Please help.
I am building a device.  I want to use a computer STYLE headset with a microphone.  My computer & the headset work great together.  The problem is that I cannot use a computer in my application.  Here's some more detail.
Part One I have a computer headset with mic & headphones. Works fine with Windows sound recorder. Can record & listen
Part Two I have an I-Pod shuffle. Can listen, just fine with headset or earphones.
Problem: WOULD like to be able to listen to music from I-Pod on earphones & headset & use mic in headset to comment on music. Comments are real time & do not need to be recorded.
Resources: Can make my own connectors & "Y" cables. ART "Tube MP" preamp.
Failed ATTEMPTS: Tried ART "Tube MP" preamp. Tube MP works fine with studio (XLR 48V phantom) mic.

Suggestions?
Ok so you do not want to record your voice comments. What do you want to do with them? Where will they be heard? If the headset portion is being used are you the only one able to hear it? Why can you not use a separate microphone with the other APPROPRIATE infrastructure?truenorthA song is playing on the I-pod.  The student is listening (earphones) & the teacher is listening to the same song on the headset.  When the right passage comes along the instructor can say "here is where the tempo changes" and the student can hear both the song and the instructors comment.  I want to use a computer style headset because they are cheap & there is a large selection.  The quality of the microphone is not critical because it is only for spoken voice, never singing.   Hey, Thanks for your interest.  TomAH Ha ! what you want is very clear now. Of course as you undoubtedly know this is very common technology used in classrooms with one teacher and many students all the time. Although i have never been in a position to use it as a teacher or as a student i do know of it's existence. If i understand the way it works the teacher can address all the students at one time or select individual positions (student) as needed. So you want to EMULATE that environment by building your own infrastructure because you do not have it as it would be available in such a classroom environment. It ought to be able to be done but i do not know if your emphasis (for the cost factor you are concerned with) will be practical given the other things you may also have to do as a result of trying to go the way you want. If you do not require the sophistication of being able to address a single student in a multi student environment Then you ought to be able to do so with a switch device that can interrupt the sound being heard on the music source briefly to present your own message. But what is the commonality of the devices as to their interconnection to all of you?truenorth