• Registered: 2015-01-05
  • Posts: 8

Topic: How do I setup a dual Headphone Mix?

Excuse me if this is a dumb question but since both of the headphone outputs are wired together, how would I go about setting up 2 separate headphone mixes? Basically, I'm recording in a small room and while recording myself and the vocalist both are using headphones. I would like her to be able to control the output of level coming out of protools and the level of her vocals separately from what I'm listening to. Would this require a headphone amp or Personal monitor mixer such as the Rolls personal monitor mixer?

  • ramses
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Re: How do I setup a dual Headphone Mix?

What device do you have ? Me UFX. Assign Phones1 and Phones2 properly (PH9/10, PH11/12).
Be sure to be in Submix Mode.
Click to Phones 1 in the Hardware Outputs. Then adjust all inputs and playback channels like to want to listen to it on Phones 1. Repeat procedure by clicking on Phones 2 and repeat this procedure.
Watch the recommended Totalmix Videos from synthax, see stickies.

BR Ramses - UFX III, 12Mic, XTC, ADI-2 Pro FS R BE, RayDAT, X10SRi-F, E5-1680v4, Win10Pro22H2, Cub14

3 Reply by neirbod (edited by neirbod 2015-01-05 21:34:38)

  • From: Washington DC, USA
  • Registered: 2007-08-06
  • Posts: 442

Re: How do I setup a dual Headphone Mix?

I would give the vocalist a stereo mix as a mono mix can sound confining.  This means you would need a headphone amp linked to the two additional outputs on the breakout cable to create a separate stereo mix for you.

4 Reply by hanscaustin (edited by hanscaustin 2015-01-05 21:47:13)

  • Registered: 2015-01-05
  • Posts: 8

Re: How do I setup a dual Headphone Mix?

neirbod wrote:

I wouldn't give the vocalist a stereo mix as a mono mix can sound confining.  This means you would need a headphone amp linked to the two additional outputs on the breakout cable to create a separate stereo mix for you.

Ok but what outputs would I use for the headphone amp? There are only the 2 midi outputs or the TOSLINK output left. Would I use one of those with a conversion cable? I'm already using the 2 XLR outputs (AN 1/2) for my monitors.

That also brings me to another question which is. What kind of headphone amp could I use that would allow control over the monitor level and the mic level separately for both me and the vocalist?

5 Reply by hanscaustin (edited by hanscaustin 2015-01-05 21:46:35)

  • Registered: 2015-01-05
  • Posts: 8

Re: How do I setup a dual Headphone Mix?

ramses wrote:

What device do you have ? Me UFX. Assign Phones1 and Phones2 properly (PH9/10, PH11/12).
Be sure to be in Submix Mode.
Click to Phones 1 in the Hardware Outputs. Then adjust all inputs and playback channels like to want to listen to it on Phones 1. Repeat procedure by clicking on Phones 2 and repeat this procedure.
Watch the recommended Totalmix Videos from synthax, see stickies.

Sorry. I forgot to mention that I'm using the Babyface so I only have Phones 3/4 available and I was assuming it needs to stay stereo? If I can do what you said with Phones 3 and then Phones 4 I'm in business but still unsure how that works because wouldn't that set them to mono? I've watched the Synthax tutorials but the Babyface is a bit different from the other RME interfaces with it's headphone outputs having only 1 actual headphone output which is duplicated at the breakout cable.

  • From: Washington DC, USA
  • Registered: 2007-08-06
  • Posts: 442

Re: How do I setup a dual Headphone Mix?

hanscaustin wrote:
neirbod wrote:

I wouldn't give the vocalist a stereo mix as a mono mix can sound confining.  This means you would need a headphone amp linked to the two additional outputs on the breakout cable to create a separate stereo mix for you.

Ok but what outputs would I use for the headphone amp? There are only the 2 midi outputs or the TOSLINK output left. Would I use one of those with a conversion cable? I'm already using the 2 XLR outputs (AN 1/2) for my monitors.

That also brings me to another question which is. What kind of headphone amp could I use that would allow control over the monitor level and the mic level separately for both me and the vocalist?

For some reason my statement you quoted says "wouldn't" instead of "would."  Odd.

Some (all?) headphone amps have pass through outputs. So, you could send the BF outs to your amp, and then listen to your "control room" mix with either phones or monitors.

