Connect keyboard to Focusrite interface

[byllsong]

Good morning everyone.
It's been a while since I posted here, been busy and re-organizing my life.
I have a Korg Kross. I don't use midi.
I create music on-board and transfer it to my computer via headphone jack to Cakewalk.
I just got a laptop that doesn't have a audio line in.
I'm thinking that a Focusrite Solo might work.
Problem is that the Solo only has a single direct/line input.
My concern is weather the line-level is stereo or not.
I would hate to purchase one in Miami, have it shipped here,
and find out that the line-level is mono and all my stereo mixes don't work.
Does anybody have any experience or knowledge about what I'm asking.
Does my question make sense?
Thanks

Billy

[Len911]

It would be rare for a preamp to have stereo, they generally come in mono channels, so you'd need 2, Your daw would then see the "stereo" as two different channels. It's rare also that a preamp would have pan controls.

Another option, are usb mixers. https://www.sweetwater.com/store/search ... b=low2high
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/compar ... 2,ZEDi8%29

[byllsong]

Thanks Len.
So, do I connect the mixer to the laptop via usb connectors
and connect the keyboard line out to the mixer left and right?
Does that sound right?

[Lipskimusic]

I would recommend the Focusrite Scarlett 6i6 (249 USD). It is not bus-powered (I understand you are using a laptop) but it offers 2 jack line-ins (which bypass the interface's preamp (!) so you can simply adjust the gain for both channels simultaneously using the single volume control on the Korg). This is probably the cheapest solution. According to my research (I have been in a similar situation before...), all other (cheaper) interfaces are not 'true line-in' so you will hit the preamps (e.g. Audient, Tascam, M-Audio asf.) which means in most cases that you need to fiddle around quite a bit to get both channels to an exact equal level using physical controls on the unit. The 'most affordable' option where you can exactly adjust/match the gain level of two channels using the manufacturer's software is the Apogee Duet (approx. 600 USD and bus-powered) or the smallest Apogee Element (approx. same price, not bus-powered but no 'breakout cable' - in case you hate these as much as I do ).

I hope this helps.

Cheers,
Matt

[waveheavy]

You apparently made a double post. I gave answer also on the other post.

Your Korg Kross and the Focusrite Solo will work fine. You don't use the audio ports to set it up. You use USB ports and USB cables. Your Korg Kross has a USB connector, and so does the Focusrite Solo. Both of those hookup to separate USB ports on your laptop (hopefully you do have 2 USB ports on your laptop). That's how your audio is transferred to your DAW in the laptop. You no longer need an Audio In jack.

The Focusrite Solo has a "Device Link" port on the rear which operates as a USB port. Only thing left to do is adapt the RCA outputs on the rear of the Focusrite to whatever monitors you're using.

If you just got to have an analog sound going into your DAW, then your back to Lipskimusic's suggestions. The Focusrite Solo wouldn't work in that case, since it only has 1 Input.

Thanks Len.
So, do I connect the mixer to the laptop via usb connectors
and connect the keyboard line out to the mixer left and right?
Does that sound right?

[Lipskimusic]

You apparently made a double post. I gave answer also on the other post.

Your Korg Kross and the Focusrite Solo will work fine. You don't use the audio ports to set it up. You use USB ports and USB cables. Your Korg Kross has a USB connector, and so does the Focusrite Solo. Both of those hookup to separate USB ports on your laptop (hopefully you do have 2 USB ports on your laptop). That's how your audio is transferred to your DAW in the laptop. You no longer need an Audio In jack.

The Focusrite Solo has a "Device Link" port on the rear which operates as a USB port. Only thing left to do is adapt the RCA outputs on the rear of the Focusrite to whatever monitors you're using.

If you just got to have an analog sound going into your DAW, then your back to Lipskimusic's suggestions. The Focusrite Solo wouldn't work in that case, since it only has 1 Input.

Thanks Len.
So, do I connect the mixer to the laptop via usb connectors
and connect the keyboard line out to the mixer left and right?
Does that sound right?

Interesting, I was not aware that the Kross sends audio via USB. If that is the case then obviously my posting is irrelevant unless you are looking for a specific analog sound...

