Sending line-level signal down a snake's mic cable

[bassdeal]

I have a situation where I am doing sound for a band, normally done from the stage (their choice, not mine) but now they want me to bring a snake and mix from off the stage (now 9:40AM, show at 5 PM 2.5 hours away). There are several issues, but the main issue I am dealing with is their mixer/amp (which I will be using as a power amp) has 4 amps in it. They use 2 for stereo mains and the other 2 for separate monitor mixes. My snake is a 12 mic X 3 1/4" line outs, (which has not been used for a gig since 2003!). So I need an additional line out and was thinking of using one of the mic lines to send a line-level signal to the 4th power amp (with the appropriate cable adapters). I am thinking I may run into some attenuation which I could compensate by backing off the gain on the aux and bringing the gain up on the 4th power amp. Are their any other issues I should be concerned with?

Thanks!

 

[Geri O]

I have a situation where I am doing sound for a band, normally done from the stage (their choice, not mine) but now they want me to bring a snake and mix from off the stage (now 9:40AM, show at 5 PM 2.5 hours away). There are several issues, but the main issue I am dealing with is their mixer/amp (which I will be using as a power amp) has 4 amps in it. They use 2 for stereo mains and the other 2 for separate monitor mixes. My snake is a 12 mic X 3 1/4" line outs, (which has not been used for a gig since 2003!). So I need an additional line out and was thinking of using one of the mic lines to send a line-level signal to the 4th power amp (with the appropriate cable adapters). I am thinking I may run into some attenuation which I could compensate by backing off the gain on the aux and bringing the gain up on the 4th power amp. Are their any other issues I should be concerned with?

Thanks!

Nope.

A mic line in the snake is perfectly fine with a line-level signal. ASSuming the line is in good condition, it will handle the line level signal with virtually no attenuation.

Or if you run in to some attenuation, it won't be from the snake line.

 

[bassdeal]

Nope.

A mic line in the snake is perfectly fine with a line-level signal. ASSuming the line is in good condition, it will handle the line level signal with virtually no attenuation.

Or if you run in to some attenuation, it won't be from the snake line.

Thanks. This is my thought also but you never know. I did check all the snake lines for connectivity (I had to solderer one of the mic connectors) with a mic.

 

[s0c9]

Thanks. This is my thought also but you never know. I did check all the snake lines for connectivity (I had to solderer one of the mic connectors) with a mic.

Heck, you can even use gender-benders (if you have them) and use one (or more) of the unused inputs on the snake as return(s)!
Works great - as long as you don't need all 12 inputs !!!

 

[Mike Caldwell]

Yes line level signals no problem at all.
Though your wording about a mixer/amp.....is this a mixer with the power amps built into the mixer?
If so then we're talking about speaker level, that is not a great idea to send down 22 or 24 gage snake cable. Even worse if the 1/4 inch jacks are not isolated from each other.

 

[bassdeal]

Yes line level signals no problem at all.
Though your wording about a mixer/amp.....is this a mixer with the power amps built into the mixer?
If so then we're talking about speaker level, that is not a great idea to send down 22 or 24 gage snake cable. Even worse if the 1/4 inch jacks are not isolated from each other.

Thanks for the responses. It turned out, I never even pulled the mixer out of the case. The show was suppose to be an outdoor show but the venue changed it to a mostly enclosed pavilion. I would up use using the mixer/amp directly. It worked out fine.

 

[s0c9]

Thanks for the responses. It turned out, I never even pulled the mixer out of the case. The show was suppose to be an outdoor show but the venue changed it to a mostly enclosed pavilion. I would up use using the mixer/amp directly. It worked out fine.

It never hurts to carry a couple of gender benders when you encounter your situation tho’…