How do I get stereo sound through mixer? (single, amplifier)

Ambient · 03-07-2009, 08:52 PM

Hey,

I have two Yamaha speakers and a 6 channel Peavey mixer for them. They're great speakers, but I'm trying to find out how to get stereo sound out of them.

I have a music player and I usually just use a wire with two headphone jacks and and I plug one end into the player and use an adapter to change the other end into a quarter inch to plug into the first mixer channel. I noticed that I only get one half of the stereo sound and have to change the output to monophonic.

I want to know how to input stereo sound and isolate each channel to one speaker so it's true stereo and not just each speaker playing both the left and right channel audio together.

Freebase Dali · 03-08-2009, 04:22 PM

If the only output your music player has is a headphone output jack, then you'll need a Y cable: One end is a 1/8 mini stereo connector which splits into two 1/4 mono connectors. Google "Y cable" and get an idea of what I'm talking about.

You put the 1/8 connector into your music player's headphone out jack. The remaining two 1/4 mono connectors will go into two separate channels on your mixer, let's say, Channel 1 and 2.
Next, pan channel 1 and 2 away from eachother fully left & right.
Your speakers should be connected to the main outputs on your mixer.
Test your audio to ensure that your left/right channels aren't backwards. If they are, simply swap the inputs on channels 1 and 2, or pan the opposite way. (usually the red connector is the right one and the white or gray connector is the left)

If you're trying to use a "headphone splitter" then you're not going to get seperation between left and right channels because each headphone jack is wired for stereo.

You need a Y cable that splits a stereo signal into two separate mono signals.

Hope that helps.

Ambient · 03-08-2009, 06:31 PM

I'm not sure if I can do that with my system. Here are some images that will hopefully aide the process.

Here's the whole front panel of the mixer:

A closer look:

A closer look (right side):

Connection to back of mixer:

I just fixed this room up after eight hours of work yesterday and set this up. You'll notice dirt here and there, but that's only because that room hasn't been used in such a long time. If there's any way you can help me based upon these images, I'd be grateful.

I believe if I got the Y-Connector I could buy adapters for each connector to a 1/4 inch and then plug them into two separate channels. I don't believe that would isolate the sound into each speaker though. That's the thing about the setup that is still puzzling me.

Thanks!

Ambient · 03-08-2009, 06:32 PM

I couldn't put all these in one post, the gallery is located at the bottom.

Cable plugged into left speaker (port 1):

Cable plugged into right speaker (port 2):

View of entire room:

Extension of right speaker to mixer:

Gallery of Shots of Renovated Speaker Room.

Freebase Dali · 03-09-2009, 01:48 AM

Ah ok, I was thinking you were using a standard mixing board.

The problem is that the PA mixer you're using wasn't wired with separate L/R output jacks. The two output jacks are sending the same signal, just to two speakers at once.

Looking at what you have, I think you can still rig it up for stereo output.
The idea is to use a main output for one channel and a monitor output for the other channel. The monitor output will be on a separate circuit, so you will, in effect, have your left and right outputs. The problem arrives that in order to even give any juice to your monitor circuit, your level on that channel needs to be up somewhat, which would undermine total seperation but to a very small degree if you spend time balancing the output of the monitor master versus the main out.

The only thing you'll have to add to the equation is at least a single channel power amplifier for your monitor out, because your speaker won't be getting enough power from the monitor output. (UNLESS your monitor output is already powered and can drive your other speaker. It's worth it to check first.)

In theory, you'd set it up like this:

MUSIC PLAYER OUT to CHANNEL 1 & CHANNEL 2 input via Y cable.
----
CHANNEL 1
Turn down "monitor" knob to zero percent
Turn level and EQ to desired percent
Set main levels to highest optimal level
----
CHANNEL 2
Turn "level" knob to NEARLY zero percent
The "monitor" knob is now going to pose as your "level". Set it about 50 percent.
Duplicate EQ setting from channel 1
Leave mains alone
----
MAIN OUTPUT 1 to SPEAKER 1 (left)
MONITOR OUTPUT to POWER AMP to SPEAKER 2 (right)
----

Balancing your main output and your monitor output is going to be your biggest challenge. In order for your monitor output to have any volume to work with, it will have to get it from the channel level. This will cause a small bit of the right side of your audio to bleed into the left speaker because all the channel audio exits the main outs by default unless the channel levels are at zero percent.
To get your right channel (monitor out) loud enough to balance with the left channel (main out) and still maintain adequate seperation, you'll need to jack up your monitor master and experiment with the monitor knob on your second channel.
The object is to give the monitor channel just enough juice to work with without contributing to the main outs too much, and pumping up that monitor channel via monitor level controls until you have achieved a good seperation and equal decibel level between both speakers.

Anyway, if I've completely wasted my time typing all that because you don't want to go through the trouble... Don't worry.
I had fun.

Good Luck.
J.

