Do Headphone Splitters Work With Mics?

If you’re someone looking to customize your audio setup but have limited resources, then you want to optimize as much as possible. In this regard, headphone splitters can be extremely useful for audio output, but do they also work with microphones in a similar capacity?

It’s a frequently asked question that doesn’t get addressed too often on the internet, and you’re barely going to be able to see information on it. So let’s break it all down for you, shall we?

Generally speaking, yes, if you’re aiming to connect more microphones through a headphone splitter then you will be able to do just that. However, individual circumstances might differ drastically, and you might not receive the result you were expecting. This is made worse by low-quality splitters.

Although to many this answer might be sufficient, if you’re looking for more information on this topic then we will be going into greater depths within this article. We’ll discuss the steps that you can take to use headphone splitters for your device, and the advantages of doing so.

Can You Use a Headphone Splitter for Microphones?

If you’re not completely sure how your audio setup functions then you can run into a lot of problems. For people who want to use their microphones dynamically, or simply want to connect them to their device and can’t figure out how headphone splitters can be quite helpful.

But what type of microphones are people using, and can they meaningfully be used with headphone splitters on your device? The answer is yes because you can use your microphone in this fashion. The most common type of microphone that people use is the dynamic instrument mic, and it works great with this method.

If you’re looking into whether dynamic instrument mics, which are usually found in front of stage speakers at public events, can work with a headphone splitter then we’re here to give you the good news. A few more steps need to be adhered to, but you can easily formulate this connection.

You have to make sure that your mics are plugged into an amplifier or, if possible, a mixing board of some kind that contains built amplifiers. These systems that are already designed to accept amplified signals are immensely necessary for creating fluid and stable connections.

Because most instruments’ amps and even some speaker inputs are designed to accept signals of the variety that might come from your mic. Ultimately this means that regardless of a balanced or unbalanced input your signal is going to be accepted if it runs through these systems and straight into a headphone splitter to be utilized.

How To Use a Headphone Splitter For A Microphone?

The basic function of a headphone splitter is that it allows you to be able to split the input of your device, in such a fashion, that it can accommodate a connection to two different audio sources. So rather than connect your headphone jack to each audio source, you’re able to simply connect the plug into the splitter.

If you do so then you’re able to listen to two different audio sources, while only having one headphone connected. Additionally, if you wanted, you could connect two headphones to a single audio output jack, and be able to listen to the music simultaneously.

The headphone splitter is the perfect solution when you want to mix audio signals. It’s an easy process that allows you to plug more than one microphone into your device or computer. By doing so, you can have audio signals from both microphones mixed in a fashion that you want particularly.

Mixing audio signals is essential if you’re attempting to upgrade your level of recording. This is because when you mix in such a fashion, especially from different microphones, you’re able to record all the audio signals in one cohesive whole rather than split audio with one or the other mic having the majority effect.

Steps For Using Headphone Splitters With Your Mic

Before you even get started using any form of headphone splitter to connect your microphone there are a couple of things that you need to make sure of.

First, you have to ensure that all of your equipment is in useable condition. Damaged or otherwise faulty devices can not only produce poor quality results but might damage other more expensive equipment that you might be utilizing for the effect in question.

Second, when you’re using a headphone splitter, you have to make sure that the level of the volume on each of the microphones is adjusted and tested separately. This should be done by the level of loud or soft they are.

To use a headphone splitter for microphones:

Step 1: After you’ve collected all your devices together, you must Plug In each audio source into the Stereo plug provided on the headphone Splitter. Of course, it goes without saying that without this step you will not be able to connect your devices, and should ensure a secure connection.
Step 2: In this step, you need to both test your audio signal whilst connecting the sources. Turn on your two sources initially. Once the sources have established a secure connection then we suggest that you put one of the headphone sets into your left ear, and the other headphone set in your right ear.
Step 3: Once you’ve initialized the testing of the audio signals from your device on both of the headphones. Now you have to adjust the level of the volume on each microphone. This necessarily should be done individually, and you must ensure that neither device is too loud or too soft.

And that’s about it really, those are all the steps you need to follow if you’re looking to connect your microphones to your headphone splitters. It can initially be daunting because you don’t have a fair understanding of what to expect, but once you try this method out once you’ll feel much more comfortable with this setup.

Types of Headphone Splitter Currently Available

If you’re still worried about whether your particular headphone splitter might work with mics then don’t worry because in this section we’ll be describing and detailing everything you need to know. Moreover, we’ll be discussing the different types of headphone splitters available currently in the market.

The Five Types of Headphone Splitters Are As Follows:

1. Dual Audio Jack

One of the most common types of headphone splitters currently available on the market is the Dual Audio Jack. It functions in a unique manner in which it splits your headphones into two separate audio outputs.

