Making your own "direct outs" on a mixer?

Is it possible to wire in your own direct outs on a mixers channels, by daisey chaining off of the inserts? I was thinking if you could just split the signal as it comes into the insert from the preamp??? Then the inserts would still function properly as well as the signal would continue along its intended signal path....

Of can I make some sort of cable that will allow me to just plug right into the inserts to tap the signal but still allow it to continue into the rest of the board?? (eq, auxes, subgroups, etc...)

Not sure what kind of Board your using ,but do it the easy way us the sub out

will make it easy on ya

Yes cavy, you can usually tap into the inserts to use them as direct outs. Mackie mixers (and many other models) allow you to insert a tip-sleeve plug into the insert jack halfway, just to the first click, so that the connection to the rest of the channel strip is not broken.

Alternatively, you can make special cables that insert fully into the jack. You'll need a tip-sleeve plug on one end, and a tip-ring-sleeve plug on the other end with the tip and ring connected. Stick the TRS end into the insert jack, and the TS end into the receiving device.

so the trs end goes into the insert, and I'll need to solder the tip and ring together to "jump" them to allow me to tap the signal, but still allow it to pass through to the rest of the board?

By the way I haven't picked up a board yet, that's why I'm looking into this first. Also my band has a yamaha board with inserts that I can use at some point. (MG series)

yes, exactly.

Have you tried the "halfway" trick yet? I prefer that route because it doesn't require any special cables.

I haven't, I always assumed that the halfway trick cut out the signal to the rest of the board so I couldn't use it for monitoring...

I have heard of people with Mackie boards doing this.