In my basement office, I have a desktop computer running Windows, an iPad, and a Mac Mini. I like to watch tv shows or movies on the iPad while I work at the desktop computer. Sometimes I will be working on the Mac. So, I started looking for a mixer I could use to mix the inputs.
Enter the FIFINE Ultra Low-Noise 4-Channel Line Mixer
My spending goal was $20, so a lot of mixers were out. That is, until I found the FIFINE Ultra Low-Noise 4-Channel Line Mixer($). It was over my spending goal at $22, and I had to purchase some 3.5mm to 1/4″ jacks ($), so in the end I spent $31.
Plugging it all in
I plugged the speakers into the output, and then my main computer into input 1. The plan was to plug the iPad in to input 2 until I got an idea. Since I mounted my iPad above my monitor so I can watch Star Trek, I wanted to use Bluetooth. I had a Bluetooth adapter($) that I had bought to make an older pair of headphones wireless. The adapter wasn’t being used, so I plugged it into input 2 and plugged the USB into the computer to keep it charged. Now I could pair it with my iPad and play sound from the iPad wirelessly.
Finally, I plugged my Mac Mini into input 3.
In practice
It’s pretty cool. I have a hardware dial for each volume, and can mix all three if I want to at the same time. No more plugging/unplugging cables.
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