Korg Forums

Hey guys,

have you ever found yourself in the need to have more inputs for the kp3? The point is, i would like to have many devices (kaossilator, a synth, etc) plugged to the line in of the kp3 so that i could sample or apply fx on top of them.

Now the problem is i don't want to plug/unplug cables all the time, especially in a liveset. Here comes the question: do I necessarily need a mixer for this purpose? I dont want to throw 50 more bucks for a behringer mixer even though they're cool and would be perfect for the purpose.

Isn't there a cheaper way? I thought about wiring a hand made cable that would double the 2 channels so i could have 2 lefts and 2 rights joining on a L/R cable... but i'm afraid it will be noisy etc...

What do you suggest?
Thanks

pierlo wrote: Isn't there a cheaper way? I thought about wiring a hand made cable that would double the 2 channels so i could have 2 lefts and 2 rights joining on a L/R cable... but i'm afraid it will be noisy etc...

You should be afraid of burning out the outputs of one or both of the devices you hook together like that, because that's probably what will happen. How cheap do you think it is to fix the outputs that you fry? Probably a lot more expensive than a mixer. You can safely split one output to many inputs with a Y cable (and losing signal in the process). But you cannot safely join multiple outputs to an input with a Y cable.

There must be a circuit to sum the signals without allowing them to directly connect. Buy a mixer, or be sorry that you didn't.

xmlguy wrote:

pierlo wrote: Isn't there a cheaper way? I thought about wiring a hand made cable that would double the 2 channels so i could have 2 lefts and 2 rights joining on a L/R cable... but i'm afraid it will be noisy etc...

You should be afraid of burning out the outputs of one or both of the devices you hook together like that, because that's probably what will happen. How cheap do you think it is to fix the outputs that you fry? Probably a lot more expensive than a mixer. You can safely split one output to many inputs with a Y cable (and losing signal in the process). But you cannot safely join multiple outputs to an input with a Y cable.

There must be a circuit to sum the signals without allowing them to directly connect. Buy a mixer, or be sorry that you didn't.

wow. thanks for saving my ass bro'!

No problem. Glad you asked before you smoked an output or two.

Outputs need resistance (or diodes/transistors) to prevent the flow of current between them, otherwise it's much worse than a short circuit. Imagine one output at +24V while the other is at -24V with virtually no resistance between them, double the voltage of shorting +24 to ground. That's a tug of war where there are no winners. Outputs are designed to send signals, not receive them.