All sorts of myths on this topic
Here is my take on it.You can take you existing
stage box, open it up,
wire in another
multi cable to each of the
xlr, and add a
ground lift for all the feeds to the
monitor mixer. Some of the expensive
transformer units have individual
ground lifts, but
IMO lifting all the
ground for the
monitor works for just about all cases.
A
transformer does NOT change the load the mic sees, but in todays world, for a two way split, not a problem.
One
console does NOT affect the other (other than it is a good idea to make sure that both are on the same
power source.
Some digital splitters do have a problem in that they place the split after the preamps, and so if you adjust the
trim on the input preamp it affects all signals
fed from it.
If you have the budget
wire in a
mass connector, this way if you are not using the split you don't have the open cables that would have gone to the
monitor connected to the mic inputs.
Phantom power is not a problem, a
system that can feed
phantom power can accept
phantom power. It is typically to feed phantom from the
foh since you may not split all inputs to the
monitor
It works great, makes
monitor mixing much easier, also this is how a lot of recording set
ups are done
I would say that if you need to have a
three way split say for monitors and recording then
iso transformers are best since splitting the mic signal three ways can be a problem.
Using the direct outs can be done, but
IMO is not worth the effort since you then have to feed the directs back via a
snake to the
monitor console on
stage (for recording where the recorder is by the
FOH it can and does work and is another way to have the split for monitors and the direct out for recording)
Sharyn