Which amp to use with a microkorg
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Which amp to use with a microkorg
In the next few months i'll be playing out in bars with the band i'm in using a microkorg xl (and an old yamaha keyboard) Can anyone give me some tips on what sort of amp i should use, i've read a guitar amp is a big no, a bass amp would be ok, keyboard amps aren't very good, pa with a mixer is best, all advice welcome and much needed. Where we play and rehearse at the moment they are plugged into a pa, but unfortunately we can't take that out of the venue its in
Hi,
A PA is indeed the best. A good keyboard amp should also be ok according to me.
Guitar amps and bass amps add color to the sound of your keyboards. It is even their intention to that.
If you're looking for that specific tone, then it is a go. But not too many people will do that.
Keyboards can output sounds over a large range of frequencies (bass to lead).
So ideally you need an amp with a large flat spectrum, which will not change your keyboard sound too much.
You may look at a hifi amp with decent speakers?
Ciao.
A PA is indeed the best. A good keyboard amp should also be ok according to me.
Guitar amps and bass amps add color to the sound of your keyboards. It is even their intention to that.
If you're looking for that specific tone, then it is a go. But not too many people will do that.
Keyboards can output sounds over a large range of frequencies (bass to lead).
So ideally you need an amp with a large flat spectrum, which will not change your keyboard sound too much.
You may look at a hifi amp with decent speakers?
Ciao.
microKORGXL, Kaossilator Pro, monotribe, SQ-1, volca fm, Kross 88 BK
Alesis SR18, Akai Miniak, Fender Strat, Line 6 Spider II 112, Zoom MS-50G
Alesis SR18, Akai Miniak, Fender Strat, Line 6 Spider II 112, Zoom MS-50G
Try a powered PA loudspeaker. Depending on power (and how much $$$ you want to spend) the ElectroVoice ZXA1 is one possibility. THere are larger units -- QSC, KRK, etc. They're all "full-range" loudspeakers, with fairly flat frequency response. So they won't "color" the sounds coming out of the microKorg.
. Charles
. Charles
On the low end, I recommend the Behringer Eurolive B212D. On the high end, I recommend a pair of the QSC K12's with a K-Sub. So that's a range from $300 to $3,000. There are plenty of good active speakers in between by Mackie, Peavey, JBL, EV and others. The best thing would be to test them personally for yourself. Nearly all active speakers today are better than any "amps", in general. There are few expensive keyboard amps that sound ok, but they are usually heavier and a worse value for the money than active speakers. Manufacturers have a much better economy of scale and more competition for active PA speakers, but not for keyboard amps. So most active PA speakers will have bi-amping, active crossovers, DSP processing, limiting and signal level protection, built-in EQ, better speakers (usually neo drivers), better amplifier stages, and better cab design (lighter weight polypro cabs). Most keyboard amps don't have bi-amping, use passive crossovers, have cheaper grade amps/speaker components, use bulky/heavy plywood or MDF cabs, and generally shitty performance.
I would put a single QSC K12 well above any keyboard amp made. It's a phenomenal product. But a lot of people with a $200-300 synth don't want to pay $900 for such a nice PA speaker. So the B212D is good for a price that at least is in the same range as the synth itself. Just be aware than a $300 synth with a $3,000 PA will usually sound a hell of a lot better than $3,000 synth with a $300 PA. The speakers are where the music is actually given physical presence. A lot of new synth buyers wonder why the sounds in the headphones are so much different than through a typical amp. Crappy amps are why. Even bass amps are really very good for synths. Bass amps still tend to be boomy and poor values, even thouth they usually at least have some kind of tweeter/horn for HF audio. They aren't balanced for full range audio like good active PA speakers tend to be.
I would put a single QSC K12 well above any keyboard amp made. It's a phenomenal product. But a lot of people with a $200-300 synth don't want to pay $900 for such a nice PA speaker. So the B212D is good for a price that at least is in the same range as the synth itself. Just be aware than a $300 synth with a $3,000 PA will usually sound a hell of a lot better than $3,000 synth with a $300 PA. The speakers are where the music is actually given physical presence. A lot of new synth buyers wonder why the sounds in the headphones are so much different than through a typical amp. Crappy amps are why. Even bass amps are really very good for synths. Bass amps still tend to be boomy and poor values, even thouth they usually at least have some kind of tweeter/horn for HF audio. They aren't balanced for full range audio like good active PA speakers tend to be.