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Using 3.5mm audio/mic splitter

I have a 2017 10.5" iPad Pro and I am trying to use an audio mic splitter (4 pole TRRS male end, 2 TRRS female ends, each labeled with both a headphone and mic). What I need from the splitter is to record audio and monitor that audio simultaneously in either Garage Band, iMovie, or just the Camera app. My lav and shotgun external mic are 4 pole. My headphones are 3 pole. When I plug both the headphones and the mic into the splitter and record, I hear nothing and there is no recording from the external mic (but there is recording from the internal mic, oddly enough). However, if I use only one side of the splitter, it works fine. I can plug in ONLY the mic in to the splitter, the other end empty, and the audio will record without issue. I can unplug the mic and plug in only the headphones and can hear what was recorded without issue. Using both the mic and headphones together seem to be cancelling each other out. The same happens when I use the splitter along with an adapter on my iPhone Xs Max.


Am I missing something? Thank you in advance for your help.

iPad Pro, iOS 12

Posted on Mar 30, 2019 4:15 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Mar 30, 2019 4:34 PM

No, thatʻs not actually necessary - the splitter is supposed to split the audio and mic channels to create basically what a headphones with a built-in mic would be (pretty much exactly like the earbuds that come with the iPhone). I canʻt use the earbuds because I am recording someone using a lav and listening as itʻs recording using the headphones. I have used other splitters on earlier models of iPads and iPhones during filming and wondered if something changed in the newer models.

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Mar 30, 2019 4:34 PM in response to lobsterghost1

No, thatʻs not actually necessary - the splitter is supposed to split the audio and mic channels to create basically what a headphones with a built-in mic would be (pretty much exactly like the earbuds that come with the iPhone). I canʻt use the earbuds because I am recording someone using a lav and listening as itʻs recording using the headphones. I have used other splitters on earlier models of iPads and iPhones during filming and wondered if something changed in the newer models.

Using 3.5mm audio/mic splitter

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