ART S8
MRP - Rs. 33,604
ART S8 8-channel mic splitter: one direct and one transformer isolated XLR output per channel, phantom pass-through, pad and ground lift, passive 1U. Available in India from Shivansh Electronics, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
VISUAL GUIDE — See Every Photo, Spec & Setup Step (PDF)
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Specifications
| Type | 8‑channel passive microphone splitter |
| Connections per channel | 1 x XLR input; 1 x XLR direct output; 1 x XLR transformer isolated output |
| Controls per channel | Input pad (-29 dB / 0 dB); Ground (Lift / GND) |
| Input impedance | > 1.1 kΩ at 1 kHz (typical driving source impedance 150 Ω) |
| Output impedance | < 255 Ω at 1 kHz (typical output load impedance 1 kΩ) |
| Frequency response | 20 Hz - 20 kHz (±0.25 dB at -15 dBu) |
| THD | < 0.26 % (20 Hz - 20 kHz, -15 dBu input); < 0.1 % (45 Hz - 20 kHz, -15 dBu input); 0.002 % typical at 1 kHz (-15 dBu input) |
| CMRR | > 105 dB at 60 Hz; > 80 dB at 3 kHz |
| Phase shift | < 10° at 20 kHz (reference 1 kHz) |
| Insertion loss | Approx. 2 dB at 1 kHz |
| Maximum input level for 1 % THD | -1.4 dBu at 20 Hz; +3.5 dBu at 30 Hz; +9.4 dBu at 50 Hz |
| Power requirements | None (passive) |
Physical
| Enclosure | Black all‑steel, 1U, 19 inch rackmount; reversible rack ears |
| Dimensions (D x W x H) | 95 x 483 x 44 mm (3.75 x 19 x 1.75 inch) |
| Weight | 1.7 kg (3.75 lb) |
Product overview
The ART S8 is an 8-channel microphone splitter that lets your signals be in two places at once.
In a 1U rackmount enclosure it gives one direct output and one transformer isolated output per channel, splitting eight balanced low impedance microphone signals into sixteen. The passive design needs no power, but the direct outputs pass phantom power from the main mixer to the microphones for condenser microphones. Every channel has a switchable ground lift to reduce noise from ground loops and an input pad that accepts line level sources. Use it to feed front-of-house and monitor mixers, for creative parallel processing, or to record safety tracks at lower levels in case of clipping.
| 2‑way split, balanced XLR | 8 channels |
| Passes through the direct outputs | Phantom |
| And ground lift per channel | -29 dB pad |
| No power required, 1U | Passive |
Key features
- 8-channel 2-way splitter with balanced XLR connections
- 1 direct and 1 transformer isolated output per channel
- Direct outputs pass phantom power
- Switchable ground lift and input pad on every channel
- Passive design: no power required
- 1U rackmount, black all-steel case, reversible rack ears
Direct and isolated outputs
The direct microphone output is connected directly to the microphone input, so phantom power from the main mixer reaches the microphone. The transformer isolated output is the second, isolated feed for a monitor or recording mixer, with its ground (pin 1) switchable between GND and Lift: use whichever setting gives the lowest noise.
Input pad for line level sources
The front panel Input Pad switch (-29 dB / 0 dB) on each channel lets preamplified signals from instrument preamplifiers, mixers or keyboards feed the two microphone level outputs.
Chassis ground
The chassis ground connects to the channel 1 input ground only, to reduce the possibility of crosstalk through chassis ground. When the S8 is not mounted in a grounded rack and fewer than eight inputs are used, ART advises using the channel 1 input to keep the noise-shielding benefit of the enclosure.
In the box
- S8 8-channel microphone splitter
ART S8: frequently asked questions
Does the S8 need power?
No. It is passive; the direct outputs pass phantom power from the main mixer.
How many outputs per channel?
Two: one direct output and one transformer isolated output, both XLR.
Can I connect line level signals?
Yes. Engage the channel's input pad to connect a line level signal.
Is there a ground lift?
Yes, a Ground switch (Lift / GND) for the isolated output on every channel.
Where can I buy the ART S8 in India?
The ART S8 is available from Shivansh Electronics, Kolkata, West Bengal, India, with delivery across India.
Workflow 1: Front-of-house and monitor mixers
Live sound with separate FOH and monitor desks.
Connections
| Connect | To |
|---|---|
| Microphones | S8 microphone inputs |
| S8 direct outputs | Front‑of‑house mixer mic inputs |
| S8 transformer isolated outputs | Monitor mixer mic inputs |
Setup
- Connect each microphone to an S8 input.
- Switch phantom power on at the front-of-house mixer if needed.
- Set each Ground switch to Lift or GND, whichever gives the lowest noise.
Tip: Phantom power passes through the direct outputs only.
Workflow 2: Live recording alongside the mix
Engineers recording a show.
Connections
| Connect | To |
|---|---|
| S8 direct outputs | Main mixer |
| S8 transformer isolated outputs | Recording system |
Setup
- Feed the main mixer from the direct outputs.
- Feed the recording system from the isolated outputs.
Tip: The isolated outputs keep the two systems' grounds separate.
Workflow 3: Safety tracks
Recording engineers guarding against clipping.
Connections
| Connect | To |
|---|---|
| S8 outputs | Two recorder inputs per source |
Setup
- Record both outputs of a channel.
- Set one recorder input at a lower level as a safety track.
Tip: ART names safety tracks as a typical S8 use.
Workflow 4: Parallel processing
Studios running two processing chains.
Connections
| Connect | To |
|---|---|
| S8 direct output | Processing chain 1 |
| S8 isolated output | Processing chain 2 |
Setup
- Split the source to two chains.
- Blend the results at the mixer.
Tip: Creative parallel processing is one of ART's stated uses.
Workflow 5: Splitting line level sources
Keyboard, instrument preamp or mixer feeds.
Connections
| Connect | To |
|---|---|
| Line level source | S8 microphone input |
Setup
- Engage that channel's input pad.
- Feed the two microphone level outputs to their destinations.
Tip: The pad accommodates preamplified signals.
Workflow 6: Using fewer than eight channels
Small setups outside a grounded rack.
Connections
| Connect | To |
|---|---|
| First source | S8 channel 1 input |
Setup
- Always use the channel 1 input.
- Add further sources on the next channels.
Tip: The chassis ground connects to the channel 1 input ground only.
