Dual output/monitoring for instruments

schmelfhelp · Joined: Apr 15, 2012 Posts: 26 Location: Magdanjin

Hi

I am building lunetta instruments and I’d like to add a second output for monitoring- what would some be some good ways to do this?

This is probably a silly question but does splitting a sound output reduce the volume/power of the output?

If I split the signal passively- eg from a simple 40106 circuit - will that cause issues? I’m guessing it may be similar to passive mixing.

If I use a 386 or other op amp can I split the signal at the output? Or some other circuitry? I want to be able to run an output to a mixer and to the monitors at all times.

I haven’t found much from searching but I don’t think I am using the right terminology.
*edit to add* I have found this reddit thread https://www.reddit.com/r/AskElectronics/comments/1827e6/audio_signal_splitting_one_input_into_two_outputs/ which talks about it.
It says the following

blue hell · Posted: Mon Oct 07, 2024 12:11 pm Post subject:

It depends a bit .. on impedances mostly and on voltages ... but Laughing

If asuming:

* You can monitor only one or maximally two signals at the same time.

* You have a modular like system where the signals to be monitored are easily accessible.

You could make one or two high impedance monitoring thingies which you can then plug into points of interrest.

As it is high impedance:

* it will barely load the circuit to be monitored.

* there may be hum when you touch the input of the monitoring device - which seems to be not too interresting.

Then .. how to make such a thing ... one way would be to build a simple audio amplifier to which you connect a small speaker or an earphone thingie. It will need power of course.

And another - absolutely minimal - way would be to get a piezeoelectric crystal earphone thingie (thos suitable for a passive crystal radio) .. they do seem to exist still .. they are high impedant, can stand loud signals and they seem to cost 5 to 10 dollar on amazon ... but eh .. you may even be able to make one yourself from a cheap piezo buzzer thingie ..https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crystal_earpiece.

Anyway in the past I've used such an xtal thingie as a debugger even (in stead of a scope that i could not afford, but then could at least hear signals). Aaand .. it needs not to be powered.