Keyboards/sequencer/workstation, Best connection to digital multitracker Options

[Nels]

The most common connection for keys to a mixer/digital mutitracker is L/R out to L/R in, but does anyone know how to get a more spacious/ambient sound in the headphones/monitors? I've never tried it, but as with 2 amps giving a more spacious stereo sound, will that work with keyboards? Instead of relying on the phantom power from the mixer, would it be possible to hook up seperate, (preferably small amps) to the L and another to the R. Example: Out L of the keys to amp--Out R to another amp and then L/R out from the amps to the mixer/digital mutitracker. so that both channels are independent of one another? And if so, does anyone know which stereo amp or individual amps to use. I'm thinking small with just enough power to get a clean, full and noiseless signal to the mixer. Or is there some other way? ....Personally, I like to lay everything down on the sequencer's tracks, except for the vocals and guitar, then play along with the guitar and vocals while recording into the mixer. I'm successful with getting the guitar and vocals into the mix, but it takes a lot of tweaking to get it right. Sometimes, by the time I get it all sounding right, I've worn the song out in my head/ears and it doesn't seem worth wild anymore to go on with certain songs. I know that as a rule it's best to lay down individual tracks on the mixer and with little or no effects, but recording dry or near dry sure is boring. I ask again, is there a better way? Maybe I'm making little sense, if any, but there's got to be a way to get that great, great, tongue hanging out, spacious, incredibly ambient sound from my keys in the headphones or monitors while rehearsing and then laying down the tracks. The kind of sound that inspires you to create and then to be able to play along with, using only 2 channels. Well, since I do most of my sequencing on my keyboards/workstation,(drums, strings, horns and such) I'm hoping this is read by someone that knows, preferably a keyboardist, that can show me the way to greener grasses. .......Thanks in advance, if you're out there.

[swilder]

One thing to consider is that all outputs are not created equal. Alot of keyboards tell you to use the Left output for a mono signal. I have found in many keyboards that the mono signal is not the same as if you took the Left and Right outputs and Y'd them together to mono. So I very much recommend that you go out of the Left and the right channels of the keyboard.

As far as making it sound "big". If you have a real dense mix with alot of different sounds, it might be more effective to give each sound it's own small place in the mix instead of spreading every sound everywhere.

Just my 2 cents

Scott