[Elecraft] Audio Mixer in the Ham Shack

[Joel Black]

Yep, I’ve looked and there is a *lot* of information on this reflector about the subject.

I have worked with David Anderson, GM4JJJ, on setting up my KX3 trying to minimize the connecting and disconnecting of cables to my Focusrite 2i2 sound card. The more I thought about the advice he gave me, the more curious I became. I got to the point of could I connect my K3 too? Problem is that I know very little about audio mixers so please go easy on me. I have been reading and looking online for several days now.

I have read through Jim Brown’s, K9YC, documentation on his page and I can handle what needs to be done there.

Here’s the potential scenario:

I have a K3 and a KX3. I have one sound card to share between the two of them. Yes, I do realize that just adding another sound card may be the simplest thing to do at this point. I have thought of that and that solution is not off the table. I have the Focusrite 2i2 sound card. This is a fairly new purchase and so far I am pleased with its performance. I have a mic for each radio - the MH2 for the K3 and the MH3 for the KX3. I could see where going to just one studio-type mic would be beneficial. With the TX and RX EQs in both radios, I really do not need the parametric EQ of a mixer.

I also use an FM-only VHF radio for local repeater contacts but consider it out of scope.

What I have been looking at is an 8-channel audio mixer (either the Mackie ProFX8v2 or the Alesis Multimix 8 USB). My thoughts are:

Install a single mic into mic input one on the mixer. This mic would serve both the K3 and the KX3.
Have the LINE OUT from the K3 into Inputs 3 and 4
Have the SPKR OUT from the K3 into Inputs 5 and 6
Have the SPKR OUT from the KX3 into Inputs 7 and 8
Have the Focusrite 2i2 LINE IN L and R to Main Out L and R on the mixer
Have the Focusrite LINE OUT L to Input 2 on the mixer.

Now I run into trouble. The Mackie has ST (studio?) return. I could run the L to LINE IN on the K3 and R to MIC IN on the K3 but I cannot figure out how to get MIC IN wired to the KX3. The Alesis adds an AUX SEND. Could I use that to feed the MIC IN of the KX3?

I realize this borders on off-topic for this group so if you’d rather respond directly, I understand and I apologize for using the bandwidth for what may seem like an off-topic subject to some.

73,
Joel - W4JBB