Reverse Mixer

[rogerroll]

So... I kind of have this idea for a show. But I'm having some technical questions.

I'm wondering if it's possible to run a mixer backwards. As in... Have audio going through whatever outputs, and then plugging headphones into the inputs. I understand the outputs of a mixer wouldn't have power for mics, but if you had an aux mixer to handle that, would there be a problem?

And if the reverse mixer idea doesn't work, do any of you have a suggestion of how to get a ton of headphones from one output source without blowing cash on headphone amp/mixers and/or degrading audio quality?

Thanks much.

[Plat]

No clue; I realize this isn't what you want to hear, but I've got this 4-out headphone amp and it's treated me well in the studio.

Plus you wouldn't even have to write your name on it!

[rogerroll]

That's all well and good, but that only gives me four headphones. I need somewhere in the range of 10-25.

[jb]

you essentially want something that must be solved with hardware, but you don't want to buy any hardware? probably not gonna happen.

this is why we have speakers.

[GlennCase]

While I am no expert on such things, I can't imagine that this would work.

As I see it, The problem is this:

A board is designed to have the audio go one direction. If you plug a set of headphones into an INPUT, you can still use it as a microphone. In fact, that's how I recorded <a href="http://www.glenncase.com/music/covers/e ... .mp3">this cover song</a>. I didn't have a mic handy, so I just plugged in a set of headphones and sang into one of them.

Anything short of completely re-wiring the board from the inside is probably not going to work. I don't recommend that you try this unless you really know what you are doing.

I could be wrong, but using a mixing board the way you are wanting to is the same concept as trying to plug a toaster into the wall to provide power FOR your wall socket.

ROCK!

Glenn (DR FUNK)

[ken]

Mixers do not work that way. If you want to run 20 pairs of heaphones, you will need headphone amplifiers.

Perhaps you could get one of those wireless FM transmitters and get a lot of small radios with headphones.

Ken

[rogerroll]

My other idea was just getting a ton of y-splitters, although this strikes me as an idea that also won't work.

By the way, thanks for the replies, everyone. (I'll look into the FM transmitter deal, Ken, thanks for the idea!)

[GlennCase]

You would probably spend almost as much on y-splitters as you would on the headphone amplifiers.

Plus you would only have one volume control for 20 sets of headphones. Not to mention that the volume isn't as strong when you're only splitting it between two sets of headphones. Imagine how weak the signal would be when you split it by 20.

ROCK!

Glenn (DR FUNK)

[deshead]

Ya, with anything more than a few Y splitters, you'll also need amplifiers .. Maybe not one amp per headphone set, but certainly enough that, in the end, you're better off going with a dedicated solution.

Headphone amps and signal splitters are pretty easy to make if you're not afraid of a little soldering. The 'Net abounds with kits: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=& ... ne+amp+kit

[ken]

Here is an 8 out headphone amp. With a Y splitter on each channel you could get 16 headphones outs for under $200 I would think.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/ ... sku=240109

I am also trying to think of a way to just use a bunch of stereo recievers that you might be able to get for free.

Ken

[Sober]

Your average gym uses the radio solution. A small transmitter, anyone can tune into it, within a few hundred yards. I imagine recording studios that do score work with full orchestras use the same technique.