dsteinschneider

I use a pair of m-audio Axiom 61's 1st gens with a modified On-Stage table stand - I cut down the 2nd tier so the upper keyboard is about as far above the bottom as on a B3.

The ART Mix4 arrives tomorrow. In the meantime we are encountering an odd problem I hope is solved once we split the signal with it. We have TRS balanced cables going out from the Left/Right Main Out of the "right" Roland KC-300 (amp to the right of the keyboard) to our mixer inputs. Everything is ok until we connect the "left" KC-300 (via Stereo Link) at which time a fairly obtrusive hum comes from both amps. The main L/R outs record fine (no hum) but the amps in the room produce it. We swapped out all cables, made sure to plug both amps into the same outlet. Apparently the amps are 20 years old but have mostly been used in rehearsal. If we swap the left and right amps the behavior remains the same - no buzzing until the second amp is connected. The same thing happened when we tried not using the stereo link and simply ran left and right out of the Korg PA700 keyboard to the amps directly. In this case the amp beguns to produce hum when we connect the TRS cable from the Soundcraft input to the Main Out (mono in this case)

Thanks for the link to the video about the Flow 8. I hadn't heard about it. I use UMC204's in my studio for an edrum setup and a keyboard rig.

@drawback - thanks for the heads up on this product!

We decided on the ART SplitMix4 for $75 at Sweetwater even thought it is more of a point solution than a full mixer. We thought it will be handy to have for live or studio keyboard use. In a separate search the ART USBMix4 showed up - it has a headphone and stereo monitor output that share a volume control. That was the final contestant on the mixer side. Thanks for all the suggestions.

Thanks for all the answers - this helps a lot! I have a Xenyx 502 - at first we thought it might work but decided against it. Thanks for the heads up on Stereo Link - we are in fact using that feature now. Neatens up the cabling around the keyboard and simplifies amp volume and eq settings. Unfortunately doesn't help with independent volume issue between amps and sound reinforcement/recording levels.

I'm looking for recommendations on a small mixer that can sit on a keyboard (PX-5S - sit over speaker) with a pair stereo outs - one to a pair of Roland KC-300's behind the keyboard and another to the mixing desk. Each pair of outputs needs to have it's own volume control. I've been researching for a while on Sweetwater and Amazon - found a Depushing DJ oriented unit that fits that has effects and aux sends that I think can be repurposed to send to the mixing desk but hoping for a small two channel input mixer with a pair of independent stereo outputs. Most small mixers are the opposite. Thanks in advance for any recommendations.

Just loaded up Waterfall, it doesn't have all the options IK B-3X or Acousticsamples B5 have but it sounds very good and presets load quicker than the other two (I think B-3X and B5 involve sample loading whereas Waterfall is pure modeling). Haven't tried it in a band setting yet but I suspect it's going to do well in that context.

Didn't know about this band - thanks for posting!

Gotcha, it is a lot of work being the whole band but fun. Maybe just go a song at time, working on each instrument until you've got the part down.

I think the OP's question is missing some context. If you're learning new instruments for personal challenge and self fulfillment then why not add guitar and drums. It's a different story If you're on a mission to get good enough at that instrument to play in a rock cover band. Years ago, I was playing bass in a band with a drummer who tended to rush and get loud. It wasn't the first time I encountered that problem and I decided to take some drum lessons to find out why that problem was common in weekend warrior bands. My instructor was fantastic, and I stayed with the lessons for several years. I learned that keeping the tempo and dynamics in check wasn't difficult which has been helpful when playing with such drummers. I can learn songs and get through a rehearsal filling in for a drummer, but I don't think I have the skills and stamina to play a four-hour gig on drums. That would take a lot more work.

Not a direct answer for your post but I thinking you're asking how to control all your virtual instruments from one place. I'm not a long time Kontakt user but over time have added many sampled instruments to it. Enough that I recently decided to better organize them following some YouTube videos. if you're on PC check out Cantabile software. It's a good home base for both direct VST plugins and Kontakt. The forum members are very helpful getting through the learning curve. If on Mac check out this video by David Das.

That voice sounds great - I might buy it also. You could make your own Dune 2021 sound track

I understand your perspective, installing and activating IK products used to be an ordeal. A couple of years ago they rolled out the IK "Product Manager". It has made downloading, installing and activating a breeze if you're ok with your music computer being online. Not sure how they do things "offline".

I used this website to get isolated tracks of the cash registers, spoken word etc. http://kitrae.net/music/Music_mp3_DSOTM.html