Splitting a signal

[epimetheus]

It's not signal loss that I would be concerned about with a passive (hardwired) split, it's isolation. With any installed sound system, there's a very good chance that the destination device of the 2 outputs of the split are going to have different power sources, whether it be a FOH/recording split or and FOH/monitor split. I stick with splitters with one or both outputs isolated and let the splitter supply the phantom power. With the splitter supplying the phantom power I don't have to worry about somebody accidentaly sending phantom power from the board to a mic or source device that can't handle it.

 

[FMEng]

Let's clarify a little. There are three kinds of passive splitters:

1. A Y cord split. Works well only in some circumstances. Very cheap.

2. Resistive split. The two outputs are isolated to a small degree with a resistive pad on each output. Lossy and often troublesome.

3. Transformer split. With high quality transformers and proper design, the isolation is very good. Low loss (< 1 dB). Recommended, but expensive.

The latter method can be built to pass phantom from one output and block phantom from the others. Or, it can be built with an internal phantom supply, blocking phantom from all outputs. In any case, phantom applied to any or all outputs will not harm anything.

 

[CenterSpot]

Might I recommend an excellent resource that I got a copy of in 1989 or 1990 ?

The Yamaha Sound Reinforcement Handbook

It answers a great many questions that are still relevant today and is an excellent teaching guide I used to coach many an aspiring audio mixer and audio system technician many years ago.

Digital aside from all that.

 

[mixmaster]

Use this snake often at my work. If I remember right, its called MASS connector.
Whirlwind / Multipin Connectors

The ends are asexual so its pretty sweet. It has a 25' monitor split fanout, and 10' FOH Fanout thats kept on our main FOH board, and a 200' run.

Its a wonderful snake and the asexual ends are a great idea.

Yep, those would be MASS connectors. We use basically the same system here, although I had them build my FOH trunk with the fan-out at the house end instead of another MASS connector w/ a seperate fan-out. The connectors run 3-400 bucks each. Sturdy, well built connectors, but assembling them from scratch is not something a short tempered or impatient person should do.
To the OP, W'wind (and similar companies) make a variety of splitters, your budget is really the limit. Check the W'wind site for everything from passive splits as above to rack mounted active splitters and everything in between. I know they used to make a 24 ch xlr in, xlr out passive splitter that could be used with some fan to fan snakes for a less expensive way to do it.

 

[Chris15]

Yep, those would be MASS connectors. We use basically the same system here, although I had them build my FOH trunk with the fan-out at the house end instead of another MASS connector w/ a seperate fan-out. The connectors run 3-400 bucks each. Sturdy, well built connectors, but assembling them from scratch is not something a short tempered or impatient person should do.

A lot depends on your individual application, but to me if you are going to skip one of the multipins on a core, you do it at the stage end. That way you can leave the tails in the doghouse and roll the core back up. Having to unplug all the tails seems painful... Thought this does depend on the number of channels we're talking about...

I would not recommend you even contemplate multipins until such time as you are well at home with less complex connectors. You will also find that there is a degree of specialised tool set to some multipins and that can be pricy... I don't know if MASS connectors come pre pinned - if so ICK. If not you are looking at an insertion tool and an extractor for when things break or you stuff up inserting them...

 

[SjonRokz4u]

Go To Audiopile.net and look up splitter snakes. If Im reading your post right, thats what you want