7 Reply by hanscaustin (edited by hanscaustin 2015-01-05 22:15:57)

  • Registered: 2015-01-05
  • Posts: 8

Re: How do I setup a dual Headphone Mix?

neirbod wrote:
hanscaustin wrote:
neirbod wrote:

I wouldn't give the vocalist a stereo mix as a mono mix can sound confining.  This means you would need a headphone amp linked to the two additional outputs on the breakout cable to create a separate stereo mix for you.

Ok but what outputs would I use for the headphone amp? There are only the 2 midi outputs or the TOSLINK output left. Would I use one of those with a conversion cable? I'm already using the 2 XLR outputs (AN 1/2) for my monitors.

That also brings me to another question which is. What kind of headphone amp could I use that would allow control over the monitor level and the mic level separately for both me and the vocalist?

For some reason my statement you quoted says "wouldn't" instead of "would."  Odd.

Some (all?) headphone amps have pass through outputs. So, you could send the BF outs to your amp, and then listen to your "control room" mix with either phones or monitors.


That was odd. lol
Ok so I could definitely use something like this Personal monitor mixer with it's pass through correct? Also back to my concern. I only have 2 midi outputs left and the TOSLINK. Technically I can't use the PHONES output on the breakout cable because as the engineer I will just hear  what the vocalist hears with the headphones amp being that it's just an extension of the main PHONES output.

http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/shop_image/product/3499-art-mymonitor-large.jpg

8 Reply by hanscaustin (edited by hanscaustin 2015-01-06 16:45:28)

  • Registered: 2015-01-05
  • Posts: 8

Re: How do I setup a dual Headphone Mix?

Could someone help me with last comment? What output would I use for connecting a headphone amp/monitor mixer if I'm only left with the 2 midi and the ADAT outs on the babyface? Not really sure the ADAT outs would be the proper thing to use.

9 Reply by neirbod (edited by neirbod 2015-01-07 16:21:00)

  • From: Washington DC, USA
  • Registered: 2007-08-06
  • Posts: 442

Re: How do I setup a dual Headphone Mix?

hanscaustin wrote:

Ok so I could definitely use something like this Personal monitor mixer with it's pass through correct? Also back to my concern. I only have 2 midi outputs left and the TOSLINK. Technically I can't use the PHONES output on the breakout cable because as the engineer I will just hear  what the vocalist hears with the headphones amp being that it's just an extension of the main PHONES output.

I think you misunderstood. You said you are using the analog outs (AN 1/2 on the breakout cable) to feed your monitors, right?  I am suggesting you route these outs instead to a headphone amp.  From there you can take the pass throughs to feed your mains, but you will also be able to monitor the same mix with headphones.  This then becomes the control room mix, available over mains or phones depending on your need at the time.  The BF's built in headphone signal can then go to your vocalist. 

An example with pass throughs (alternatively called"link outputs") is the Samson S-Phone.  The pass through signal is directly wired to the inputs before passing though any of the electronics, which means what goes in comes out unaffected (at least in theory).  I have used this amp in the exact way I describe and never noticed any degradation of signal to my mains by passing through this unit.

10 Reply by hanscaustin (edited by hanscaustin 2015-01-07 17:33:37)

  • Registered: 2015-01-05
  • Posts: 8

Re: How do I setup a dual Headphone Mix?

neirbod wrote:
hanscaustin wrote:

Ok so I could definitely use something like this Personal monitor mixer with it's pass through correct? Also back to my concern. I only have 2 midi outputs left and the TOSLINK. Technically I can't use the PHONES output on the breakout cable because as the engineer I will just hear  what the vocalist hears with the headphones amp being that it's just an extension of the main PHONES output.

I think you misunderstood. You said you are using the analog outs (AN 1/2 on the breakout cable) to feed your monitors, right?  I am suggesting you route these outs instead to a headphone amp.  From there you can take the pass throughs to feed your mains, but you will also be able to monitor the same mix with headphones.  This then becomes the control room mix, available over mains or phones depending on your need at the time.  The BF's built in headphone signal can then go to your vocalist. 

An example with pass throughs (alternatively called"link outputs") is the Samson S-Phone.  The pass through signal is directly wired to the inputs before passing though any of the electronics, which means what goes in comes out unaffected (at least in theory).  I have used this amp in the exact way I describe and never noticed any degradation of signal to my mains by passing through this unit.


Makes sense. Really appreciate the help. The babyface would have been the perfect portable unit if it just had 2 separate headphone outs smh.