u=0
Newbie level 1
(First a quick preface about me ...) I'm a part-time audio engineer and drummer. I know how to hook up gear and use it, but I know almost nothing about the insides of it. I can read schematics for and build most simple devices, but understanding and designing them is something I'm only just now getting into.
So with that being said, I welcome almost any productive answer you may have. Even if it's only to say, "Whoa! You're getting in way over your head. First read this [book/site/thread/etc] then come back after," that's fine, too.
The scenario:
I have 8 mics hooked up to my drums but only two input channels available on the house mixer, so I need to 'pre-mix' my 8 mics into a stereo feed for it. I'd also like to have a headphone amp on it to reference my mix or to use during practice.
If I had $500 to spend on my own mixer, this would be an easy fix, but I don't. So, I'd love to just build a simple mixer for this specific purpose instead. But, my budget is extremely low: $50 for parts would thrill me.
When I first started thinking about this, it seemed simple, but as I got further in and started breaking down each portion of the build, I realized there were too many questions I can't answer:
1.) For the sake of expenses, not including pre amps onboard is ideal, but can mic-level signals even be mixed on a circuit board without butchering the sound quality?
2a.) Will the balanced signal need to be converted back into an unbalanced signal? (I'm thinking yes.)
2b.) How is a balanced signal converted back into an unbalanced signal?
2c.) How is an unbalanced signal converted into a balanced signal?
3a.) How do I create Phantom Power, or can I allow Phantom Power from the house mixer to 'pass through' my build to my mics?
3b.) How do I filter out the DC Phantom Power from other parts of the build that don't need it?
4a.) I want to include a simple headphone amp for rerence (perhaps an LM386). Can I use the house mixer's Phantom Power to power it?
4b.) If I use the headphone amp concurrently with the 'main' output, will I lose too much signal level? (Should I just switch it off?)
In summary:
- Extremely low budget
- Not hi-fi; 'Practice' quality acceptible
- 8 balanced mic inputs (Phantom Power req'd on 2)
- 2 balanced mic outputs (un-amp'd mix of inputs)
- 2 unbalanced headphone outputs (through op-amp)
- Ideally, Phantom Power provided by house mixer
--------
As you can see, I'm on step 3 of perhaps 100, so any advice, guidance or reference you have is more than welcome.
So with that being said, I welcome almost any productive answer you may have. Even if it's only to say, "Whoa! You're getting in way over your head. First read this [book/site/thread/etc] then come back after," that's fine, too.
The scenario:
I have 8 mics hooked up to my drums but only two input channels available on the house mixer, so I need to 'pre-mix' my 8 mics into a stereo feed for it. I'd also like to have a headphone amp on it to reference my mix or to use during practice.
If I had $500 to spend on my own mixer, this would be an easy fix, but I don't. So, I'd love to just build a simple mixer for this specific purpose instead. But, my budget is extremely low: $50 for parts would thrill me.
When I first started thinking about this, it seemed simple, but as I got further in and started breaking down each portion of the build, I realized there were too many questions I can't answer:
1.) For the sake of expenses, not including pre amps onboard is ideal, but can mic-level signals even be mixed on a circuit board without butchering the sound quality?
2a.) Will the balanced signal need to be converted back into an unbalanced signal? (I'm thinking yes.)
2b.) How is a balanced signal converted back into an unbalanced signal?
2c.) How is an unbalanced signal converted into a balanced signal?
3a.) How do I create Phantom Power, or can I allow Phantom Power from the house mixer to 'pass through' my build to my mics?
3b.) How do I filter out the DC Phantom Power from other parts of the build that don't need it?
4a.) I want to include a simple headphone amp for rerence (perhaps an LM386). Can I use the house mixer's Phantom Power to power it?
4b.) If I use the headphone amp concurrently with the 'main' output, will I lose too much signal level? (Should I just switch it off?)
In summary:
- Extremely low budget
- Not hi-fi; 'Practice' quality acceptible
- 8 balanced mic inputs (Phantom Power req'd on 2)
- 2 balanced mic outputs (un-amp'd mix of inputs)
- 2 unbalanced headphone outputs (through op-amp)
- Ideally, Phantom Power provided by house mixer
--------
As you can see, I'm on step 3 of perhaps 100, so any advice, guidance or reference you have is more than welcome.
