multiple headphones in the studio help
I need to use at least 10 sets of dt100 headphones in the studio i'm
building i have 3 multicores with 4 returns each going to 3 rooms
my console has 2 x h/phone outs and 6 x aux sends
i need to buy a h/phone amp but not sure which type .
dose anyone have any info on this subject ?
i would be very grateful for any help
when i can afford it i will be looking at v4.0 sawstudio running with 3 rme cards and no mixer .
thanks greeny
Re: multiple headphones in the studio help
These things are all over the map feature and price wise so a lot would depend on budget and specific requirements (for instance individual stereo mixes for the performers if that's an issue you may want to look into SS 4.0 sooner than later, it might save you some money :) ). I'd suggest doing a web search on "headphone distribution amplifiers". I used Google and a lot of worthwhile hits were returned.
I have a Q-Mix (I think Mackie bought them) which supports 6 sets of headphones and 6 inputs which works great for my needs, but obviously won't meet yours.
Re: multiple headphones in the studio help
I have Q-Mix and found it a really versatile reliable unit, only 6 outputs as mentioned before, perhaps 2 units would do the trick! Sending a different mix to each unit. I found that hooking a small FX unit into it allowing talent to dial different amount of FX into each headphone out makes life a lot easier.
my 2c
Robert V.
Re: multiple headphones in the studio help
I highly recommend the Furman HDS-6 with HR-6 break-out boxes. You can find these used quite often. As a matter of fact, both the HDS-6's I have here were used.
Re: multiple headphones in the studio help
Quote:
Originally Posted by
greeny
I need to use at least 10 sets of dt100 headphones in the studio i'm
building i have 3 multicores with 4 returns each going to 3 rooms
I'm still a big fan of buying a power amp or two with some headroom, and using them to drive the headphones. Then, just make or buy a couple of those boxes that have headphone outputs and knobs to control indiv. volume.
This is a simplistic description, but ultimately has far more headroom than the off the shelf headphone distro boxes.
Mark
Re: multiple headphones in the studio help
Avoid multi-core altogether... Simply run a Cat-5 cable and setup a Hearback system. www.hearback.com. Each mixer can power 2 sets of headphones very well. Each mixer also gives u 8 channels of individual mix. You can setup one hub in the control room and the other hub in the live room. You connect the hub via a single Cat-5 cable. In the live room, you can have 8 stations connected to a single Hub. You can chain virtually infinite hubs together for 8x more headphones per hub. (16 if you put 2 headphones per stations.)
Let me know if you need more information. Yes, I'm a hearback dealer :D
Thanks,
Gary
Re: multiple headphones in the studio help
Its very inexpensive and simple to drive multiple headphones from small headphone amplifiers like the Behringer 8 set or 4 set rack mount systems. The 8 set unit for under $100 has 8 amps with separate volume controls for each set and allows you to feed two stereo mixes to the one box... each of the 8 phones can select either the A or B mix... very easy to use and in your case you can use 2 units.
Bob L
Re: multiple headphones in the studio help
I use the Furman system Angie described in my studio, and it sounds good and has worked beautifully. I set up a client's studio with a Hearback system, which is much more flexible and powerful (eight subchannels instead of four plus a built-in compressor), but also more expensive, and I personally find the sound pretty harsh---though the client and the musicians who work with him haven't complained. Hearback's support is excellent, as our base unit crapped out and they shipped us a new one immediately with no questions asked.
Re: multiple headphones in the studio help
I would echo what Mark said and suggest you go with multiple Furman HR-2 boxes and multiple SP-20 amplifiers for as many individual mixes as you want. You can daisy chain the HR-2's and the SP-20 includes an internal resistor voltage divider so you can connect headphones directly to the output of the power amp.
With SAWStudio 4.0's multiple headphone mix outputs this makes for a great-sounding, low noise, high headroom system at a pretty reasonable price.
Re: multiple headphones in the studio help
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Angie
I highly recommend the Furman HDS-6 with HR-6 break-out boxes. You can find these used quite often. As a matter of fact, both the HDS-6's I have here were used.
I too picked up an HDS-6 setup used, at first with the central unit and two remote boxes, then adding a 3rd remote I found on ebay. I recently used the system for headphone feeds for pit musicians in a stage musical, and all were quite satisfied with the results.
For most situations, I doubt that there is any need for more than one basic mix (usually the CR mix) with a "more me" knob for each performer. I did a lot of work in studios that didn't even have that much, just one headphone mix for everyone.