Need some decent leads to connect Kronos to Mixer

[Rorcus]

Haven't got the K yet but in preperation I need to get some decent leads, currently I'm running my PC361, MM8 using 1/4" / 6.3mm single stereo jack from the headphone sockets on the keyboards to two 6.3mm mono jacks in to a Behringer Xenyx 1002fx

Unfortunately I bought these cables from Ebay for only £3 each (yea I know) and they're not the thickest of cables so when my computer is running even without it connected to the mixer I can hear IC interference (you can hear the processor and harddrive thinking and doing their sums )

Any recommendations for some good ones and do I need Balanced stereo or just plain 2 wire mono?

Ta..

[drchris]

Go on and get the balanced TRS (tip, ring, shield) type. They're not much more and worth it since the Kronos has balanced out. I got mine from Amazon I think. Any reputable brand should be fine.

Chris

[SanderXpander]

If going with balanced you need to be somewhat sure on the grounding situation in your studio/home, as it's entirely possible to create a grounding loop connecting to the mixer that way.

I say just get decent mid-priced cables, and don't get them any longer than you need. Cross any possible power leads at right angles and beware of old school CRT monitors (who still has them?). Synths are not nearly as fickle as guitars when it comes to cabling.

[Carbon Trader]

If you can hear hum/interference on the audio circuits then first game plan is Balanced Cables. If that doesn't work then you may need to put a hum eliminator into the audio signal path (i.e. between the keyboard(s) and the mixer).

Personally I use three Behringer HD400 Hum Destroyers on stage to isolate all audio feeds (two keyboards and the laptop running VSTs within Kore). Each unit will handle a pair of mono cables (i.e. one stereo keybaord).

In the home studio I use the Ebtech Hum Eliminator which allows for eight mono or four stereo sources to be isolated. This is used by Slash in his guitar rig to keep his Marshall's quiet! There are good articles on the Ebtech web site guiding you through the process of eliminating hum.

The major source of hum of course is the battery charging circuit inside a laptop. So in my system there is no way to simply eliminate the hum as no one has brought out a hum eliminator for a USB connector (not that I'm aware of - and this could be a good one for Dragon's Den!). So, I end up having to cart around three hum destroyers due to the MIDI to USB cable.

Has anyone come across Hum problems with the (audio over) USB connection on the Kronos?

[SanderXpander]

I don't mean to come across as cynical, but running your signal through Behringer hum eliminators might actually produce a net negative effect.
I'm speaking from experience, not wise-assing.

Again, in the OPs studio situation, all of the above seems extreme overkill and might actually degrade the signal more. Balanced cables are the best way to go, as long as you know you won't create any ground loops. AND as long as 1. The mixer takes balanced TRS cables in its jack sockets, or 2. Using the XLR input DOESN'T automatically make the signal go through the mic gain stage.

[Carbon Trader]

Thanks for the thoughts and I won't disagree with what you say, althgouth they have a vested interest in saying this, the Ebtech guys do say no signal degradation and I've not noticed any to be honest - its a completely passive device.

If I don't use a USB to MIDI cable or have the laptop plugged in then I don't have any problems and the hum destroyers/eliminators are not needed. That would be great until the Sonic Cell sound module is hooked up over USB to a lap top and the Nord Stage is connected via MIDI to USB cable. Then the overkill solution is truly called for!

I would be interested to know if anyone has any issues with laptops to Kronos via USB. PCs are fine as it seems to be the battery charging circuitry in a laptop that causes a lot of hum.

[keyplayer14]

Don't have my Kronos yet, but when I run vst's live from my laptop I use one of these -

http://www.orchid-electronics.co.uk/dual_isolator.htm

Small, cheap and completely eliminates any hum problems, great piece of kit.

[drchris]

Don't have my Kronos yet, but when I run vst's live from my laptop I use one of these -

http://www.orchid-electronics.co.uk/dual_isolator.htm

Small, cheap and completely eliminates any hum problems, great piece of kit.

Pardon my ignorance on this one, but what's the difference in an isolator like this and a direct box?
Thanks,
Chris

[SanderXpander]

I used to have problems with hum on USB until I started to use a non-grounded laptop adapter. I think Macs are generally fine too with the magnetic lock.

And the Ebtech guys can say what they want, technically even a longer cable causes minor degradation. They probably mean it shouldn't be audible and they're probably right. My point was to not put extra stuff in the signal path when it's not needed.

[keyplayer14]

Don't have my Kronos yet, but when I run vst's live from my laptop I use one of these -

http://www.orchid-electronics.co.uk/dual_isolator.htm

Small, cheap and completely eliminates any hum problems, great piece of kit.

Pardon my ignorance on this one, but what's the difference in an isolator like this and a direct box?
Thanks,
Chris

I wasn't sure of the technical answer to your question so I asked the guy who makes those boxes ( I know him quite well ). Here's his reply -


"The Isolators are simply a high quality audio transformer in a box - so there is no metallic connection between the input and output.

This also has the secondary advantage of providing a very effective 'barrier' - preventing any damage from Phantom power for example (laptops and iPods are quite vulnerable to this).

Some DI Boxes do have transformers fitted - which will do the same job - mine are active and MAY work OK, but the transformer isolators work every time!"



Hope this answers your question - all I can tell you is they do exactly what they're supposed too!

[jimknopf]

I use the EBTech Hum Eliminator 2 for isolating a USB-connected recording notebook/external audio card combination as well, and I'm not able to hear any signal degradation.

I guess if others don't hear some either, all should be fine.

It's only on the audio out of the Focusrite soundcard towards mixer and monitors anyway, so this signal path is only on the monitors, and there's nothing recorded through the hum destroyer. For any listening or live purposes I never had a sound problem with this kind of device, as long as it is quality gear.

[Rorcus]

Thanks for the replies and ideas.. for now I've ordered a couple of sets of these..
http://www.visiosound.co.uk/1m-stereoba ... d-81-p.asp

I report back on whether they solve my noise.

[Carbon Trader]

Rorcus - the one you posted is stereo balanced - just right for the Kronos out.

[Rorcus]

Rorcus - the one you posted is stereo - you probably want to buy a pair of MONO cables!

According to the ton of info I rummaged through, TRS leads are unbalanced stereo and balanced mono so they are the same lead, so it hopefully it shouldn't be an issue as mentioned above the Kronos has balanced output and I know the Mixer definitely has balanced in.

[Carbon Trader]

Did you ring Bonners yet?