Once that is achieved, you can share your audio, or music, with someone else by doing so. You may also plug in a set of speakers that may play something completely different. By doing so you have a variety of ways to output your audio and can customize the way your computer emits sound.

If you have a headphone splitter from the dual audio jack type then it’s fairly easy for you to follow a guide to begin headphone splitters for your microphones.

2. Dual Jack Adapter

Perhaps the primary difference between the Dual jack adapter and others is that it splits the sound coming out of your device as well. The process of you using this type of headphone splitter is to plug one pair of your headphones into each output, and then use another set.

If you follow this method and use this type of headphone splitters, then you will be able to listen to whatever is being played currently on the first headphone’s input or even the microphone, without having to add any additional electronic device.

3. Y-Shaped Cable

For many individuals who own headphone splitters of this kind, this type of headphone splitter is regarded as an alternative branch-off from that of the dual audio jack. So many features and add-ons are similar in both types of devices.

Y-Shaped Cable headphone splitters have one main input wherein you can input both headphones, as well as microphones if you so choose. Furthermore, 2 separate outputs can be connected to two different headphones or speakers, thus increasing your overall output capacity.

The one main input and the two separate outputs are what gives this particular type of headphone splitter its Y-shape.

4. Stereo Audio Jack Adapter

For those that might not know the Stereo Audio Jack Adapter is another type of headphone splitter. This adapter splits the sound signals that come out of your device. Because of this effect it often is considered a cousin to the dual jack type headphone splitter.

To use this type effectively, one headphone would go into each output jack of the adapter, while another headphone set can listen to what you are playing on both sides at once or on one side only. The most commonly accessible variant of the Stereo Audio Jack adapter is the 3.5mm.

5. USB Audio Interface/splitter

The USB Audio interface/splitter is precisely what its name suggests. It is an interface and splitter that is utilized in conjunction with various computer and electronic devices that carry USB ports. Its primary function is to be utilized in gaming, and aims to provide a crisp, clear, voice chat experience with friends.

Moreover, it can functionally split game audio with the voice chat you might be hearing from friends, which can be extremely useful if you’re a professional gamer or are within that sphere. The device has other uses as well and is used by people as a pseudo-headphone splitter in cases where a direct one might not be feasible.

Advantages of Using a Headphone Splitter for Microphones

There are a plethora of reasons why you might be using a headphone splitter. In some cases, people do it just to share their music with others, but others try to make it easier for songs and audio to be shared with friends, family, or at events. Whatever these reasons might be they are wholly necessary.

The use of a microphone with a headphone splitter might seem odd on the surface level, but we believe that it is quite advantageous to use it for this purpose. Recording vocals in studios can be made easier through headphone splitters, especially when trying to capture the voice of more than one singer on the same microphone at once.

The typical advantages of using a headphone splitter with your microphone are as follows:

It is quite easy to join your friends and family on the recording experience whilst using a headphone splitter.
For recording artists, the device helps them listen whilst they sing along at the same time.
Various Recording studios use headphone splitters and microphones for vocals.
Headphone splitters can be particularly helpful in live audience sessions, as it separates the song being sung from the overall music.
You can seamlessly switch between different sources of audio.
Useful in sharing audio and sound content with others if necessary.
No private listening time is possible.
It can make it easier to adjust the volume for each different audio source independently without accidentally adjusting both at once.

Disadvantages of Using a Headphone Splitter for Microphones

There are a variety of issues that can arise if you’re using a headphone splitter for your microphones. The most apparent one is an issue with the feedback of your audio devices. If you’re utilizing an omnidirectional mic then it will pick up all sounds with a certain range of where you have placed it.

You might also experience this phenomenon coming from the speakers within your connected headphones if you’re too close to the microphone and are not angled correctly.

The issues we believe occur when using a headphone splitter for microphones are as follows:

Often you will experience a reduction in sound quality due to the splitter cable.
You might experience some sound quality distortion as well.
Noise not intended to be picked up can be taken in by the microphone. Dramatically affecting the quality of your recording.
Direct connections often are considered to be of a higher quality.
It’s difficult to listen to music privately.
Cannot use microphone and speakers together with one splitter at the same time.
If someone wants to record gameplay with additional commentary then they need to connect their microphone directly or else it will not record.

That’s all folks. Headphone splitters do work with microphones, and there are many advantages to doing so. However, there are also some drawbacks that you need to be wary of before making a purchase specifically for this reason.

We’ve highlighted the types of headphone splitters you might encounter and detailed how exactly you can use headphone splitters with a microphone to make the most of your audio recording setup. Till next time!