I used to have a few of these, but am having trouble finding them online - may have to just make them.
It's a special 1/4" TRS to 1/4" TRS adapter, missing the insulator between the tip & ring, with the ring being slightly longer to make up the difference.
Purpose: allow a stereo headset to be plugged into either a mono or stereo audio source, with mono always going to both speakers.
They may have been made for something else, but that's what I used them for...
It's a special 1/4" TRS to 1/4" TRS adapter, missing the insulator between the tip & ring, with the ring being slightly longer to make up the difference.
Purpose: allow a stereo headset to be plugged into either a mono or stereo audio source, with mono always going to both speakers.
They may have been made for something else, but that's what I used them for...
If plugged in to quite a few TS (2-pole) sockets you would get nothing at all, because the two contacts are arranged in the Tip and Ring positions (shorted) with no sleeve contact.
I'm fairly sure the intended use of adaptors like this (and I have a couple) is for analogue mixing consoles which have TRS sockets used as insert points (output and input for an external effect unit combined). Inserting this adaptor maintains the signal path in the mixer (broken when the socket contacts open), and allow the signal to be tapped out via the adaptor, e.g. to a multi-track tape recorder. You can of course just use a standard TRS plug and wire Tip and Ring together inside, with a cable and plug at the other end for the destination.
I have once met headsets (possibly single ear) with a 3-pole plug on them which was wired to work in mono from mono and stereo sources, that was done with two resistors from each of tip and ring, with the junction of the resistors connected to the headphones part of the headset. You lost 3dB of level in the mono case, but it avoided shorting the left and right outputs together in the stereo case. My involvement at the time was to cut the moulded plugs off and re-terminate the headsets ...
I'm fairly sure the intended use of adaptors like this (and I have a couple) is for analogue mixing consoles which have TRS sockets used as insert points (output and input for an external effect unit combined). Inserting this adaptor maintains the signal path in the mixer (broken when the socket contacts open), and allow the signal to be tapped out via the adaptor, e.g. to a multi-track tape recorder. You can of course just use a standard TRS plug and wire Tip and Ring together inside, with a cable and plug at the other end for the destination.
I have once met headsets (possibly single ear) with a 3-pole plug on them which was wired to work in mono from mono and stereo sources, that was done with two resistors from each of tip and ring, with the junction of the resistors connected to the headphones part of the headset. You lost 3dB of level in the mono case, but it avoided shorting the left and right outputs together in the stereo case. My involvement at the time was to cut the moulded plugs off and re-terminate the headsets ...
1.) Because the source might be panned one side or the other - this is for monitoring, not hi-fidelity.
2.) Not likely... I might have to fiddle with the gain, but the source is unharmed.
3.) Hence the post on here.
@richardash1981 The sleeve is in fact there... it's the remaining portion of the barrel past the insulator. You are kinda close with the mixing console part, but not TRS insert usage for my case... I have only ever used this where audio levels were appropriate for headphones and/or another line level input, but the channel output arrangement didn't match the next stage's input arrangement. No matter what you plug it into - it always gives mono.
The two most common scenarios for me anyway, were using headphones to monitor a panned channel, or sending a summed stereo signal to a mono amplifier/recorder input.
The two most common scenarios for me anyway, were using headphones to monitor a panned channel, or sending a summed stereo signal to a mono amplifier/recorder input.
Its trivial to wire a standard stereo TRS jack as mono by commoning the two signals. However it is much safer to mix the two channels with resistors - the pictured device if accidentally plugged into a headphone socket might burn it out...
@Mark Tillotson I'm just looking a manufacturer of this adapter. I've had mine going on 40 years without issue for my applications. Pretty sure HOSA made mine and am waiting for a response from them. The feasibility of its usage is not of concern here.
I will open mine up to verify specific wiring, pretty sure it's just trs to trs without the insulator, but it's still no different than using the connectors linked below.
https://hosatech.com/products/analog-audio/adapters/general-adapters/gpp-419/
https://hosatech.com/products/analog-audio/adapters/general-adapters/gpp-290/
I will open mine up to verify specific wiring, pretty sure it's just trs to trs without the insulator, but it's still no different than using the connectors linked below.
https://hosatech.com/products/analog-audio/adapters/general-adapters/gpp-419/
https://hosatech.com/products/analog-audio/adapters/general-adapters/gpp-290/
Such a connector would be usefull to split the signal pre-fader on the FOH-console, to make a separate stage monitor mix on a stage console.
That has been done in the past but with a regular stereo/TRS plug and shorting the T and R - works exactly the same.
(As long as you do not plug in or out during the gig... "Sorry folks.")
But in the digital age, any stage console has abundant internal routing possibilities.
That has been done in the past but with a regular stereo/TRS plug and shorting the T and R - works exactly the same.
(As long as you do not plug in or out during the gig... "Sorry folks.")
But in the digital age, any stage console has abundant internal routing possibilities.
