Mixer/splitter - does something like this exist?

Hey folks,

What I need for my studio is a device that can take up to four stereo inputs and provide 4-6 exact copies of those inputs to separate stereo outputs.

Does something like this exist? I've seen the Oz mixer, but I don't think it's stereo. Stereo is a must. They have to be stereo inputs and outputs.

Thanks!

[quote author="b3groover"]Does something like this exist?[/quote]
Y-cables? Or perhaps an op. amp. buffer?

Or am I misunderstanding something?

Best regards,

Mikkel C. Simonsen

4-6 copies of each stereo output would be a lot of Y-cables! I'm thinking it's going to have to be something active.

Here's what I'm after: In my home studio I have a MOTU 1224 with eight analog outputs. I use my studio to record my Hammond organ trio (organ, guitar and drums) and I want to be able to provide headphone mixes for monitoring during recording.

The idea is to be able to assign my drum sub-bus to say outputs 1+2 of the MOTU (stereo!!!), the organ sub-bus to outputs 3+4, the guitar to 5+6, etc. Then be able to route all those stereo outputs to three seperate small mixers so that each member of the trio can mix his headphones exactly how he wants them. I want it to be in stereo because the organ and drums sound so good in stereo (with that Leslie whirling around your head!!!). And if we want a horn player to come in, I want to be able to provide him/her with the same thing.

you want something like this?

http://www.heartechnologies.com/
http://www.heartechnologies.com/hb/Links/hb_mixer_frontPanel_photo.htm

I think fostex makes something similar too

check out the henry engineering box... I haven't tried it. but his stuff is pretty good.

http://www.henryeng.com/patchbox.html

Yes, the idea is something like the Hearback or even the Aviom system, but it doesn't need to be digital (and thus really expensive!). The signals are already being converted to analog via the MOTU interface and are ready to go. I just need something to multiply them.

The Henry Engineering patchbox looks promising but it seems one could build something similair for less than $200. Plus that's only a single stereo in. I'd have to get four of them!

Maybe Y-cables are the answer for the time being but I can only imagine the signal degredation.

It sounds like you need four stereo distribution amplifiers. Distribution amps (sometimes called "DAs" for short) are used extensively in broadcast, and are often available on the used market. Here's a good model with four DAs in one box (we have a few of this same unit in our facility):
eBay auction (ends today)

DIYing an audio distribution amp isn't that hard. Essentially, an audio DA is usually a variable gain amplifier stage, followed by a high-current, low-impedance output stage, and isolating resistors feeding the outputs. Here's an example using the 422B module from Opamp Labs:
http://www.opamplabs.com/422b.htm
http://www.opamplabs.com/a44.htm

perhaps

http://www.rane.com/da216a.html

or maybe

http://www.rane.com/sm26b.html

JC

More specific application info:

http://www.rane.com/note108.html

JC