Ideas to run a second set monitor speaker

[Romancha]

Hi, I want to run an additonal smaller set of speakers from my rig. Using PT10, Metric Halo Mobile IO ULN2, Macbook Pro, Mackie 624HR (powered) I also have an Apogee duet .... I'm not clear on what the best route to use (I may have to get a stereo reference amp - or something vintage). I appreciate any advice if someone is doing this.
Thanks!

[Drew Mazurek]

This would be a function of your monitor controller. Here are some examples.

http://www.cranesong.com/avocet.html

http://www.mackie.com/products/bigknob/

A quick glance at your interface tells me it only supports one set of Control Room outs.

http://mhsecure.com/metric_halo/prod...are/uln-2.html

unless I am missing something.

You could get some sort of analog A/B switcher to take that one control room out and make it feed two selectable sets of speakers.

check out switchers from:
http://www.colemanaudio.com

[jasonthurley]

Are both sets of monitors powered? you only mentioned one sets of monitors in your description...

[albee1952]

Presonus Central Station gets my vote as best "bang for the buck". Whichever you choose, use the right tool for the right job

[mesaone]

Passive monitor controller with two sources, two destination pairs, and headphone jack. Plus mono and mute switches. They have more feature-rich models, too.

http://www.smproaudio.com/index.php/...i-res-pictures

[Romancha]

Sorry about the lack of clarity: the 2nd set are not powered and would require an amp. You are correct with respect to the outs on my interface ... I'll have a look the links to see if they can be applied ...
Thanks!

[Romancha]

So, that M Patch unit would allow me to connect both sets of speakers, one passive signal (going out to the powered Mackie's) and the other powered to the 8ohm speakers ... then I could feed the signal from the ULN2 to the input and switch from there?

[mesaone]

Originally Posted by Romancha

So, that M Patch unit would allow me to connect both sets of speakers, one passive signal (going out to the powered Mackie's) and the other powered to the 8ohm speakers ... then I could feed the signal from the ULN2 to the input and switch from there?

Yes, but you will need an amp for your unpowered speakers.

So it would go

ULN Output L&R > MPatch input L&R
MPatch Output 1 L&R > Mackies
MPatch Output 2 L&R > amp > speakers

And you would also have room to feen another stereo device to the MPatch's AUX inputs, if you so choose.

[jasonthurley]

Or a very cheap solution is to just split your output out to both the Mackies and the amp for the new speakers by using the monitor out and Main L/R outputs of the ULN-2 (this is 2 separate outputs on your interface already so paying $130 for a passive switch is pricy... for a simple switcher), use a simple power switch (this could be as simple as a power strip, one for each set of speakers) and turn the mackies on or off... use either the monitor knob to turn up the send to the amplified speaker pair or the power switch on the amplifier.... You could just get a simple power selector switcher and press a button to turn the amp or powered mackies on or off...

This one is 15 bucks... http://www.amazon.com/American-Four-...power+switcher

[mesaone]

Originally Posted by jasonthurley

You could just get a simple power selector switcher and press a button to turn the amp or powered mackies on or off...

I don't know why, but this makes me nervous. Am I wrong to think that hitting the power button every time you want to A/B is going to shorten the life of the PSU inside each speaker?

$130 may seem like a lot to pay, but I think it's reasonable. You get source and destination switching, a big-ass knob, mono switching, and an extra headphone patch.