Connecting keyboard to the mixer (Mackie profx12)

Alimbeg · Post by **Alimbeg** » Mon May 09, 2016 5:52 pm

Hello everyone.

This is simple for everyone but I am making a problem out of it. Currently my keyboard is connected to the mixer (I have Mackie profx12) via 2 stereo TRS cables Left and Right to my mixer's 2 separate mono insert channels. I do not think that this is perfectly a good setup.

I want quality and prefer mono balanced sound. Do you guys think I can buy 1/4" TRS to XLR Cables and connect them to 2 separate MIC channels? Please help. Thank you!

mintjamman · Post by **mintjamman** » Mon May 09, 2016 7:05 pm

I would advise against thinking about connecting your pa4x or any keyboard to the XLR mic Inputs. You should be able to obtain great results using the Jack TRS Inputs on your Mackie. I use two Mackie Desks ( not at the same time ) but only use the TRS inputs and that provides great sound quality, plenty of headroom and no noise.

What are your reasons for wanting to connect the keyboard in this way ???

You need to be aware that while the XLR and TRS inputs on that desk share some of the same circuitry what they do not share is the 48v Phantom Power and a wrong move with that where you accidently activated 48V Phantom power may kill your keys.

I would strongly advise against that

Alimbeg · Post by **Alimbeg** » Mon May 09, 2016 7:11 pm

Thanks for the reply. Some people I see used TRS to XLR. They said its more balanced and sounds better? That is why I asked. Thing is, I am going to play in a big ball room, and speakers are going to be loud. I want everything to sound same/mono. Also will have 48 phantom power off so there wouldn't be any problems. I think that stereo will make sound fly around too much. Thank you!

mintjamman · Post by **mintjamman** » Mon May 09, 2016 7:45 pm

Not sure what your friends mean by more balanced ?

TRS is a balanced signal and the outputs of the Pa4x are balanced so by using balanced TRS cables to connect the Pa4x to the TRS Line Inputs of your Mackie Mixer you will have a electronically balanced signal.

If you talking about Sound Balance that is something entirely different, most keyboards these days run a stereo output as the sounds sound best when run in stereo. Once the sound is mono things sound way different, rotaries on the organs being one, Pianos and Pads another. The upshot is that most big sound systems in the concert world are run in mono and out front its easier to control and the audience mostly all hear the same. You might wanna try and connect the Pa4x in mono and have a listen for yourself, it will sound dull compared to when its run in stereo but if your intending to run it mono it might be a good idea to have a listen with just the Left/Mono Output connected where you might find that the sounds need some adjustments to sound better when run in mono.

Regarding the 48v Power UNLESS your operating the Desk I would not leave it to chance that someone might activate the Phantom Power in error, in the heat of the stage when light levels might be low or someone is focused elsewhere with a problem it only takes a millisecond to fry your board !

Alimbeg · Post by **Alimbeg** » Mon May 09, 2016 8:01 pm

Thanks for reply. This is how my current setup is:

I have 2 stereo TRS cables. I plugged them in Left and right back of pa3x and in the mixer I plugged them in 2 separate channels (mono/left) . How is that? They are not in one channel. Does this mean I am running them as Mono right now? Thanks

Nemik · Post by **Nemik** » Mon May 09, 2016 8:50 pm

Alimbeg wrote:Thanks for reply. This is how my current setup is:

I have 2 stereo TRS cables. I plugged them in Left and right back of pa3x and in the mixer I plugged them in 2 separate channels (mono/left) . How is that? They are not in one channel. Does this mean I am running them as Mono right now? Thanks

If your PAN on channel is set to center, you got mono, but you can make stereo if you set R input to right and L input to left.
Why you don't wanna use inputs 9/10 or 11/12 on your mixer?

Alimbeg · Post by **Alimbeg** » Mon May 09, 2016 8:52 pm

Hey Namik, If I use 9/10 or 11/12 that it will be stereo right?

Nemik · Post by **Nemik** » Mon May 09, 2016 8:54 pm

Alimbeg wrote:Hey Namik, If I use 9/10 or 11/12 that it will be stereo right?

YES
Those are designed for inputs like keyboards.

mintjamman · Post by **mintjamman** » Mon May 09, 2016 11:13 pm

Thats one way of hooking up, my own preference is to use two channels and as Nemik points out you can pan each channel L & R. Using stereo Input channels is ok but you then have the same EQ on both signals and cannot have full control of the entire stereo field and I find that using channels like that have limitations in a live situation but of course it gives you one set of EQ controls and One Fader to use and will yield the results you want.

Good Luck