Audio Monitoring/Walkie Talkie Solution?
Here is an email from OTech reader, Mark. I’m stumped on this one, can any of my genius readers help? I know very little about wiring, any handy guys out there have a solution?
Message:
Hey Olivia,
Do you know of any headphones with mic that has two channels? One for
monitoring your footage and the other for Push To Talk communication
(walkie talkies).
For live gigs I do, a walkie talkie is a must but at the same time I
want to monitor the audio from my camera. I currently have a 5DmkII
with the JuiceLink DT454.
Any information would be great. I was thinking of making up but wanted
to check with the community first.
Response:
Hey Mark,
From what you’re telling me, I have a few thoughts:
1) I don’t know of anything on the market currently that would act as a solution for what you need: both audio monitoring and push to talk capabilities.
2) In order to DIY this and mock up a successful work around, I’d suggest taking into consideration a few things.
You want to monitor both your audio and a walkie talkie push-to-talk system simultaneously. You can’t do this without first splitting each source so that each goes into its own dedicated channel. Audio monitoring into the left channel and walkie talkie system into the right channel (for example).
For this, you must be sure to split your wires correctly. You don’t want to lose the ability to monitor both the left and right channels of your audio. Therefore, you need to somehow split the cable in a way where you can still hear the left and right channels within your audio feed. They’ll both have to go into one ear.
Next you’ll want to run the walkie talkie push-to-talk system into the other ear (left or right line).
Now just HOW you’ll do this, I have no clue. Haha..
Does this make sense? I’ll throw the question out to my readers and see if anyone has an answer! Some of these guys amaze me in the things they know. Hope we can find you a solution!
Best,
Olivia
Am I close on this one? This isn’t my strong suit! Thanks for the help, you guys!
audio, monitoring audio, push to talk, splitter, walkie talkie
I recently was working on a live event gig and had to do exactly what you’re talking about and found that a in-ear walkie earplug underneath my headphones did the trick.
Midland makes some affordable ones if you’re in the market. I think my earpiece cost me $21.00 (USD) for two.
Hi Derek, can you link us to the product? Thank you!
Here’s a link to the earpieces: http://www.amazon.com/Midland-AVPH3-Transparent-Security-Headsets/dp/tags-on-product/B000CNAEEW
You could do a whole custom wiring job on a headset but honestly the simplest thing to do is use a headset that has only one ear for the walkie talkie, and an earphone in the other ear for the audio monitoring. Usually you can get away with monitoring only one channel but if needed you can merge both channels of the audio into that one earphone.
I’ve got an old tutorial on my YT channel about how to merge the two channels coming from a mic and this would be very similar if not identical for headphones.
I would recommend doing it on a 3.5mm jack extension cable rather than the earphones themselves because the wires are usually much thicker and easier to work with.
(click here)
Hope that helps!
Awesome, thank you, Nitsan! Def gave us some more insight. =)
Guessing it might be this one, Olivia:
http://www.amazon.com/Midland-AVPH3-Transparent-Security-Headsets/dp/tags-on-product/B000CNAEEW
I think, that this headset BOSE A20 can do 2 chanels: (click here) Primary it is for pilots, but it can be used also with cameras, you can buy a lot of different connectors. I´m shooting the live broadcasting of world championship in motocross MX1, and i´m using this headset. On one line i have director, on the second i´m monitoring my footage. This headset can be set up also that way, that you hear just one channel, and if someone started to talk on the second chanel, the first one goes down in volume level, so you hear just little sound on the background. When he finish talk, the first chanel goes again loud . And this headset is great also becouse it have active noise reduction, so you hear very good, and only what you need to hear (it is a lot of noise from motorcycles there). Not any disturbing noise around. Indeed cool headset, but it is litlle bit expensive. But if you work with your camera in loud noisy enviroment, and you like your only ears, this headset is good investment.
I work at a TV station here in Brazil, and the broadcasting using an intercom system that allows the two signals, monitoring and communication with the same equipment, perhaps the site of Clearcom there may be some solution. Thank you all!