Connecting iPod into sound desk

[Mr X]

Hi

 

I'm sure the answer to this will be fairly straightforward, but just wanted some advice from some people more experienced than myself!

 

In a few weeks I'm operating the sound for a show that's being put on by an am-dram group that I'm part of. We're going to be using this desk which is a fairly standard and simple design. I need to connect an iPod to the desk for the sound effects and music (which somebody else will be operating - the timing can be somebody else's responsibility, thank you very much! I've got plenty of other things to be concentrating on!). So basically, I need to connect a 3.5mm stereo jack to two 1/4" mono jacks on the desk.

 

I know the simplest option is just to use a single jack cable with an adaptor on the end, plugging it into the left channel on the desk only. If it gets too complicated or expensive, I'll just do that. It would be nice to get stereo sound though because some of the sound effects and music are in stereo.

 

I'd been thinking that I'd just get one of these use a 3.5 to 1/4 adaptor which I already have, but I've just realised that my adaptors are for mono sources, so I'd have to buy one of these as well. I would then use two jack cables to the desk.

 

So, instead of buying two adaptors, does anyone know of a single adaptor or cable that I can get. One adaptor would be better as the iPod will be in somebody's hands for the length of the show and obviously doesn't need to get disconnected accidentally. Ideally, a single cable into the iPod without an adaptor at that end would also be better than two cables plis adaptors. I have a 3.5mm stereo jack-jack cable I can use if I can get an adaptor which runs between that cable and the desk.

 

I want to avoid spending money really, but a few pounds is okay. I know I must seem like a bit of a cheapskate, but I'll be less involved with the group after this production, so don't want to be spending loads of money on cables and adaptors that neither I nor the group will need again, and the group has a very limited budget.

 

Any suggestions for cheap and simple solutions would be great!

 

Cheers

Mr X

[boswell]

http://cpc.farnell.com/jsp/level5/module.j...=cpc/537977.xml

 

HTH

[neilalexrose]

'simples'

 

 

3.5mm stereo jack to two 1/4 inch jack.

 

Plug into one of the stereo channels on the desk, unless you have some specific reason for using two mono channels (different effects playing on each side of the stereo track)

 

Neil

 

 

Beaten to it, damn!

[mostlyharmless]

The very neat way of doing it is managing to take a line-out signal from the port on the bottom. However the two cables above are the cheapest and easiest solution.

[Sound Man]

If you've got an e-bay account, this lead would do the job.

 

David

[Mr X]

Thanks for the links everyone. I'll have a think about the Amazon link. The CPC one looks good, but for only one item the delivery is very expensive!

 

You've given me a couple of other ideas though! I've got quite a lot of cables and adaptors at home, so I might find a way of connecting them! If not, it's either the Amazon cable, or just sticking with mono.

 

From experience, does it make a big difference using stereo? With two big speakers (plus subs) in quite a large hall, will it be noticeable if the music and SFX are in mono? It's a pantomime that we're doing, so I'm now thinking that even though the sounds are stereo, it's not going to make much of a difference because there will be so much going on on stage. What do you think?

[tolley1466]

Thanks for the links everyone. I'll have a think about the Amazon link. The CPC one looks good, but for only one item the delivery is very expensive!

 

You've given me a couple of other ideas though! I've got quite a lot of cables and adaptors at home, so I might find a way of connecting them! If not, it's either the Amazon cable, or just sticking with mono.

 

From experience, does it make a big difference using stereo? With two big speakers (plus subs) in quite a large hall, will it be noticeable if the music and SFX are in mono? It's a pantomime that we're doing, so I'm now thinking that even though the sounds are stereo, it's not going to make much of a difference because there will be so much going on on stage. What do you think?

 

It's only a couple of quid! You'll find a few good uses for it once you've finished the show. Also it's always handy to have one for various things such as testing systems etc

[Sound Man]

I don't like using adaptors, especially when connecting to laptops etc because it could damage the socket if it gets pulled to one side.

 

David

[bassnote]

pop to the local £1 shop and get yourself a Mini Jack to 2 x Phono lead, if you don't do sound too often this might be more useful as used to plug in ipod to hifi systems etc. The Soundcraft desk mentioned has a tape return channel on phono.

