Spider Audio Merger & Splitter The Spider Audio Merger & Splitter is not an effect device, but a utility. It has two basic functions: To merge up to four audio input signals into one output. To split one audio input signal into four outputs. There are no controls on the front panel of this device, only signal indicators. Merging audio On the back panel of the Spider are several audio connectors. The left half of the panel contains four stereo audio input connectors, and to the right of these, one merged stereo output. The principle is simple; all audio signals connected to any of the four inputs will be merged and output via the output connectors. If you connect a mono signal (to a L/Mono input, with nothing connected to the corresponding R input) it will be output on both merged outputs. This way you can merge stereo and mono signals freely.If you connect a signal to the R input only (with nothing connected to the corresponding L/Mono input) it will be output on the R output only. Practical uses of merging audio There are many practical uses of merging audio signals together, for example: Process several audio signals with the same insert effect(s). Perhaps you want to process certain channels in a mix with the same compressor, or use one ECF-42 to filter a group of instruments in a mix. You can also set up a chain of insert effects and process the merged signals. Sub-grouping signals. It may be practical to control several audio signals using one channel strip in the Mixer. Use merged signals as either carrier or modulator source for the BV512 Vocoder. You could use several sounds as carrier signal, or modulate the carrier with several signal sources. Splitting audio The right half of the back panel contains two signal splitters, labeled “A (L)” and “B (R)”. The two splitters work independently, in the following way: The signal fed to the input connector will be simultaneously output by all four outputs. For splitting stereo signals you simply use both splitters with “A” for the left channel and “B” for the right channel. Practical uses of splitting audio There are many practical uses of splitting audio signals - here a few examples: Create “pseudo” stereo effects from mono signals. For example, you could route the mono output of a Subtractor to the Spider and then send two split outputs (from the same row) to different effects and on to different Mixer channels panned left and right. It provides a way to instantly switch between (or mix) different variations of the same signal. This is a neat way of applying “spot effects” in a mix. An instrument output is split and sent to three different combinations of insert effect processing. The outputs from the three effects are routed to separate channels in the Mixer, which could in turn have different send effects, eq, etc. You then have three different variations of the same signal that can be easily switched in and out of the mix for drastic sonic changes - or combined for huge layered sounds.
