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My 18i8 interface has TRS left and right main outs. Just one pair. Due to a lucky find at the local Goodwill, I picked up a set of M-Audio AV-40 powered monitors for $16.99. So now I have a 2nd set of monitors. I’d like the be able to switch back and forth between my two monitoring sets. I’m looking to go as cheap as possible. Passive is fine with me. I’m handy with a soldering iron and not opposed to building my own from an old printer selector switch. I have lots of space in my 19” racks (got one of those studio desks with lots of rack space really cheap from Craigslist years ago).

Anyone else using multiple monitor sets.?

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Oh yes. A Mackie Big Knob would do that quite well. It’s passive. You will have to pick up adapters or cables for TRS connections. I use this to switch from Mackie HR24 6” monitors to Adam 5”.

The whole thing is controlled by a Presonus Central Station, but that’s because I have two rooms and a subwoofer.


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A good old rackable patch bay works for us. We send the computer out to 2 sets of monitors and an 8 out headphone amp. This way we still have, I dunno, maybe another 40 output options.

I notice used units on Amazon are selling for 85% of new prices. Interesting. People must see the value. I know we do.

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/PX3000--behringer-ultrapatch-pro-px3000

Simple, yet elegant. I would suggest getting the 3000, as opposed to the 1000 or 2000 models. Much better unit in terms of build and options.
Not the cheapest route, but sure is nice to have available.


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Make your sound your own!
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Thanks guys.

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Arrgghh - I can't make up my mind.

Looking at the older Mackie Big Knob device, or the Central Station, I think I could make use of those pretty nicely.

However, all of my monitoring speakers are just o.k.

I'm thinking that what I probably should do is bag the idea of multiple monitoring for now, and save up for a better set of monitors, and sell off what I have once I get those.

If I'm honest, I don't have room for the 3 sets of monitors I now have. And none of them are particularly good.

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The main use of multiple monitors is for mixing.

You want one set of monitors that is flat, in other words does not color the sound and you know this from learning and experience. Then another set can be for listening for pleasure, and more representative of what others are using. Of course this still isn’t enough to test mixes; you need headphones, in-ear devices, a car, a boom box etc. But whatever you have, you learn how the difference of that monitor or device affect your mix, and you adjust accordingly.

In my case, my Adams are the ones I use to mix, and the Mackie ones to listen for pleasure. Your experience will differ. We all used to have junk monitors by Yamaha, the NS10s, because they sounded terrible but were accurate for mixing.


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My interface had 8 outputs. I just turn things on and off as needed.


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Originally Posted By: Guitarhacker
My interface had 8 outputs. I just turn things on and off as needed.


Yes. Mine has one TRS 1/4 set, and a SPDIF out. I could go to a D/A converter for the SPDIF output to a set of the monitors, I suppose.

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If it isn’t as handy as an A/B switch, you might not use it.


BIAB 2026 Win Audiophile. Software: Fender Studio One 8, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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