Mono to Stereo For Soundcard?

Question

I have a soundcard that outputs as Mono in two channels, left and right. I was told I need:

"a cable that will take MONO OUT1/2 and turn it into a STEREO 1/4” headphone jack it would be ideal"

Do you think this would do the job:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Hosa-Stereo-14-Phone-to-2-Mono-14-Phone-Insert-Cable?sku=333030

Answer 1

If your soundcard outputs mono, it's mono and cannot be converted to stereo.  If you use that cable you're simply getting the EXACT same signal on both sides.  Nothing more.  You can convert stereo to mono, the other way, but not mono to stereo.  It's just not possible to seperate the signal components using a cable, only.

Answer 2

Please list the name and model number of your sound card. It may be producing stereo on two separate channels using a mono plug for each. If this is not the case then mono output converted to a stereo plug will still be mono sound.

However converting the way you are intending will allow louder sound to your head phones or speakers because the power from one channel presently is supporting two speakers and there is some line loss by doing that.

You may need to add one more thing.... a gender changer because most head phones are male plug ended and this cable you show is also male.  You would need a female-female stereo connector to hook them up.

One last point.... most computer sound cards use 0.125 or 1/8th inch diameter jacks. You will need to convert this adaptor down to a 1/8th or find one that is 1/8th - 1/8th mono to 1/4 inch stereo plug. Another option is 1/8th inch plugs all around and a 1/8th to 1/4 adapter.

hope that helps.

addendum:

  I reviewed your sound card (M-Audio Delta 44 Digital Audio Sound Card)  and it IS a stereo sound card with separate channels. The cord you are looking at will do the job however like I said, if hooking to headphones, you will need to add a gender conversion with a stereo female to female patch cord as well.

The audio box with this sound card uses 1/4 inch plugs too.  "4x4 analog break-out box accepts balanced or unbalanced connections on 1/4 in. tip-ring-sleeve (TRS) jacks."

Answer 3

Yes!