03-07-2009, 08:52 PM	#1 (permalink)
Ambient Groupie Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 28	How do I get stereo sound through mixer? Hey, I have two Yamaha speakers and a 6 channel Peavey mixer for them. They're great speakers, but I'm trying to find out how to get stereo sound out of them. I have a music player and I usually just use a wire with two headphone jacks and and I plug one end into the player and use an adapter to change the other end into a quarter inch to plug into the first mixer channel. I noticed that I only get one half of the stereo sound and have to change the output to monophonic. I want to know how to input stereo sound and isolate each channel to one speaker so it's true stereo and not just each speaker playing both the left and right channel audio together.

03-08-2009, 04:22 PM	#2 (permalink)
Freebase Dali Partying on the inside Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 5,584	If the only output your music player has is a headphone output jack, then you'll need a Y cable: One end is a 1/8 mini stereo connector which splits into two 1/4 mono connectors. Google "Y cable" and get an idea of what I'm talking about. You put the 1/8 connector into your music player's headphone out jack. The remaining two 1/4 mono connectors will go into two separate channels on your mixer, let's say, Channel 1 and 2. Next, pan channel 1 and 2 away from eachother fully left & right. Your speakers should be connected to the main outputs on your mixer. Test your audio to ensure that your left/right channels aren't backwards. If they are, simply swap the inputs on channels 1 and 2, or pan the opposite way. (usually the red connector is the right one and the white or gray connector is the left) If you're trying to use a "headphone splitter" then you're not going to get seperation between left and right channels because each headphone jack is wired for stereo. You need a Y cable that splits a stereo signal into two separate mono signals. Hope that helps.

03-08-2009, 06:31 PM	#3 (permalink)
Ambient Groupie Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 28	I'm not sure if I can do that with my system. Here are some images that will hopefully aide the process. Here's the whole front panel of the mixer: A closer look: A closer look (right side): Connection to back of mixer: I just fixed this room up after eight hours of work yesterday and set this up. You'll notice dirt here and there, but that's only because that room hasn't been used in such a long time. If there's any way you can help me based upon these images, I'd be grateful. I believe if I got the Y-Connector I could buy adapters for each connector to a 1/4 inch and then plug them into two separate channels. I don't believe that would isolate the sound into each speaker though. That's the thing about the setup that is still puzzling me. Thanks!

03-08-2009, 06:32 PM	#4 (permalink)
Ambient Groupie Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 28	I couldn't put all these in one post, the gallery is located at the bottom. Cable plugged into left speaker (port 1): Cable plugged into right speaker (port 2): View of entire room: Extension of right speaker to mixer: Gallery of Shots of Renovated Speaker Room.

03-09-2009, 01:48 AM	#5 (permalink)
Freebase Dali Partying on the inside Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 5,584	Ah ok, I was thinking you were using a standard mixing board. The problem is that the PA mixer you're using wasn't wired with separate L/R output jacks. The two output jacks are sending the same signal, just to two speakers at once. Looking at what you have, I think you can still rig it up for stereo output. The idea is to use a main output for one channel and a monitor output for the other channel. The monitor output will be on a separate circuit, so you will, in effect, have your left and right outputs. The problem arrives that in order to even give any juice to your monitor circuit, your level on that channel needs to be up somewhat, which would undermine total seperation but to a very small degree if you spend time balancing the output of the monitor master versus the main out. The only thing you'll have to add to the equation is at least a single channel power amplifier for your monitor out, because your speaker won't be getting enough power from the monitor output. (UNLESS your monitor output is already powered and can drive your other speaker. It's worth it to check first.) In theory, you'd set it up like this: MUSIC PLAYER OUT to CHANNEL 1 & CHANNEL 2 input via Y cable. ---- CHANNEL 1 Turn down "monitor" knob to zero percent Turn level and EQ to desired percent Set main levels to highest optimal level ---- CHANNEL 2 Turn "level" knob to NEARLY zero percent The "monitor" knob is now going to pose as your "level". Set it about 50 percent. Duplicate EQ setting from channel 1 Leave mains alone ---- MAIN OUTPUT 1 to SPEAKER 1 (left) MONITOR OUTPUT to POWER AMP to SPEAKER 2 (right) ---- Balancing your main output and your monitor output is going to be your biggest challenge. In order for your monitor output to have any volume to work with, it will have to get it from the channel level. This will cause a small bit of the right side of your audio to bleed into the left speaker because all the channel audio exits the main outs by default unless the channel levels are at zero percent. To get your right channel (monitor out) loud enough to balance with the left channel (main out) and still maintain adequate seperation, you'll need to jack up your monitor master and experiment with the monitor knob on your second channel. The object is to give the monitor channel just enough juice to work with without contributing to the main outs too much, and pumping up that monitor channel via monitor level controls until you have achieved a good seperation and equal decibel level between both speakers. Anyway, if I've completely wasted my time typing all that because you don't want to go through the trouble... Don't worry. I had fun. Good Luck. J.