Device to connect headphone out to microphone input?

[bladeaudio]

Is there a device out there that will adapt a headphone output level to a microphone input?

I know you can plug a headphone out and turn down the volume and probably get ok results, but I'm looking for something to be more reliable and less "touchy" with the levels.

Anyone know of a device that is specific for making this conversion?

I've used DI boxes to do this before, is that the best way?

[JoshGuerette]

I would use a DI, probably the podDI from Whirlwind (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...nal_Audio.html). It'll take a 1/8" line and convert it to balanced XLR, with volume controls. It does convert down to mono, so if you want stereo, the pcDI is slightly more expensive but will do that.

We use them for audio from the headphone out in our presentation Mac Pro, and it works great. No more 60Hz hum or 1/8" line strung across the booth.

[tropicalfish]

Run the headphone output either through the line-ins on your board, or through a DI box, then through the mic-ins.

Do note that on Realtek chipsets (from what I've found), unity gain is around 70. That means anything above that, the peaks start getting compressed. Rather poor, in my opinion.

[cmchamp]

Blade
Yeah, a DI is the best way if you want to get to Mic level.
What "flavor" of DI doesn't much matter, but you'll need a pair.
I generally use and insert cable on the headphone jack and use my line ins.
C.

[Frank DeWitt]

I do this quite often for jobs like playing a I-Pod CD player ETC from the platform for practice. I used to use a special cable to sum the Stereo to mono http://www.rane.com/note109.html
I used this enough that I finally installed a 1/8 in stereo jack in my DI box and wired one of the 1/4 in jacks to disconnect it when a normal mono input is connected. (I build my own DI boxes)

Frank

[bladeaudio]

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I'm wanting to use this to run the output of a headphone distribution amp to the input of a video camera.

So far I think this is my best option....
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...lti_Input.html

Something not requiring phantom or battery is prefered.

[tdangelo]

Iv'e had good luck with these, and the ouput level would be adjustable:

http://www.rdlnet.com/product.php?page=45

[bladeaudio]

Iv'e had good luck with these, and the ouput level would be adjustable:
http://www.rdlnet.com/product.php?page=45

Hmm, only downside being the 24VDC requirement. I'd prefer something that doesn't require power. This is going to be on an ENG type camera rig, so not requiring power is a huge plus.

[Frank DeWitt]

If you want small portable, and you don't need Stereo then this might work http://whirlwindusa.com/catalog/blac...devices/isopod

[tdangelo]

Originally Posted by bladeaudio

Hmm, only downside being the 24VDC requirement. I'd prefer something that doesn't require power. This is going to be on an ENG type camera rig, so not requiring power is a huge plus.

You have sparked my curiousity! What is the source with the headphone output and what type of camera is the destination?

[bladeaudio]

You have sparked my curiousity! What is the source with the headphone output and what type of camera is the destination?

I didn't want to taint people's ideas with *all* the details! ha! I want to connect the headphone output of my H4n to the microphone input of my 60D, while still providing a headphone output for monitoring. The goal being, the same signal is recorded on the camera as on the H4n, while still being able to monitor through headphones.

I was wondering if there were other ways to do this properly then some of the "made for HDSLR" products out there that currently don't sound very good.

I found this device, which I've ordered and I'm going to give it a try. It solves two problems in that it also provides a split headphone output, so I won't need a separate headphones splitter/distributor.

[tdangelo]

Originally Posted by bladeaudio

I found this device, which I've ordered and I'm going to give it a try.

It looks like exactly what you want! Tell us how it works out.