The stereo to mono summing cable with resistors that no one makes
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 18 ธ.ค. 2017
- Buy a cable here: micmodkits.com/other/
In the video, Jon from Silent Sky Studios and MicModKits.com describes "the stereo to mono summing cable that no one makes". I recommend using 470 Ohm 1/8 watt resistors. To read the full article, go here: silentsky.net/wordpress/archiv... - เพลง
Thanks so much, cable just showed up and works perfectly and is just what I needed. No more split L/R solos from the phone to PA
I just wanna say to You hit the nail in my curiosity. I didn’t know that “To run 2 Outputs together would cause the equipment damage!” This actually happened to me 2 times and I was asking myself.. What is going on?… Now I learned from you that the 2 outputs make feedback towards each other… This is making a lot of sense… I was almost lose my equipment. Omg! I will go back to the studio… and stop the Amp’s output from the mixer… and I will connect the instruments and vocal microphones to the Amp. When I want to record, I will record by using a dynamic microphone 🎤 to the Amp and connect it to the mixer.. and from the mixer to the computer… That’s it M’Man..♥️🙂✌️🎩 the recording mic 🎤 will be Input into the mixer and the computer… and it will record what will be happening from the Amp’s Output! Yes
I stumbled across this vid while looking for a vid on repairing my mic. I need one of these. I'm off to micmodkits to buy one. Thanks. 😀
Brilliant explanation many thanks.
A cable I'm looking for. One that when you plug a Zoom H1 into a mixer it will not backfeed it's 'phantom power' back into the mixer. Also offer maybe a 10dB pad too. Just a thought.
hi, i need a cable just like this, what "size" are the resistors? how i can ask for them at the electronics store? thanks!
why is this still a rarity in 2022? this is a very practical tool for mono monitoring
Good question, but I'm still not aware of any major cable manufacturer that builds these. I guess it's somewhat of a niche product, and there are other options available: summing D.I. boxes, volume controllers with a stereo-to-mono switch, etc. So for whatever reason, none of them have taken it on.
I have gotten no definitive answer as to if this will work with a stereo car radio that will then feed the combined signal to one speaker. I have a car with only one speaker and I do not want to alter the dash for another speaker. Mono AM FM radios are like hens teeth to find, and I would like to use my stereo with this one speaker, rather than just using one line Right or Left. And if you think it will work, what resistance should I have for this summing plug?.
Good video, As per my experience, going balanced to unbalanced, the Ring and Sleeve get combined and soldered to the Sleeve of the Unbalanced connector and haven't had any probs with this pinout. Never heard of the summing of the Tip and Ring to the Tip of the Unbalanced connector as you described it and like you said, this would be problematic indeed! So you are recommending summing up the wires to the tip with a 470K resistor in between, right? This will dampen the signal suitably .. which is what leaving out the Ring by soldering it to the sleeve also effectively achieves I think.
On another note, if we need resistors in a balanced to balanced situation (due to some low DC coming through), I would like to confirm with you that no resistors are needed for the Sleeve right? I am imagining putting 2 resistors one for the Tip and one for the Ring. Am I right? Cheers and best wishes from Australia.
The cable described in the video is for unbalanced stereo-to-mono summing applications. As you've stated, when dealing with balanced outputs to an unbalanced input, you can simply short the ring to the sleeve (or short pin 3 to the sleeve for XLR connectors) and otherwise wire the cable like you would an unbalanced summing cable. However, if you want to sum two balanced stereo outputs to a single mono BALANCED input, it gets a little more involved. I've blogged about that here, if you're interested: silentsky.net/wordpress/archives/863
Super interesting! Do you know where I could find the same thing but with dual TS (or TRS) to mono 1/4"?
Yes, I build those too: micmodkits.com/other/
I agree that shorting the left and right (T & R) outputs is definitely a bad idea! But, how did you arrive at the 1000 ohm value for the resistors? You also mention 470 ohm in your replies to some comments. I am actually looking to make a double stereo output to single stereo input cable so your summing knowledge is very useful. Many Thanks.
Some websites recommended the 1k ohm resistors, but in my experience those sometimes attenuate the signal too much. 470 ohms seems to do the job without too much attenuation. To build a double stereo to singe stereo cable, you basically build that like you would a balanced mono summing cable. I've also blogged about that here: silentsky.net/wordpress/archives/863
Thank you!!