 

If you used the adapters you suggested, you would be converting to a mono signal, which would not work well if the effects were stereo (to get imaging) so defiantly would suggest getting a cable.

 

sorry quick Maplins rant.... How come Maplins rip people off so badly on connectors?? and why do they sell"prosound" boxes which I am fed up of hearing at pubs, or being worse being brought by pubs so they stop hiring your "pro" speakers in.... rant over!

[ChazHS]

sorry quick Maplins rant.... How come Maplins rip people off so badly on connectors?? and why do they sell"prosound" boxes which I am fed up of hearing at pubs, or being worse being brought by pubs so they stop hiring your "pro" speakers in.... rant over!

 

Because they are cheap?

[Mr X]

pop to the local £1 shop and get yourself a Mini Jack to 2 x Phono lead, if you don't do sound too often this might be more useful as used to plug in ipod to hifi systems etc. The Soundcraft desk mentioned has a tape return channel on phono.

 

Yeah I'd been wondering about that. I've already got a couple of jack-RCA cables, but unless I'm missing something I would have no control over the volume. I don't fancy having the volume of the SFX and music determined by somebody else, especially as the volume of the tracks is inconsistent. When people on the front row are deafened, followed by people at the back not being able to hear it would be me that gets the stick for it: "well you were behind the sound desk... why didn't you do something about it?"

 

Is there some way of adjusting the tape return that I've missed? I've used the desk a few times before but have never had the need to use those sockets.

[bruce]

Stick it into one of the stereo channels, using that cable and a couple of phono-jack adaptors (about 50p each at my local supplier). Or chop off the phonos and solder a couple of jacks on.

[Jeremy MLS]

What about getting a couple of RCA ---> 1/4" Jack Adapters to put on the end of your 3.5mm Jack ---> RCA Cable? Then depending on how many channels you have spare, you could either plug it into two of the mono channels (panning the left and right channels to the appropriate sides) or into one of the stereo channels.

 

E2A: I really should type faster!

[neilalexrose]

From experience, does it make a big difference using stereo? With two big speakers (plus subs) in quite a large hall, will it be noticeable if the music and SFX are in mono? It's a pantomime that we're doing, so I'm now thinking that even though the sounds are stereo, it's not going to make much of a difference because there will be so much going on on stage. What do you think?

 

 

Yes stereo can matter. It depends a lot on how the sounds were originally recorded. There may be some panning effects recorded into the original effect. Best example is that of a plane flying over, normally the you will hear the plane flying from one side to the other.

As a little test, pick a band with at least two guitars, or two lead instruments in it. Then try listening to it through a set of headphones. At random intervals remove one ear and then another, and then swap. Chances are you will be hearing some instruments in one ear, and different instruments in another. The point is, that if you were to plug your mono lead from the iPod's stereo out, into one mono channel of the mixing desk, you may only get half of the recording.

The example of stereo in music production I can instantly think of off the top of my head is the Queen's 'Fat Bottomed Girls' (ask your parents......!) The first time we hear the guitar, it's only in one channel, and in fact just listening to it now, the lead guitar is panned hard right for most of the song.

 

 

As for whether it will matter for your show, that all depends on how you have set up the system, and whether you want to use specific stereo effects. In panto two years ago I had a duck flying from left to right, and then from right to left. It's the effect that the show called for.

 

neil

 

 

Edit to anser the OP's question about Tape return volume control: There isn't usually separate tape return volume control on smaller desks. So if you've already got a mini-jack to phono lead, then best answer as suggested would be to get 2 phono to 1/4" jack adaptors.

[Mr X]

Right...

 

At yesterday's rehearsal, the guy who will be doing the sound FX asked me whether he could operate the iPod from the wings instead of from the back with me. I presume there's no reason not to connect an iPod to a DI box, then into the multicore?

 

It's these I will be using:

http://www.poweruser.be/shop/images/behringer/DI20.jpg

 

Not sure if I'll have enough XLR channels on the desk yet, but presumably I could use the same setup suggested by Jeremy MLS to get stereo if I've got enough spare channels? If not, I'll just go with mono.

 

Any thoughts?