If you play multiple keyboards, a common challenge is not having enough control over your monitor levels and the FOH mix. My solution may just help you!
I want control!
It can be quite challenging having to rely on changing your monitor levels at the PA mixer usually on the other side of the stage or relying on your busy sound engineer. (if you even get your own monitor mix!)
The big, heavy keyboard amp
Often multiple keyboards may be going into a keyboard amp such as the [amazon_textlink asin=’B0002D0OP6′ text=’Roland KC350′ template=’ProductLink’ store=’soundapi-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’75fc1635-1563-11e7-8d2c-5b843d039615′]. The KC350, and the like, allows you to mix your keyboard levels, provide one “mix” to a line output and speaker in one convenient package. YET, if you would like to have control over the volume of each keyboard in your monitor, you need to find another solution.
Your own tiny mixer!
This solution simply submixes all keyboards using a small, inexpensive mixer, such as the [amazon_textlink asin=’B0027B41P0′ text=’Behringer Xenyx 1002b’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’soundapi-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’03e70a9a-1566-11e7-84b3-4ba6aa0337b8′]. This solution would combine each of your keyboards and send one mono (or a stereo) line to the FOH mixer and a separate line to a powered speaker for the your individual mix. This monitor mix is independent of the levels going to FOH — excellent! Just be sure whichever mixer you choose has at least one prefader aux send and as many line-inputs as you need. (tip: depending on your keyboards, you may be able to simply add a little [amazon_textlink asin=’B003CEXPSA’ text=’velcro’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’soundapi-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’55af0712-156a-11e7-9488-71db1e53846b’] to the mixer and keyboard to keep the mixer handy and secure!)
Hear yourself!
Add a nice powered speaker like the [amazon_textlink asin=’B00CE0VLXO’ text=’Electro-Voice ZLX12P’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’soundapi-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’6fd0d79d-1564-11e7-abb3-7940afa31df4′] or the smaller powerhouse, [amazon_textlink asin=’B0037WGVTC’ text=’Electro-Voice ZXA1′ template=’ProductLink’ store=’soundapi-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’cca04dec-1564-11e7-b3d0-6ba7fc86c9fe’] and you have a powerful, small and lightweight solution to keep you in control of your mix! Hear even better by using a simple speaker/amp stand like the [amazon_textlink asin=’B00HWRDSVM’ text=’Gator Combo Amp Stand’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’soundapi-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’531fb701-156f-11e7-bba5-bbba54de8661′].
Tip, you could also add your own vocal microphone line to your mixer but throw a simple [amazon_textlink asin=’B000068O59′ text=’XLR “y-cable”‘ template=’ProductLink’ store=’soundapi-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’38f33600-1566-11e7-999c-f36d70f6dbcd’] (one side to the FOH mixer, the other to your mixer!)
New live sound classes!
By popular demand, I’m developing a series of smaller hands-on classes covering one specific topic such as:
- Wireless/RF
- Monitor mixing
- FOH mixing
- Live Sound for Musicians
- Digital and analog console training.
If helpful to you, fill out the short form below and I’ll keep you in the loop on when registration will be open!
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