I'm looking into this too, saw that Rane article and a couple of other videos. I'm also asking around.
My knowledge is quite limited, but wouldn't a diode on each channel be more appropriate?
I am having the same thought, Why not a diode ?
A diode would rectify the signal.
You don't want that!
@@johnb7009 Strongly agree! A diode would seriously limit the audio signal, if not actually block it altogether.
Q. If I use this cable and only feed it with one channel (left), will it sum it down to real mono signal (left/right) i.e my speaker which it is connected to will play real mono from both built in loudspeakers and not only from the left speaker?
Hi Silent Sky Studios, thanks for this video. I am using my stereo CD players & the stereo Cassette deck as connected to the vintage mono tube radio with the stereo -mono cable. Kindly clarify for my doubts. Since the Source is the CD player or the cassette Deck, Can I use the same 470 ohm resistor? I do have the 680 ohms resistor, can I use instead of 470 ohms? Thanks in advance. Best regards.
Yes, you can use 680 ohms if that's what you have available. The higher the resistance value, the more attenuation (reduction) you'll see on the signal level, so you'll simply have to turn up the input gain or volume a bit on your mono tube radio. But it should be fine.
@@silentskystudios It's greatly helpful. Thank you & Regards.
Hi. I'm hoping you can advise me... I want to sum two active accordion mic outputs to mono and feed to a sennheiser radio pack transmitter...
What would be a suitable value for the resistors in this situation? Much thanks for any help you can give!
Assuming those give you an unbalanced, line-level output, I'd just try the 470 ohm resistors for starters.
Hi John - Really interested in this idea so I made an twin RCA to single RCA to feed a sub I have that I want to feed from my Pre-amp RCA outputs. I used 470 ohm resistors as suggested but am still getting some left to right bleed between the channels. It is significantly reduced but still there. If I increase the resistance to reduce the left to right bleed will I also be reducing the signal to my Sub? Thanks for the great video - glad someone else thinks this is something that should exist :-)
That sounds like you're both summing AND trying to keep the left and right channels separate. I think that's also covered in the Rane "Why Not Wye" article under the heading "Termites in the woodpile".
@@silentskystudios hi - I bought a Monacor SMC-1 Stereo/Mono Converter in the end which does just what I want. Tempted to open it up to see how it works but will probably leave it - thanks for the inspiration :-) www.gear4music.com/PA-DJ-and-Lighting/Monacor-SMC-1-Stereo-Mono-Converter/3DEX
Hi, I have a similar requirement but it's not quite the same as your application/use-case and like yours there appears to be no connector or cable available.
I basically want to split the left and right of a stereo output jack and take just the left only and convert it back to a stereo jack so that when I plug stereo headphones in i have the left signal outputting in both left and right headphones. There is a complicated reason I need this, essentially I'm using a sennheiser G4 transmitter that has two inputs going in but there is a completely different mix on the left side than there is on the right. My drummer wants to use a wired in-ear monitoring solution by plugging directly into the stereo output jack on my transmitter but only wants the left side balanced evenly in his headphones. Any ideas how I could do this?
Without seeing some kind of connection diagram, this is tough--but I'll try. This sounds like you just need a splitter to take the signal from the left side and split it to both of the (L & R) inputs for whatever is driving his headphones (headphone amp, in-ear monitor mixer, etc.).
I knew. I checked a ashley processor. Had a bad input and output. I trace the wires. The stereo output were shorted to makenit to a mono port.
It happens!
Are the resistors to limit the combined output of left and right channels relative to the ground? Why not use diodes instead to counteract the signal bleed from the left/right channels? (not very electrical experienced, just curious) thx!
The resistors are to prevent each output from trying to drive the low impedance of the other output as if it were an input. As for a diode, see previous comments and responses--some other commenters have asked that before.
If I need a cable to sum the outputs of two guitars into one, then plug the other end of the cable into the amp, would I still need this type of cable, or would those amazon TRS to TS adapters suffice? Not sure if the output of an electric guitar is high enough to damage any equipment, that's why I'm asking. Thanks!
