The Y-Cable

  • Thread starter Thread starter King_Cobra
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King_Cobra

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I work with two channel strips and six different mics. Which are only used for vocals and guitar. Before a session, I usually have to climb to the back of the rack to plug and unplug the XLR connection from the mic to the preamp. I have recently purchased a TRS patch bay, which made connecting effects and mixer connections a breeze.

Now for the XLR connections. I plan to connect both preamps to a XLR Y-cable, going out to one mic source. Which would be easilier than climbing to the back of the rack to switch connections. I figure it would be cheaper than buying a XLR patch bay for only two preamps. Will the XLR Y-cable degrade the signal between the mic and the preamps? Or would patch bay be better?

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/YMXF2XM1/
or
http://www.sjmediasystem.com/pbxlr-1.html

http://cgi.ebay.com/PATCHBAY-balanc...ryZ23792QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem
 
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I've never heard of anyone doing what you propose with connecting two preamps to a y cable and connecting that to a mic.

I'd be very careful with those XLR patchbays too. It's pretty easy to get confused and you don't want to be shooting 48v phantom power at your outboard gear inputs.

Personally, if I was trying to solve this for myself, I'd use two patchbays, one for gear I/O and one exclusively for mic signals--- and I would label them in a way that there can be no mistake which is which.
 
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The XLR Y cable from one mic going to two pre-amps sounds a little funny to me, but I've never tried anything like that. I would recommend looking at a simple XLR patch bay like this.

http://www.hosatech.com/hosa/products/MXL-369.html

It's simple, inexpensive, and seems like it would solve your problem. Looks like it's going for about $40 from Sweetwater.
 
How are there patch bays? Have ever tried them. Hosa cables are one of the poorest quality cables around. Although, there prices are reasonable. I know I listed it as an opinion xlr rack, but I am skeptical of hosa products.
 
Just get 2 short XLR cables and bring the connections to the front of the rack. I wouldn't do the Y. You'll end up sending phantom power to the outs of each pre from each pre. They might not like that. at all.
 
King_Cobra said:
How are there patch bays? Have ever tried them. Hosa cables are one of the poorest quality cables around. Although, there prices are reasonable. I know I listed it as an opinion xlr rack, but I am skeptical of hosa products.
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I have no experience with the Hosa patch bays. But then again, I think their cables are just fine. What about them do you not like?
It's just a passive XLR pass thru anyway, so as long as it's not defective or dirty, you shouldn't even notice it in your signal chain.

But to me, as longs as it works (which they don't all), a cable is a cable.
 
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