cellardweller said:
Thank You!
And yes, you are correct, I will be monitoring on my recorder. Usually when I am recording the cabinets are unplugged.
That's a very handy bit of knowledge, as far as the position of the plug affecting how I'm able to monitor.
Kinda confusing for me as to how this works exactly. Is the "insert" jack only for "outputting"? Or does this only depend upon which type of 1/4 you are using (TRS as opposed to TS)? i.e. to use the insert as an input you must have a TRS...
Thanks again for enlightening the ignorant!
The insert jack is like an effects loop on a guitar amp. It provides a point in the signal path to "insert" another piece of gear, most commonly a compressor, gate, or outboard EQ. So it has an out and an in. To use it as an out and an in, an insert cable is commonly used. It is TRS at one end, which goes into the insert jack, and the other end is two unbalanced 1/4" plugs, one out and one in, more commonly called send and return.
It's easy to understand in pictures.
Here is a link to Mackie's hook-up guide. Scroll down to the picture of insert points. It's a pdf file, so you will need acrobat reader to see it. I am also bored, and have included a painful verbal description as well.
The insert jack has three contacts. One is the shield, or -, and the other two connect to carry the + part of your signal. When there is no plug in the jack, the two conacts carrying the + are connected, completing your signal. When you put a plug into the jack, it seperates those two contacts. So, yes, what kind of cable you use affects how the signal is routed. the two contacts need to be hooked together to complete the signal.
When you plug a TS jack in to the first click, the tip connects the two positive contacts, and provides two paths for the signal. One to your outboard gear, and one back to the mixer. If you push it in all the way, it connects those contacts but only provides one path for the signal, which is out to your gear. The path to the mixer is shorted.
I guess you could use a TS cable pushed in to the first click as an input, but there wouldn't really be a point. Each channel has a 1/4 line input way more suited for the task. Besides, if you did, you would be sending that input signal back up the signal path in the wrong direction, as well as the right direction. Not sure it would hurt anything, but it might, especially if it is a strong signal. If you needed to use an insert point as a direct in, I would use an insert cable and use the return section only.
p.s. I need to make one correction:
If you push it in all the way, it connects those contacts but only provides one path for the signal, which is out to your gear. The path to the mixer is shorted.
This should read "If you push it in all the way, only one path for the signal is provided, which is out to your gear. The path to the mixer is shorted." It's a small distinction, but in the contact is just shorted to ground, not connected and shorted.
