Not a sound guy! - live set-up advice

roly D · Post by **roly D** » Sun Apr 03, 2016 9:01 am

Starting with my limitations - as a live performer I am traditionally a guitarist who now has the good fortune to be dabbling with the Kronos, mainly as a composition tool but also adding some "colour" with my band by means of a foot controller. I haven't yet introduced the K at a gig, but the time is approaching.

Also, although I have gigged intermittently as a hobbyist for nigh on 30 years, I have paid minimal attention to what the sound guy does...

When I got the Kronos I got some QSCK10s (love them). I am running one output each from the K into one channel of each speaker - i.e. left output Kronos into left speaker, right output K into right speaker. This creates some great effects with the sounds on the K that auto pan across the speakers.

What I am wondering is how I can maintain this stereo effect at a gig and fit in with the requirements of the PA. Unimaginatively, I think of asking to have each QSC miked but am expecting a funny look in response. However if I go into the desk (either directly or via DI) am I not destined to lose the stereo separation?

Apologies if this is a stupid question.

SanderXpander · Post by **SanderXpander** » Sun Apr 03, 2016 9:33 am

For the simplest setup that fits with the other high quality gear you bought, get a Radial Pro D2 DI. Connect the Kronos L/R to the Pro D2 L/R inputs, use the D2 "through" to connect to your QSC K10s and the Pro D2 outputs to the front of house.

In this case your volume control on the Kronos will control both sounds. If you'd prefer to only adjust your monitor sound (depends a bit on the size of the venue and the quality of the sound guy I guess) you can also do it a different way. In the Kronos global menu, audio I/O tab, you can set your main output to 1/2 instead of L/R. This is a bit misleading, as your sound will still also come out of L/R. You've basically now duplicated your output pair, with one crucial difference - outputs 1/2 don't respond to the main volume pot (since it's a hard wired, analog control). I would still recommend a DI to the front of house though, so plug outputs 1/2 into the Radial and use its outputs to FOH. Connect your main L/R to your QSC K10s as usual.

JPROBERTLA · Post by **JPROBERTLA** » Sun Apr 03, 2016 12:03 pm

When sitting in and not using my own PA, I use a pair of TX10 powered monitors for stereo on stage monitoring with the L&R outputs on the Kronos. These speakers have an XLR output which I then run to the PA. You control your volume changes in the PA just as on stage. Once a sound check is done and a basic keyboard level is obtained, the only thing the FOH tech has to do is make minor adjustments during the performance. I believe your QSCK10s have an XLR output. This is a very easy and practical solution without the need for additional equipment.

psionic311 · Post by **psionic311** » Sun Apr 03, 2016 1:22 pm

You could go either way suggested so far. I have the QSC K10s too, but I use them for the band PA.

Just below the input on each of channel of the K10s is an XLR thru output. Your simplest solution is just run an XLR cable from that K10 thru over to the sound guy's mixer.

roly D · Post by **roly D** » Sun Apr 03, 2016 2:39 pm

Thanks all, I appreciate the very useful advice.

DaveKeys · Post by **DaveKeys** » Sun Apr 03, 2016 3:04 pm

Or why not just use outputs L/R for your KSC10's, and run Balanced cables from outputs 1 & 2 on the Kronos to the PA - saving the need for any extra hardware.

Falcon2e · Post by **Falcon2e** » Sun Apr 03, 2016 4:24 pm

All the info in the previous posts is absolutely correct. Unfortunately, it's been my experience, that many sound companies don't bother with a stereo setup. If they do run stereo you have to be setting in the sweet spot to hear the total effect. So I enjoy the beauty of the stereo setup at home, and when playing out live, I watch the crowd drink beer and dance.

Mono also makes setup and tear down easier.

SanderXpander · Post by **SanderXpander** » Sun Apr 03, 2016 4:54 pm

Definitely easier if the QSCs have an XLR thru, that basically functions exactly like a DI would. I wouldn't recommend running balanced cables directly from the Kronos to the FOH. You never know what's on the other side and without the protection of a DI some crappy bar setup might inadvertently fry your outputs.

DaveKeys · Post by **DaveKeys** » Sun Apr 03, 2016 10:03 pm

SanderXpander wrote:Definitely easier if the QSCs have an XLR thru, that basically functions exactly like a DI would. I wouldn't recommend running balanced cables directly from the Kronos to the FOH. You never know what's on the other side and without the protection of a DI some crappy bar setup might inadvertently fry your outputs.

I should add I don't use xlrs at the desk end precisely for this reason. Instead I use a 15m multi core with TRS jack adaptors.

theeAdversary · Post by **theeAdversary** » Mon Apr 04, 2016 4:53 pm

I haven't liked the sound of my Kronos live yet. It sounds so amazing in my home studio through headphones but I don't think an audience has heard the quality yet.

I love Radial gear, I have a Radial Workhorse and some 500 series modules so glad of the excuse to buy that nice looking D2, but I don't imagine that will help the audience hear the quality any better. Does seem like it's a better protection for my Kronos though.

SanderXpander · Post by **SanderXpander** » Mon Apr 04, 2016 5:00 pm

Mono/stereo makes a huge difference especially in the piano sound. If you're running in mono live, you're missing out. Sometimes there's no other options or it's not sensible to use stereo (e.g. in very large halls) but then the sound will suffer.

theeAdversary · Post by **theeAdversary** » Mon Apr 04, 2016 5:22 pm

I've been using stereo, maybe the odd person has been sitting in a good spot and heard a good sound.

LZ · Post by LZ » Mon Apr 04, 2016 11:18 pm

2 things:
1). While the Kronos does have balanced outs, the one thing that a DI offers that I have found to be a necessity is ground isolation and signal level matching. Highly recommend the Radial DI
2) as mentioned, not all FOH is stereo. If not, they will collapse your sound to mono no matter what you give them. My recommendation is to preview your sounds both ways so you can avoid anything that ends up sounding bad in mono.