Need help with ABY box!

[Axe Chemist]

Hey Guys,

I'm in dire need of help here. I'm simply trying to add a simple aux. type input to my guitar rig but can't figure this out. I play live through a 16 channel board which is out of channels, and I'm just trying to add some tracks from my iPad through my mix. So far I've ordered the Radial Pro AV1 direct box in hopes of using the 1/8" TRS input AND the 1/4" mono input to blend my guitar signal coming from my pedal board with the track playing from my iPad (then through the aux. chord) into a single channel on the mixer/PA. As soon as I plug the 1/8" (stereo) aux. chord in, it killed the guitar signal.

I just sent that device back to Sweetwater. Now, I thought "ok let's try an ABY box". I get home with it, plug it in, same thing. I have the ABY box set to send BOTH channels (guitar and backing track) through the single output and as soon as the iPad is introduced into the mix it completely kills the guitar signal.

Is this an issue between mono vs. stereo? I don't get it. I thought this would be simple!!!!

Thanks in advance for any help I can get.

[Newc]

Depends on how the box is wired. If it's set up so that it can be used as dual-mono, but if one receives a stereo/TRS plug it defaults to that as the only output. Not sure how a straight ABY box could be wired for that, unless the Rings are routing the Tips of the opposing jack to ground. Even then, that should happen with mono plugs.

Does the mixer have Tape/Aux Inputs you can run the iPad into?

[Axe Chemist]

The mixer does, but they are taken up by other devices.

[Newc]

Do any of those other devices allow you to pass the iPod's output through them into the mixer? Is there anything in the mixer that can be combined with another similar channel or eliminated, like front and back mics on the guitar cabinet?

[Axe Chemist]

Not really. They are basically taken up by other mic's . It's a church setup so all the other channels are mic's for the singers, mic's for the drums, and a keyboard and 2 other guitarists.

[Newc]

So you are at least getting sound from either the iPod or the guitar, but not at the same time?

[Axe Chemist]

So you are at least getting sound from either the iPod or the guitar, but not at the same time?

Yes, that's absolutely correct. But in fact, the iPad signal coming from the 1/8" to 1/4" adapter automatically trumps the guitar signal. When I have both A/B signals on, the iPad wins. I know the ABY pedal works because after that experiment I plugged two guitars in and could get both signals at the same time. I can get the guitar signal by itself, and the iPad signal by itself, but never both at the same time.

[Newc]

ok, so then you might need to get a 1/8" TRS to 1/4" mono cable.