Lesson Description
Plugging in Keyboards
2m 22s
Learn how to plug in an electric keyboard to your main PA system mixing console
Video Transcript
Plugging in Keyboards
2m 22s
00:14
In this video we are going to step through connecting an electric keyboard to your mixer and P.A. system.
00:21
Some keyboards can be connected directly into the mixer.
00:25
Others may need a direct box. It all depends on the type of output connection the keyboard has.
00:31
Many keyboards have unbalanced outputs in the form of ¼” TS connections.
00:37
If this is the case, you are probably going to want to use a direct box, also known as a D.I.
00:43
to bring those connections to a balanced single and be better compatible with the preamps in the mixer.
00:49
You should remember the Direct box from the Back to Basics module.
00:54
This will cut down on unwanted noise and interference in the signal as well as give you the ability to use much longer cable runs.
01:02
If the keyboard you are working with contains balanced XLR output connections,
01:07
the keyboard can be connected directly with the mixer. That’s…..it. It’s pretty easy and straight forward.
01:14
But let’s take it a step further
01:15
and look at a scenario that pops up a lot when keyboards are involved.
01:20
Instead of connecting the keyboard directly into the mixer, it is connected to a laptop via a digital audio interface.
01:28
This is done so that the keyboard signal can be processed through a software program, such as Mainstage or
01:33
Ableton before being sent to the mixer.
01:37
Main Stage allows for different synthesizers and plug-ins to be applied to the keyboard signal in real time.
01:43
If your keyboardist is running through a laptop, then they will most likely give you their outputs from their audio interface
01:50
instead of the outputs of the keyboard directly.
01:53
As far as you, the audio engineer is concerned,
01:57
this is treated no differently than receiving the outputs from the keyboard.
02:01
The outputs will connect to D.I. and then into your mixer or signal snake on stage.
02:07
And there you have it! We have successfully connected our keyboard on the stage.
02:12
Thanks for watching. Move on to the next video whenever you’re ready. See you there!
Downloads and Links
Plugging in Keyboards
2m 22s