sound each at a time. So to take in stereo, you need to throw the left channel to one channel trip and the right to a second channel strip, and then pan each one hard L & R accordingly

And if I got that correctly, then I'm also understanding you that each of those line input 1/4" jacks is a MONO jack, right?

Also correct. A mono 1/4" plug/jack is referred to as "TS", meaning they only carry two conductors, the "tip" and the "sleeve". This is the type of plug that ha only one black plastic insulator ring on the plug itself, and is also called "unbalanced". The three-conductor version, which can be used to carry two channels of stereo or a noise-"balanced" single channel, is referred to as 1/4" "TRS", or Tip/Ring/sleeve, and has two black insulator rings on the plug stem.

Often (usually but not always, you have to check the mixer specs) mixers will accept TRS 3-condustor plugs, but only when used to carry a balanced mono signal. I have never seen a 1/4" channel input which will take a two-channel stereo input.

And as far as the RCA side goes, BTW, Radio Shack does carry a cable that goes from a 1/8" "mini" stereo plug on one end to dual (L & R) RCA males on the other end. Assuming your mePod uses a standard mini headphone jack, you can use this one cable to run you mePod direct into the last pair of RCA stereo channels on your mixer without needing any extra adapters. I use one of these myself to connect the soundcard of my laptop to my mixer for monitoring purposes, and it works just fine.

Thanks a lot for the help, by the way.

You are welcome. Happy to help out every once in a while .

G.

 

[patrick29]

just for the record, the rca cble works like a charm. i have so much control over this mix, too. i love this thing!

 

[patrick29]

oh hey..i just saw your reply. thanks again. i had to run to wal mart anyway and pick up some flash drives, so i grabbed on there. i used to have that cable, but it grew legs..