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Rane HC-6 Mod

PostPosted: Wed Sep 26, 2012 11:48 am
by Mathieu Benoit
So, I have been eying a Rane HC-6 for a while. One can find them pretty cheap on ebay (~$100) and it is a super simple 6 channel stereo headphone amp that can output a lot of power. IT's exactly what I'm lookign for in a headphone amp really. Except for one thing...

I like to be able to feed a master stereo line into the individual headphone channels for things like talkback and playback. The problem is that the HC-6 doesn't allow the use of both the individual stereo inputs in combination with the master stereo input channel. Basically as soon as you connect a TRS cable into the individual stereo inputs it actually disables the master input all together.

My question is, can this "problem" be fixed?

I have access to schematics if you need:

http://www.fullcompass.com/common/files/6128-rane%20hc6%20schematic.pdf

Re: Rane HC-6 Mod

PostPosted: Wed Sep 26, 2012 12:57 pm
by Mathieu Benoit
The FAQ on the Rane website has this to say:

HC 6 / 6S:
•When I use the direct inputs I lose the signal from my master, can I get both through the unit simultaneously at the same output?
No. You you need an external mixer to be able to hear both. Each input is either a direct headphone amp, or fed from the masters, but not a mix of the two signals. You can use any number of direct inputs and the remaining inputs will still receive signal from the master section.


I want a second opinion I guess.

Re: Rane HC-6 Mod

PostPosted: Wed Sep 26, 2012 1:04 pm
by macrae11
That's certainly an odd limitation. You could always wire a cue feed to a channel in Pro Tools, but that's rather inelegant, and will only work when a session is up. Perhaps "breaking" the "switch" in the TRS jacks would allow both signals to pass?

Re: Rane HC-6 Mod

PostPosted: Wed Sep 26, 2012 1:09 pm
by Mathieu Benoit
macrae11 wrote:That's certainly an odd limitation.

Yeah really. Otherwise it's a very simple, well built and elegant solution.

macrae11 wrote:You could always wire a cue feed to a channel in Pro Tools, but that's rather inelegant, and will only work when a session is up.

Yeah I'd rather it be hard-wired.

macrae11 wrote:Perhaps "breaking" the "switch" in the TRS jacks would allow both signals to pass?

This was my thought on it, but my question then would be "Is there any obvious reason I can't think of why it wouldn't be that simple...?"

Re: Rane HC-6 Mod

PostPosted: Wed Sep 26, 2012 3:36 pm
by Mathieu Benoit
http://tascam.com/product/mh-8/overview/

I'm also looking at this one but it would require a whole other kind of mod so I could have 8 XLR outputs coming out the back.

Re: Rane HC-6 Mod

PostPosted: Wed Sep 26, 2012 4:56 pm
by macrae11
That actually seems like a better option, except for the foolishness of only having outputs on the front. Have these people never installed gear before?

Re: Rane HC-6 Mod

PostPosted: Wed Sep 26, 2012 6:09 pm
by Alain Benoit
macrae11 wrote:Have these people never installed gear before?

Re: Rane HC-6 Mod

PostPosted: Wed Sep 26, 2012 9:47 pm
by Mathieu Benoit
Alain Benoit wrote:
macrae11 wrote:Have these people never installed gear before?


Clearly...