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.

[Synthetic]

ok... first your post is a bit intimidating and might be scaring off many readers (looks like one big long paragrap)... just as a suggestion... you might want to break down long posts into smaller paragraphs and more concise to help lure more peoiple in to reading it and hopefully offering some advice

I am not exactly sure what you are trying to accomplish. Basically, are you just wanting to make your keyboard sound more spacious in the final mix of your music? And it sound like you are recording everything summed from your mixer right? When I want to make keyboards sit more in space... I use reverbs and such. Does you mixer have any reverbs? Yes you can create a sense of space by micing amps but then you get into phase alignment issues with stereo recordings and its a lot of trial and error.

Can you try to explain just a bit more and I will see if I can be more of help

[Nels]

My sincere and deepest apologies. It truly was not my intension to be at all intimidating. I'm a very very nice guy. REALLY! It was only my, apparently failed attempt to be as clear concise as possible.

For the best stereo signal, are there any special keyboard/synth (direct) connections to the board/mixer that anyone might know about?.... was the basic question. I do use effects, but generally when recording dierect, it's best to record as dry as possible and add the effects in during mixdown. The standard connection will do fine, ...just thought there might be a better way.

With complete sincerity, I thank you for the heads-up. It is much appreciated and well noted. I certainly don't want to detour anyone from this forum. This forum is spectacular!

How was that?

[Synthetic]

much better... its not a rule or law (I tend to do same thing somtimes) but have noticed that it always seems best to describe as much of youir situation as possible and the problem with as little wording and you get more people who will read and reply. Just a pattern I noticed. It's not really driving anyone away though.. they just seem to skip long and hard to figure text unless concise and broken up a bit so no worries

so I think I now understand what you are talking about... only I have no clue on any special way to connect the keyboard really to accomplish that. Maybe someone else can jump in here and offer more help than I

[dixiechicken]

Imagine your song to be a painting on a canvas. You fill that space in various ways. High and low frequencies complex waveforms of all kinds.
Silence is just as important.

Effects used properly are good for ambience, but also playing around with the frequencies/sound of your piano. Is there a space for that particular piano-sound in your soundmix.

As Einstein is often said to have stipulated- All things are relative .

Cheers: Dixiechicken

[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

[Nels]

Thanks guys! ...I do appreciate you taking the time. If I discover a way, I'll let you all know...............

HAVE A GREAT TIME OVER THE HOLIDAYS

[Synthetic]

Happy Holidays to you too Nels!