Hosa

Hosa DOC106 1/4" TRS to 1/4" TSF Insert/Direct-Out Cable

Name: Hosa DOC106 1/4" TRS to 1/4" TSF Insert/Direct-Out Cable
Brand: Hosa
SKU: DOC106

★★★★★4.3 (17 reviews)

Six inches of cable that converts your mixer's insert jack into a dedicated direct output — multitrack recording without rewiring your console.

$14.60*

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*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated:Jul 14, 2026.Price and availability are subject to change.

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Overview

The Hosa DOC-106 is a purpose-built wiring adapter that exploits the TRS insert architecture common to virtually all analog mixing consoles. When a TRS plug is inserted into a console's insert jack, the circuit is broken at that point — Tip carries the channel Send, Ring carries the Return. The DOC-106 presents a TRS plug (male) that connects to both Send and Return legs at the console, then routes only the Send signal to a ¼" TS female output. The result is a dedicated direct output extracted from the channel without requiring the console to have a physical direct output jack. At six inches, the cable keeps the signal path between the console jack and the destination connector as short as physically practical, which matters for maintaining signal integrity before the output is driven down a longer cable run to a recorder or stage box.

In a live multitrack recording context, this cable is the difference between a console that can feed a recording interface and one that cannot — for engineers working with mid-range analog desks that lack dedicated direct outputs, it unlocks individual channel capture without console modification or a wholesale equipment change. In the studio, it provides a clean tap point for printing a channel's pre-fader, processed signal directly to a DAW track while monitoring through the console. The serviceable design — field-repairable connectors rather than molded ends — reflects an engineering choice that working audio professionals appreciate: when a connector fails mid-session, replacement is a soldering iron job rather than an order delay. The primary operational caveat is that the return path is not normalized, meaning the insert is broken and the channel drops from the mix; in live applications this requires workflow planning to avoid unexpected signal loss during a performance.

Key Features

Insert to Direct-Out: Converts a TRS insert jack to a dedicated direct output with a return path.

Serviceable Design: Allows for easy repairs and component replacement for extended life.

Flexible Audio Routing: Enables versatile signal splitting and processing options.

Compact & Convenient: 6-inch length for neat and efficient connection.

Studio Essential: Ideal for integrating outboard gear into mixing console inserts.

Specifications

Brand

Hosa

Model

DOC-106

Connector (Source)

¼" TRS (male)

Connector (Output)

¼" TS (female)

Length

6 inches

Function

Insert jack to direct output conversion

Compatible Insert Wiring

Tip = Send, Ring = Return (conventional)

Design

Serviceable (field-repairable)

Pros & Cons

👍 Pros

Converts a standard TRS insert jack into a functional direct output, enabling multitrack recording from any analog console without console modification or additional hardware.
Post-preamp, post-EQ signal position preserves channel processing in the recorded signal — you capture EQ and gain shaping decisions in the recording without extra processing in the DAW.
Six-inch serviceable design minimizes signal path length at the connector point, reducing the chance of induced noise or hum from longer runs at the patch point.
Serviceable construction allows connector replacement or repair rather than discarding the cable after connector wear — meaningful for working engineers who abuse cables regularly.
Compact form factor keeps the insert jack area tidy on crowded console channel strips where space between jacks is minimal.

👎 Cons

Plugging this cable into a TRS insert breaks the channel's return path, silencing that channel in the main mix unless the return is manually normalized or bridged — an interruption that requires workflow awareness during live use.
The TS female output is a passive tap with no buffering — if the downstream input presents a load impedance mismatch, you may experience level drop or tonal change on consoles with high output impedance insert sends.
Six-inch length is only practical when the destination connector is within immediate reach; longer cable runs require a separate extension, adding a connector junction and a potential noise point.
Incompatible with non-standard insert wiring found on some vintage or boutique consoles where Tip and Ring assignments are reversed or wired differently.
No strain relief documentation or specification is provided — on working consoles where the cable is frequently connected and disconnected, connector longevity under heavy use is an unknown variable.

Frequently Asked Questions

What signal is actually present at the TS output of the DOC-106, and is it pre- or post-fader?

The TS output carries the channel's send signal from the insert point, which on most analog consoles is post-preamp and post-EQ but pre-fader. This makes it ideal for capturing a clean, processed channel signal to a recorder without the fader position affecting the recorded level — the classic direct-out position for multitrack live recording.

Does using the DOC-106 interrupt the signal path to the mix bus?

It depends on the console's insert wiring. On conventionally wired inserts (Tip = Send, Ring = Return), plugging in a TRS connector that does not connect Ring to Tip will break the return path — the channel will drop out of the mix. The DOC-106 is designed to provide the direct output only; if you need the channel to pass through to the mix simultaneously, you will need a TRS Y-cable or a true direct-out cable that also normalizes the return path.

What consoles is the DOC-106 compatible with?

Any console with a conventionally wired ¼" TRS insert jack (Tip = Send, Ring = Return) will work. This covers the vast majority of analog mixers from brands like Yamaha, Allen & Heath, Mackie, Soundcraft, and Behringer. Consoles with non-standard insert wiring (some vintage boards) may require signal path verification before use.

Can I use this cable to connect outboard gear, or is it strictly a direct output?

The DOC-106 is wired to extract only the Send leg of the insert — there is no return path connected. It functions exclusively as a direct output extractor, not as a standard insert Y-cable for looping in outboard processors. For inserting an outboard compressor or EQ into the signal chain, you need a separate TRS insert cable with both send and return legs.

Is the 6-inch length limiting for typical rack or console setups?

For direct patching from a console's insert jack to a nearby patchbay, stagebox, or recorder input, 6 inches is intentionally short to minimize cable clutter and signal path length. If your recorder or interface is more than a few inches from the console, you will need to pair this cable with a standard TS extension cable.