Boosting volume on keyboard

[wemmick]

My band's keyboard player plays on a digital piano that is much more for home use than on stage. Its only alternate output is two headphone jacks.

For a recent gig, I mic'd it, but i had an extra small mixer with mic preamps.

We have another gig next week and won't have the extra mixer and we need the main mixer's mic jacks for vox.

I'll test running a cable from the headphone jack into one of the 1/4" jacks on the main mixer at a rehearsal over the weekend, but is there another solution I'm missing?

 

[testing1two]

What kind of keyboard? Technically you should be running a line level output (left and right line outputs for stereo) to a DI box (two for stereo) to one (or two) of the mixer's mic inputs. Then you'll have the ability to add as much gain as you need.

 

[bongomania]

The headphone output should work OK; if it doesn't, you can use any sort of boost pedal or external preamp to boost it up. There are literally hundreds of options, at all price points. For cheap, try the MXR Micro Amp.

 

[TimmyP]

Better to get a DI now and do it rightly from the get-go. I'd go passive. I like the Radial Pro DI and ProDI2 for real money, and the audiopile units ([Invalid or Expired Link Removed]) for affordable money. Behringer: No - had em - never again.

 

[bongomania]

Guys--read:

We have another gig next week and won't have the extra mixer and we need the main mixer's mic jacks for vox.

A DI is not going to help him.

 

[wemmick]

The headphone output should work OK; if it doesn't, you can use any sort of boost pedal or external preamp to boost it up. There are literally hundreds of options, at all price points. For cheap, try the MXR Micro Amp.

I like the boost pedal idea if straight headphone output to mixer doesn't work.

 

[uhdinator]

Use a stereo to mono cable to a direct box then XLR from DI to mixer if running a mono PA. If PA is stereo the you need a TRS Y cable to 2 mono TS and a stereo DI And 2 mic cables and eat up 2 mixer channels.

 

[KeithAlanK]

My band's keyboard player plays on a digital piano that is much more for home use than on stage. Its only alternate output is two headphone jacks.

For a recent gig, I mic'd it, but i had an extra small mixer with mic preamps.

We have another gig next week and won't have the extra mixer and we need the main mixer's mic jacks for vox.

I'll test running a cable from the headphone jack into one of the 1/4" jacks on the main mixer at a rehearsal over the weekend, but is there another solution I'm missing?

Okay--you're stuck with 1/4" out of the keys and 1/4" IN on the mixer?
Headphone outs will probably sound pretty bad into a mixer, so stick with the line level output.
You need some sort of preamp--lots of the active DI/preamp boxes like Behringer and ART can give you a ton of gain and will still have 1/4" outs. The Behringer is only $30 and is a nice little problem solver for the money.

Outside the box thinking: Does anyone in the band (or friends) have a combo amp with an XLR direct out?
Even a mid-size practice amp might have one, and the preamp stage will give you gain and control.
You can either get the correct adapter to put on an XLR mic cable so it's 1/4" TRS at the mixer end (around $15 max) or chop the end off the mic cable and solder a 1/4" TRS ("stereo") plug on it ($4 and some time).
Tip = pin 2, ring = pin 3, shield = pin 1.

 

[wemmick]

Okay--you're stuck with 1/4" out of the keys and 1/4" IN on the mixer?
Headphone outs will probably sound pretty bad into a mixer, so stick with the line level output.
You need some sort of preamp--lots of the active DI/preamp boxes like Behringer and ART can give you a ton of gain and will still have 1/4" outs. The Behringer is only $30 and is a nice little problem solver for the money.

Outside the box thinking: Does anyone in the band (or friends) have a combo amp with an XLR direct out?
Even a mid-size practice amp might have one, and the preamp stage will give you gain and control.
You can either get the correct adapter to put on an XLR mic cable so it's 1/4" TRS at the mixer end (around $15 max) or chop the end off the mic cable and solder a 1/4" TRS ("stereo") plug on it ($4 and some time).
Tip = pin 2, ring = pin 3, shield = pin 1.

Nice ideas, but no line out - only headphone output.

The longer term (and better) solution is for the keyboardist to upgrade her equipment to something more suitable for performing... but that would side track this discussion into something more appropriate for the band management board. *sigh*

 

[uhdinator]

The headphone jack will work. Just set the level like only half way up. Go the stereo to mono cable into a DI. Or if close enough just go line in on mixer without the DI. DI only needed if going long distance like down a snake.

 

[uhdinator]

Okay--you're stuck with 1/4" out of the keys and 1/4" IN on the mixer?
Headphone outs will probably sound pretty bad into a mixer, so stick with the line level output.
You need some sort of preamp--lots of the active DI/preamp boxes like Behringer and ART can give you a ton of gain and will still have 1/4" outs. The Behringer is only $30 and is a nice little problem solver for the money.

Outside the box thinking: Does anyone in the band (or friends) have a combo amp with an XLR direct out?
Even a mid-size practice amp might have one, and the preamp stage will give you gain and control.
You can either get the correct adapter to put on an XLR mic cable so it's 1/4" TRS at the mixer end (around $15 max) or chop the end off the mic cable and solder a 1/4" TRS ("stereo") plug on it ($4 and some time).
Tip = pin 2, ring = pin 3, shield = pin 1.

The op stated there is no line out on his keys.

Keyboards do not need a pre amp. He wants to plug into a mixer. The mixer has a preamplifier.

Direct boxes convert a signal to mic level and balance the signal.

Keyboards are not balanced outputs. you can't send a TRS stereo output (headphone jack) to a TRS balanced input.
Just because you have TRS to TRS cable, it's not the same just because the jacks fit.

 

[steveksux]

Stereo to mono cable off the headphone jack is a bad idea.

Never a good thing to just wire 2 outputs together which is essentially what the cable is doing.

Randy

 

[Samsound]

What I'm reading from the OP is that there are no more mic channels open on the board, only the stereo line inputs (some boards use phono connectors for hooking up consumer playback devices). If that's the case, he can try an 1/8"-stereo RCA Y connector, which should be just fine. We use these all the time with iPods, just set the headphone level between 50-80%, wherever you get the least noise with no distortion.
BTW, your guy needs a real stage instrument, and y'all need either a bigger board, a vocal submixer, or fire some singers. Just saying...

 

[uhdinator]

I would agree that summing 2 line level +4db signals is not recommended. I'm pretty sure the phones jack is not line level on each channel especially if it's turned halfway down. Otherwise I would have damaged gear long ago using stereo to mono cable on CD players, IPOds, IPhones etc..... When sending them into a mixer for a mono PA.

The OP should just get stereo to stereo cables to go into tape in or aux returns and call it good until updating to a better KB and mixer with more channels.

 

[Stumbo]

I'll test running a cable from the headphone jack into one of the 1/4" jacks on the main mixer at a rehearsal over the weekend, but is there another solution I'm missing?

Are the headphone jacks stereo? Does the keyboard run any stereo patches? If no stereo patches then running a cable as you stated should be fine. No stereo chord/adapter needed.

Adjust the headphone output with just enough gain to get decent undistorted volume out of the PA.

Also, does the keyboard player have a PA monitor so she can hear herself?

Another idea is to consider is to provide/borrow a separate rig for the keyboards. She can use a decent guitar amp/speakers if the piano bass level is controlled.

Good luck.

 

[wemmick]

BTW, your guy needs a real stage instrument, and y'all need either a bigger board, a vocal submixer, or fire some singers. Just saying...

Absolutely agree.

What I'm researching here is a very short-term, MacGyver'd solution.

Dealing with the keyboardist is a larger issue that a few of us are dealing with.