SOUND ON SOUND

[csarami@ncsu.edu]

Hi,

I am setting up a mix-minus with my Yamaha MG USB mixer and iPhone X. I was wondering if I connect my phone's stereo out to my mixer mono input channel :

1) mono to mono 1/8 to 1/4", iPhone to mixer respectively.
2) stereo to stereo 1/8" to 1/8" but connected to the mixer via 1/8 to 1/4" adaptor.

Which one carries a true mono (L+R) output of the iPhones?

Any help would be appreciated.

PS. I am using a Y splitter to split the microphone and stereo out from my iPhone X.

[The Elf]

What you need is an 1/8 inch stereo jack to a pair of mono 1/4 inch jacks. You will need to plug both of the 1/4 jacks into two channels of your mixer (and pan the channels fully Left and Right) to get a true stereo output from your phone. If you use only one of the 1/4 jacks you will be hearing only one side of the stereo feed, which may be OK, but anything fully panned to the side you have left unplugged will not be heard.

[Hugh Robjohns]

Phones use a four-pole TRRS connector to pass a stereo headphone output and a mono mic input.

So the first thing you need is a proper TRRS to dual TRS (3.5mm) splitter lead to access the various signal connections.

The stereo headphone outputs need to be connected to two mono channels of the mix and panned hard left/right if you plan on playing stereo material from the phone. If you are only going to be using mono signals (eg. phone calls) then you need only connect one channel and pan it centrally.

DO NOT use a TRS-TRS adapter to connect the stereo headphone signal to a balanced mono input channel, as you won't hear anything (the identical left and right channels will be cancelled out by the differential input)!

The mic-minus or clean-feed output from the mixer (most easily derived using Aux sends) needs to be sent back to the phone splitter's unbalanced mic input minijack connection and some experimentation will be needed to optimise the signal level.

[The Elf]

Oops - missed the bit about using a mic connection!

[blinddrew]

Phones use a four-pole TRRS connector to pass a stereo headphone output and a mono mic input.

So the first thing you need is a proper TRRS to dual TRS (3.5mm) splitter lead to access the various signal connections.

Umm, Hugh, iphones haven't had a TRRS socket for a while now...
The OP has a microphone/headphone splitter (presumably with an iphone plug at the other end) already so we are just dealing with a stereo out on a 3.5mm TRS socket.

[Hugh Robjohns]

Umm, Hugh, iphones haven't had a TRRS socket for a while now...

Ah yes... I don't frequent the Apple world and had forgotten that they had chosen to invent a connection format incompatible with everyone else...

The OP has a microphone/headphone splitter (presumably with an iphone plug at the other end) already so we are just dealing with a stereo out on a 3.5mm TRS socket.

So the same principles apply regarding the need to split the stereo unbalanced 3.5mm TRS headphone feed into two TS quarter-inch plugs for the mixer inputs.

And then something to take the mixer Aux out back to the adapter's mic input (quarter-inch TS to 3.5mm TS?)

BTW, Saramonic make some quite nice interfaces for Lightening and TRRS-equipped phones for mic and instrument inputs in mono and stereo, eg.: https://www.saramonicuk.com/products/saramonic-smartrig-uc-mic-guitar-interface-usb-c

[csarami@ncsu.edu]

Thank you everyone for the great inside. I just made my purchase!

I have several of those Apple Lightning to female TRSS adaptors.

[img height =300]https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/pBwAAOSw-Adfpf9K/s-l1600.jpg[/img]

I need to review some cable information. There are so many cables now. The cable industry is booming and is huge!

TRS, TRRS, TRS cables balanced or unbalanced, XLR, USB-X, ...