VO-BB - 19 YEARS OLD!

mythwoman · Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2009 11:36 am Post subject: Phone Patch

Hi All,

Since I don't have ISDN or Source Connect does holding a phone to my ear while recording count as phone patch?

I'm behind on my knowledge of technology.

Later!
Mary

imaginator · Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2009 12:29 pm Post subject:

that's what i did before i got a hybrid box.
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mythwoman · Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2009 12:31 pm Post subject:

Where or how can I get a hybrid box? Do you recommend it?

Thanks!
Mary

Bruce · Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2009 1:28 pm Post subject:

Unless there's newer info, many used to recommend the: JK Audio AUTOHYBRID .

Google that term and then click on "Shopping" to get the very small spread on prices right now. Fancier hybrids are $400 and $800 and up, but not needed for most of us.

A hybrid is nice because you can wire it so you don't have to handle a phone handset. You can hear the client through your headphones and send them a cleaner, louder signal of your voice down the line. The hybrid part of it also keeps the system from "squealing" like when you get a mic too close to a speaker.

I'm sure Radio Shack still makes a $20 doohickey that can send audio down the phone line, but you can't hear the client through your headphones.

B
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SeptemberDay · Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2009 1:50 pm Post subject:

Mine is the JK Audio Inline patch and it's been nothing but aweseome
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imaginator · Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2009 2:06 pm Post subject:

i guess i got lucky. mine is a little thing the size of a small brick, made by gentner, called a hybrid coupler. it was around 99.00 when i bought it, but it may not be made anymore. perhaps there is something similar on the market.
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Dan-O · The Gates of Troy Joined: 17 Jan 2005 Posts: 1638

There has been debate in the past of using a phone with an ear piece vs an actual phone hybrid. The sticking point is always the same: what if the client asks for a playback? I purchased the JK Autohybrid. After four or so years, a client never asked for a playback; until two weeks ago. I was recording four nationals and not only did I have playbacks, but a few edits on the fly, too. Years ago, I could have gone the cheaper route, but I decided to be more professional and buy the correct hardware...just in case. I am glad I did.

Be a pro. Do it right. No regrets.

Rob Ellis · M&M Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 2385 Location: Detroit

I have the JK Hybrid. But I haven't used it in a long time, and tried to hook it up for a session this week and couldn't get it configured right, so I defaulted to my cell phone on speaker mode. Fortunately it went very smoothly.

What am I doing wrong?

I connect the phone line to the "line" input in the back of the Hybrid, then use the short phone wire that came with the unit, and plug it into the "phone" input in the back of the Hybrid and the other end into the phone's base unit, then connect my speaker output from my interface into the "Send" XLR input, then connect the "Caller" XLR input to the input on the audio interface.

I tried this but the noise from the phone line made it unworkable.

When I was using a Mackie Spike USB interface over a year ago (now using MOTU Ultralite Firewire) I was able to make it work, but I remember having to record in stereo...it would record the phone on one channel, and the mic input on the other, then just delete the channel with the phone on it, and convert to mono.

But this time I couldn't get it to do that either.

Not trying to jack the thread, but if there are any suggestions let me know!

Chuck Davis · Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2009 2:50 pm Post subject:

Rob - Did you try padding or switching the input to your interface. Chances are the output of the hybrid is line level. If your interface wants mic level that would be one problem.

I've found that the easiest way to use phone hybrids is with a mixer. That way you can use an aux send to feed the hybrid and have the caller come back to a channel. Mackies do this especially well since they have an exta bus that allows you to feed your computer your mic audio while you use the main bus to listen to your voice and the caller together.
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KaraEdwards · Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2009 3:18 pm Post subject:

I was surprised recently when a studio wanted to do a phone patch for a national gig instead of ISDN...because the studio no longer had ISDN! (Which bummed me out now that I have it- see 'gear')

I know there is a way to do a phone patch through my Telos, but there wasn't enough time to figure it out. I broke out my Plantronics headset which fits nicely under my headphones, and the session went great! However, I was upfront with the studio that I would be unable to play back audio because my 'phone patch' was a headset. They were more than cool about it.
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SeptemberDay · Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2009 3:38 pm Post subject:

Rob, I'm with Chuck on this. Using a mixer is how I solved my issues. Also, don't be afraid to call JK. They actually have people who know what the heck they're doing! Amazing!
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Rob Ellis · M&M Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 2385 Location: Detroit

I'm not sure if my MOTU Ultralite would qualify as a "mixer", but it has phantom power, a pad, mic/instrument inputs, etc.

I'm wondering if my ISDN codec would function as a mixer, I know it has a preamp and mic and line inputs.

I'm guessing that if I had to, a basic mixer, Mackie or whatever, wouldn't be real expensive...

Chuck Davis · Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2009 11:41 am Post subject:

There might be a way to use a second input on your motu and use your software mixer to accomplish the bussing that you'd do with a hardware mixer. I don't know your software so I can't be of any help there.

Betcha either Frank F or George W could shed some light here thoough.

All that said, the mixer is a really easy way to get it all working nicely. A Mackie 1202 or 1402 can be had pretty cheaply on the 'bay.
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Gp · Guest

I picked up a symetrix Ti 101 phone patch off ebay pretty inexpensively. It works great and is designed as a phone patch. Imagine that! lol No seriously it's really a great little piece and it is rack mountable.

Eddie Eagle · M&M Joined: 23 Apr 2008 Posts: 2393

You might check and see if Microtel Clear Ones are still on the market.
http://pdf.textfiles.com/manuals/STARINMANUALS/ClearOne/Archive/Microtel%20v1.2.pdf