First post here. Be gentle… Interested in how people would run a Nord Stage 2 piano. I mostly use the grand, B3, Rhodes, Wurly, Clav, and occasionally the Synth. I feel like it’s very sterile just running it directly into my A&H GS-R24M’s line inputs. The built in Valve pres on the console don’t do seem to do it justice either. Not very exciting. Is a mic pre a good idea? A stereo DI? Tube or solid state? Any suggestions are welcome. Happy to purchase a new piece of gear for this purpose alone. Thanks for any and all input. Currently at my disposal…
Pres: A&H pres, Neve 1073, API 3124v, UA 2-610, SSL Xlogic Alpha, Chandler TG2.
DI: REDDI V2, Countryman 85S
Bueller?!! Bueller?!! Bump.
Will anyone chime in here please?
Not familiar with the Nord Piano 2, I have a 5, and it’s fine - I haven’t used an A&H desk for a while either, so cannot comment - does it have balanced line inputs?
So, the big Q is whether you are using balanced (“stereo” TRS) lines, or unbalanced (“mono” TS) jacks? It’s a line level output, so should be OK running into a line input… but, if you run unbalanced, don’t use longer cables.
So, this is where a DI box helps - they convert an unbalanced line output (from a keyboard, hi-z bass pickup, whatever) to a balanced signal at mic level.
(With a DI box, you may have to “pad” the output to avoid overdriving the mic pre - so when you dig in with big chords with low end, the signal may break up on attack / transients, rather than capture the signal without distortion)
Once in a balanced format, you can run a signal over a multicore snake to FOH, which may be 150m away… eg an sm58 will do this over a mic cable without any issues. But using an unbalanced line, no… the line output on the keyboard itself isn’t designed to run a signal that far without degradation, because of resistance in long cables - noise cancellation is another plus, also.
Instinct and ears - if you compare unbalanced (thin!) and balanced (warm!) lines, you’ll never go unbalanced ever again - they are night and day different (because of signal impedance of the output electronics)
Changing the preamp to have more gain or warmer timbre doesn’t fix that underlying problem.
Anyway, hope that helps!