Switchable TRS to TS cable

[vomitHatSteve]

In my continued quest to get my band to the point where we're not dependent on venues' PAs and sound people, we're looking into getting wireless in-ear setups.

They... are freaking expensive. However, I'm noticing a lot of them are stereo. That's two channels in one, my friend! No one needs stereo monitoring.
The only downside is that the receiver doesn't have a straightforward way to select one of the two signals it receives and only send that to the headphones.
So... does anyone know if you could find (or build) an adapter cable that does that? i.e. a TRS to TS cable that splits either the T or R and could be switched between the two?

[Greg_L]

https://www.sweetwater.com/c780--Insert ... E8EALw_wcB

[rayc]

Broadcast from the PA to your phones and use an ear piece connected to those in your pockets.

[vomitHatSteve]

https://www.sweetwater.com/c780--Insert ... E8EALw_wcB

I suppose that would be a workable solution, yeah.

broadcast to phones

Unfortunately, our phones are already attached to our stands as set lists. We'd lose the mobility of wireless. (Plus, we'd have goofy-looking wires attaching us to our mic stands)

[vomitHatSteve]

https://www.sweetwater.com/c780--Insert ... E8EALw_wcB

I suppose that would be a workable solution, yeah.

Dang, nope. Since the earphone cable is stereo, it's only getting 1 channel. The tip connects, but the ring just grounds out.
So what I need is a set of ear buds that splits a mono signal then...

[vomitHatSteve]

Ok! I figured out the solution.

Step 1: Buy a boat load of cheap ear buds

step 1.jpg

Step 2: Chop 'em all in half and flay out the 3 wires.

step 2.jpg

Step 3: Badly solder the grounds back together and solder the left or right from the TRS end to both the left AND right on the other end. Leave the other channel disconnected on the TRS end.

step 3.jpg

Step 4: Tape it up and hope it holds.

step 4.jpg

End result: $16 bucks and about an hour's work for a half a dozen cables that will hopefully last a few shows!

result.jpg

[Armistice]

Lateral AF...

II think the bad soldering is key. If you'd done good soldering you'd have an expectation of success and be crushed if they failed early - here you've set your expectations low and will be happy when it works...

[WhiskeyJack]

Holy crap. Good job VHS!!! That is some gnarly diy.

[Greg_L]

Holy crap that's some bad soldering. Perfect!

[vomitHatSteve]

Lateral AF...

II think the bad soldering is key. If you'd done good soldering you'd have an expectation of success and be crushed if they failed early - here you've set your expectations low and will be happy when it works...

Lol!

The real question is which will fail first: The cheap cables, or my janky soldering?

I'm hoping that each one at least lasts 2 or 3 gigs. I flail around a lot tho, so it may be optimistic.

[JD01]

LOL. VHS, you're kind of a genius.
Proper botch solution. Love it.

[vomitHatSteve]

So at least one of these cables failed at our first real gig, so obviously it's not really tenable.

I ordered some connectors off Amazon, and I'll build some slightly more robust adapters