What Is the Best Way To Connect Your Nord Keyboard to the PA?
Ask Marc Anything 🤔
The Original Question:
Randy asks: "Hi Marc! Thanks for the video! May I ask for your opinion and advice? We have a Nord Stage 2 EX in church. Right now the Nord outputs via Channel 1 to a DI Box using 1/4 inch mono cable. I get told a lot that the Nord's volume is very low, even though I have the instrument's master volume at max. I am presuming that it's because the Nord is only outputting through Channel 1. May I ask if it is feasible to run a splitter cable? I plan to use one of those 1/4 inch TRS stereo to dual 1/4 inch TS Mono Y-splitter cable. The idea is to connect the two dual TS mono ends to channel 1 and channel 2 out of the Nord and then the TRS end to the single input of the DI Box. I am only able to connect to a DI Box because that's the only current option to connect to the FOH. Hoping to hear your advice on the matter, thanks!"
Summarized Question: What Is the Best Way To Connect Your Nord Keyboard to the PA? 🤔
Answer:
Best Option
Ideally, you want to run things in stereo whenever possible. My best advice would be to invest in a second DI box. Run Channel one with a standard TS cable out to DI Box one and channel 2 to a new DI Box two. This should give you the best-sounding setup for the front of the house. This is how all the pros do it (at least the ones I work with that play large arenas and such).
If a second channel is simply not available in the PA for FOH, then we have to go with plan B.
Here you have some options:
| Option 1 (Mono - not ideal):
Run a TS cable from output 1 to the DI. (Both ends are a TS). Nord Volume should be at 3/4. The mixer for FOH should be able to get whatever volume you need from that point forward. If not, they may have to increase their gains on the board itself. If that's still not loud enough, you may have to introduce a pre-amp of some sort. Although, I would find it hard to believe the overall gain wouldn't be loud enough. With this option, select "MONO Out" found on your keyboard right below panel A. This will reconfigure the effects and such to better suit a mono speaker. This setup, however, is NOT IDEAL. It's not presenting the Nord keyboard in the best light. |
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Option 2 (Stereo - ideal): Use a stereo DI box. Have the 2 TS ends out from the Nord connect to the Left and Right in on the stereo DI box. Then from the stereo DI box, two XLR cables out to the snake/mixing board. |
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Option 3 (Use a keyboard amp) good for on-stage monitoring and boosting volume to the board): If "volume" is the issue, you could consider first amplifying the keyboard with an on-stage amp (preferably stereo) and then running out to the PA. This gives you the added benefit of being able to hear yourself a little better and you can boost the overall volume a bit. I've done this setup many times as it keeps the bulk of the amplification away from the PA which is especially important if you intend on playing bass with your keyboards. It really depends on a lot of other factors and the power of your PA too. You may also find that the EQ/fidelity coming from a keyboard amp is a tad better than a typical PA as it's typically better suited for the wide range of keyboards sounds. In other words, you can EQ your boards from an Amp to sound better than the PA at times. |
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Option 4 (Use a keyboard mixing board on stage) |
Hope that helps clarify things and it sounds like it's time to do some experimenting with your sound team during a dedicated rehearsal to tweak all this. If there are more questions or if you have results to share, do come back and add to our thread. Thanks! - Marc 🎹
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