Solution for using 2 pair of near field monitors w/ 828mkII

[Douglas I.]

I just acquired a 2nd pair of near field monitors and need a good solution for quickly switching back and forth between monitor pairs.

Here's my set-up:1 pair of BX8s are self powered and receive the main outs of my 828mkII.

My new pair of Mix Cubes are passive, and I'll use an old Alesis RA100 amp to power them. They accept spade lugs, dual banana plugs.

Any ideas on a quality switch box that will switch the signal between monitor pairs? The Presonus Monitor Station would work but is far too elaborate for my needs (at $300.00). Don't really want to pull out my old Mackie 1604 for this purpose.

I only record and mix my own stuff, so I'm not looking for talk-back capability, etc. Just a switch box between 2 pairs of monitors.

Ideas? Thanks,

Doug

[Phil O]

If you're good with a soldering iron, build it yourself. Box, switch, connectors (maybe some resistors). Twenty bucks maybe. If not, do you have any handy friends? If you know an EE he/she could design it in a heartbeat.

Phil

[zara_drummer]

i use a patch bay to split the signal...I have a setup thats similar...A set of actives and a set of passives. I just turn one or the other off when I dont want to hear their output.

My patchbay is a cheap Behringer one and I have the adjustable selector set to Parallel.

[SixStringGeek]

Any ideas on a quality switch box that will switch the signal between monitor pairs?

I got a Mackie Big Knob. Yeah, its probably overkill but here's an open box one for $199.

http://www.audiolines.com/Mackie-Big-Knob-p-10922.html

[mhschmieder]

You could also get an AB/Y box, such as the one made by Radial Engineering. But check the specs carefully to make sure it can drive a monitor input vs. that of a preamp or integrated amp. Sometimes product descriptions afren't detailed enough to make a good judgement on this sort of thing.

[jlaudon]

You can pick up the Samson C-control for less than 100 bucks - but that said, I don't use mine anymore, just direct outs to the different sets of speakers (or amps) out of my interface. That means I do all the switching and levels in the software, but at least I know the sound isn't coloured by the samson. I'd assume the Presonus and Mackie are definitely higher quality (my friend has the Grace Designs one - really nice, and $$$)

[gearboy]

You could also switch them in your DAW software. If you are using Digital Performer, you would simply use an Aux bus as an output and change which stereo pair you are using as your DAW's output on that Aux Bus. For instance, Main Out 1-2 (BX8s) vs. Analog 7-8 (Mix Cubes). Instead of sending each track in DP to "Main Out 1-2", send them to "Bus 1-2" and make the input of the output Aux "Bus 1-2". You'll need to stop playback temporarily when switching outputs this way. However, you could send "Bus 1-2" to two separate Aux Sends, send each of those aux sends to a separate pair of speakers, and use the mute buttons or the Aux's fader to control output to the speakers. This way you don't need to stop playback.

Cheaper, works great.

Jeff

[jlaudon]

You could also switch them in your DAW software. If you are using Digital Performer, you would simply use an Aux bus as an output and change which stereo pair you are using as your DAW's output on that Aux Bus. For instance, Main Out 1-2 (BX8s) vs. Analog 7-8 (Mix Cubes). Instead of sending each track in DP to "Main Out 1-2", send them to "Bus 1-2" and make the input of the output Aux "Bus 1-2". You'll need to stop playback temporarily when switching outputs this way. However, you could send "Bus 1-2" to two separate Aux Sends, send each of those aux sends to a separate pair of speakers, and use the mute buttons or the Aux's fader to control output to the speakers. This way you don't need to stop playback.

Cheaper, works great.

Jeff

Great idea, better than using the interface software, which require more clicks. this will be my new 'Monitor station'

[gearboy]

Just remember that you will have to software control the monitor levels using the fader. Make sure that "zero" on DP's Aux Send fader is a reasonable maximum level, because accidentally double-clicking on the fader will default it to zero and if your amp is too loud blow your speakers!!!