Why would you sum two guitars into one? Are you wanting to plug two guitars into one amplifier? If that's the case, it would likely be better to use a small mixer. In any case, as long as both guitars have passive pickups, you could likely sum the outputs together using a regular cable without causing any damage. It might affect the tone slightly, but it shouldn't cause any damage.
Hello,
First of all thank you for the links to your articles. I‘ve read through them but I couldn’t find an answer for my specific case. If possible, could you please help me within the next few days? That would be awesome as I’m playing a gig next week. Thx in advance :)
I‘d like to know whether I need resistors for a summing cable which connects my stereo pedalboard to my amp. If yes, which value? I also wonder if the resistors will suck my signal.
I will plug the summing cable into the L+R output of my Radial split box (SB-6) which also has phase switch options so that won‘t cause problems.
Usually, I run my rig in stereo but I‘d like to have the possibility to run it in mono just in case I only have one amp. The effects and cables are all tied to the board which doesn‘t allow for quick changes. Hence the summing cable idea.
If I lived in the USA, I would buy one of yours but it’s cheaper for me to build it myself over here in Europe :)
I forgot to mention that my rig uses unbalanced cables only. I might change that later if I run longer distances to my amps but for now I keep my standard instrument cables.
Yeah, just build a y-cable with 2 quarter-inch mono/TS plugs on one end to connect to your SB-6 and a single quarter-inch mono-TS plug on the other end to connect to your amp. 470 ohm resistors should be fine. You'll just need to solder a resistor into each leg of the inner conductor wire (not the shield) on the end with the 2 quarter-inch plugs.
@@silentskystudios Wow that was quick! Thanks for the instructions :)
Are you building and selling these? Where can I purchase!? Thx!
My bad, got the link and ordered one!
Hello there from philippines! Great vid! Is there any alternative for watts and %? Thanks!
I've used up to 1/4 watt 1k ohm, but generally use 1/8 watt 470 ohm.
silentskystudios how about the percentage? Thanks! i don't think we have that here, the 470 1/8 1%
Try 1/4 watt
I'm sold! Where do I buy this from you???
You can buy one from me here: micmodkits.com/other/
Just choose your connector options.
Will a 120ohm 1/2 watt resistor work for this as well?
I typically use 470 ohm 1/8 watt 1% resistors.
You need a diy talk box with a p.a. speaker to amp video. Yessur
which resistor would you say is best the metal or carbon film, thankx 4 ur time.
I normally buy metal film, but I think either should work just fine.
must be good to use a Mills MRA-5
Can I use a 1k resistor
Passive resisters? Are there active resistors I'm unaware of?
Sorry, trying to make the point that this is a passive summing network that gets wired inside the cable.
I saw one for sle once but forgot to buy, now i can't find any. Just DIY :)
Yep, if you've got the tools and skills, DIY is the way to go. Otherwise, I can build one for you!
Why resister not diode?
That's been answered before in responses to previous comments. See below.
@@silentskystudios "A diode would seriously limit the audio signal, if not actually block it altogether." 🙂thanks a lot!
what value are the resistors
I typically use 470 ohm 1/8 watt 1%.
2x 10k?.
I typically use 470 ohm 1/8 watt 1% resistors.
@@silentskystudios thanks, been having issues with summing into my phone for recording.....it doesnt help when samsung and apple use different wiring for the mic/gnd on TRRS,......cheers man .
Hey there
Thanks for this information. Is it possible to add a little knob in between, so I could change the ratio of the two signals? I have a guitar with two pickups, and they go to a stereo output, so I'd like to mix them together (without a dedicated mixer). More details, see here: www.acousticguitarforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=606644
I'd be very happy to find a solution to my problem.
For that, you'd likely want to plug both outputs into some kind of DI box with level controls for each input that would handle the summing for you. I've blogged about several such DI boxes here: silentsky.net/wordpress/archives/995
@@silentskystudios Thank you! But I'm a traveling busker who really does not have any space for another big thing in my backback. A simple cable would not do it?
@@joshuamuheim8900 I'm not sure how you're going to wire a knob into a cable and make it sturdy enough for gigging without using some sort of box. And the boxes I linked to are relatively small, like any standard DI box (about 3" or 4" square by maybe 2" thick).
Six minutes when I only needed 15 seconds. Jeepers. Just use 1k resistors inline.
I've added the recommended resistors to the description of the video. They were also posted in numerous comments. Hope that helps.