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I'm trying to think of a simple elegant solution to wiring something up. Basically, what I want to do is have a musical keyboard/synth's audio outputs plumbed into the TV's audio out. With the aim of merging the two signals so I can play the keyboard whilst watching the TV. The ideal solution would be a simple cable connector, but I've no idea what this would be called or if they even exist. I know the most obvious solution is to use an audio/DJ mixer, but I can't be bothered with all of that. Mainly because I'd still need various adaptors in order to accommodate the different cable sizes so would rather not have a massive bird's nest of cables under the TV.
The TV does not use it's own speakers but rather a computer type powered sub/satellite speakers that plug into it via small 3.5mm jack. The synth's outputs are big L/R Jacks, but I think I have a cable that goes from big jacks to a single 3.5mm jack.
So ideally, an adaptor that takes two small 3.5mm stereo jacks, merging the signal and outputting to one small female 3.5mm stereo socket... I think.... Does that exist?
Phew, my brain hurts now.
Something like this, but in reverse...
you cannot really do this, you are in effect connecting one output to another if you just use some cables or an adaptor-splitter. the results are usually terrible
there are wee mixers that are not too spendy
I rather think you've answered your own question. You need some sort of mixer that you can't be bothered with.
I'm assuming that your technically descriptive "big jacks" are phono connectors which will be line level, and the 3.5mm jack driving your speakers will be a headphone connection. Electrically splicing the two using a series of adapter cables would be...
Something like this you mean ?
If what you are trying to do is connect both the keyboard and tv to some powered speakers then this may work, but there will be an issue of the different sound levels that might be a challenge to balance.
As above, you really need a small mixer. Something like this would do:
The keyboard would go in to the 'line' channel and you have a volume for that. TV would go in the 'track' channel which doesn't have a volume level on the mixer but easy enough to just set it on the TV and then set the keys to match. Then output to your speakers goes from 'main' and has a volume level on the mixer which is the combined TV + keys.
Even has a USB port to bring in audio from a PC if you so want, plus a mic channel so you could sing along as well!
Might need some jack to phono adapters but they are cheap as chips.
Thanks all, might try that cheap iXium adapter. I've got a studio room elsewhere with loads of mixers etc. I just wanted a tidy cable solution really. One of the reasons I got that room was to move all my audio gear out of my flat to stop it looking like a mad professor's laboratory. I'm eager for stuff not to start creeping back.
Yeah, the speaker system for the telly is one of those crappy powered sub and two speakers things. The output for the synth is big jacks (6mm?) so bound to be some messing around. I suppose I could just use an extra pair of powered computer speakers for the synth, placed next to the TV's satellites...
Does the keyboard have an audio in channel?
If so, you can run the TV into the keyboard and then use the keyboard as the mixer.
Not ideal when you only want to watch TV though.
Does the keyboard have an audio in channel?
If so, you can run the TV into the keyboard and then use the keyboard as the mixer.
Not ideal when you only want to watch TV though.
Nope, and kind of defeats the original idea. Which is to brush up on my keyboard/musical skills by jamming along to stuff on the telly. Kind of two birds with one stone type of thing. Still learning whilst I'm slobbing out in front of the box.
If only I'd kept up the tuba at school....