Microphone splitter
Encyclopedia
A microphone splitter has an input from a microphone
and provides multiple output. Also known as a rathouse due to the large amount of cabling involved. A splitter is often used at larger venues to provide feeds from microphones or other sources to both a front of house
mixing desk and a monitor desk. This allows the monitor mix to be different from the house mix, so that the musicians may hear a mix with certain instruments emphasized, which can assist in achieving a feeling of "tightness".
In a simple splitter the outputs are connected in parallel, with no isolation between outputs. In cases where each output is connected to a system with a different ground potential
, this can cause ground loops
, a common source of noise in an audio system. To provide isolation and prevent ground loops, outputs may be connected via a splitting transformer
or a number of buffer amplifiers.
Each additional output puts additional load on the source, which can cause signal degradation. Active splitters with buffer amplifiers (also known as a distribution amplifier
) are the only solution to provide an unlimited number of splits, but are costly.
Microphone
A microphone is an acoustic-to-electric transducer or sensor that converts sound into an electrical signal. In 1877, Emile Berliner invented the first microphone used as a telephone voice transmitter...
and provides multiple output. Also known as a rathouse due to the large amount of cabling involved. A splitter is often used at larger venues to provide feeds from microphones or other sources to both a front of house
Front of House
Front of house is primarily a theatrical term, referring to the portion of the building that is open to the public. In theatre and live music venues, it typically refers to the auditorium and foyer, as opposed to the stage and backstage areas...
mixing desk and a monitor desk. This allows the monitor mix to be different from the house mix, so that the musicians may hear a mix with certain instruments emphasized, which can assist in achieving a feeling of "tightness".
In a simple splitter the outputs are connected in parallel, with no isolation between outputs. In cases where each output is connected to a system with a different ground potential
Ground (electricity)
In electrical engineering, ground or earth may be the reference point in an electrical circuit from which other voltages are measured, or a common return path for electric current, or a direct physical connection to the Earth....
, this can cause ground loops
Ground loop (electricity)
In an electrical system, a ground loop usually refers to a current, almost always unwanted, in a conductor connecting two points that are supposed to be at the same potential, often ground, but are actually at different potentials. Ground loops created by improperly designed or improperly installed...
, a common source of noise in an audio system. To provide isolation and prevent ground loops, outputs may be connected via a splitting transformer
Transformer
A transformer is a device that transfers electrical energy from one circuit to another through inductively coupled conductors—the transformer's coils. A varying current in the first or primary winding creates a varying magnetic flux in the transformer's core and thus a varying magnetic field...
or a number of buffer amplifiers.
Each additional output puts additional load on the source, which can cause signal degradation. Active splitters with buffer amplifiers (also known as a distribution amplifier
Distribution amplifier
In electronics, a distribution amplifier or simply distribution amp, is a device that accepts a single input signal and provides this same signal to multiple isolated outputs....
) are the only solution to provide an unlimited number of splits, but are costly.