[waveheavy]

Yeah, I looked up the Korg Kross specs. It has a USB port. The Focusrite Solo is misleading. It's USB port on the back has a marking like "Device Link", but it's a USB connection, so it can be a little misleading. The next real question is does any of the USB connections require a USB 3.0 format which is common on most newer computers.

You apparently made a double post. I gave answer also on the other post.

Your Korg Kross and the Focusrite Solo will work fine. You don't use the audio ports to set it up. You use USB ports and USB cables. Your Korg Kross has a USB connector, and so does the Focusrite Solo. Both of those hookup to separate USB ports on your laptop (hopefully you do have 2 USB ports on your laptop). That's how your audio is transferred to your DAW in the laptop. You no longer need an Audio In jack.

The Focusrite Solo has a "Device Link" port on the rear which operates as a USB port. Only thing left to do is adapt the RCA outputs on the rear of the Focusrite to whatever monitors you're using.

If you just got to have an analog sound going into your DAW, then your back to Lipskimusic's suggestions. The Focusrite Solo wouldn't work in that case, since it only has 1 Input.

Thanks Len.
So, do I connect the mixer to the laptop via usb connectors
and connect the keyboard line out to the mixer left and right?
Does that sound right?

Interesting, I was not aware that the Kross sends audio via USB. If that is the case then obviously my posting is irrelevant unless you are looking for a specific analog sound...

[byllsong]

Thanks guys,
This gives me something to consider.

[Len911]

Connecting the KROSS to a computer USB connection

The KROSS provides both MIDI and USB connectors as standard equipment. By connecting the KROSS to your computer via USB, you can use it as a controller and MIDI sound module for your DAW software with single cable convenience; and with out the need for a MIDI interface.By using the dedicated editor, you can edit some of the parameters of the KROSS from your computer as though it were a software plug-in.Note:The USB connector of the KROSS is only able to transmit and receive MIDI data.Before you connect the KROSS to your computer via USB, you must install the KORG USB-MIDI driver on your computer.About the software The latest version of the KORG USB-MIDI driver and the KROSS Editor/Plug-in Editor can be downloaded from the Korg website. (http://www.korg.co.jp/English/Distributors/ or http://www.korg.com/

http://www.korg.com/us/support/download ... /#software

Unfortunately, the usb is for midi and the editor software only, no audio. Also Usb is backward compatible.

[Len911]

Thanks Len.
So, do I connect the mixer to the laptop via usb connectors
and connect the keyboard line out to the mixer left and right?
Does that sound right?

Yes!

Connect the KROSS’s OUTPUT L/MONO and R jacks to the input jacks of your monitor amplifier or mixer.Note:If you connect only the L/MONO jack, the L and R sound will be mixed for monaural output. In order to take full advantage of the KROSS’s capabilities, we recommend that you listen in stereo.If you’re playing back through your stereo audio system or a cassette-radio that has external input connectors, connect the KROSS to the jacks that are marked LINE IN, AUX IN, or external input. (You might need to obtain the appropriate adapter plug or conversion cable

The left and right out jacks on the Korg are 1/4".

For example, let's use the Peavey mixer I linked earlier. https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/PV6V2
It is a 6 channel mixer. Look at the top. There are numbers for the channels. 1, 2, 3/4, 5/6
1,2 = mic/instruments
3/4= left+right 1/4" jacks, and a 1/8" stereo jack, may use either the left+right 1/4" jacks or the 1/8" jack, not both for this input.
5/6= left+right 1/4" jacks, and a left and right rca jacks, again may use either, not both.

Thus, 6-channel Compact Mixer with 2 Mic/Instrument Inputs, 2 Stereo Line Input Channels, USB I/O, and Built-in Compressor.

You may use either the 3/4 or 5/6 1/4" jacks for the Korg. If you also had an 1/8" stereo source to hook up to the mixer, you would use the 5/6, or if you also had a source to hook up with rca jacks, you would use the 3/4. If you have nothing else to hook up, or mic/instruments, it wouldn't matter. Inputs 3/4 though have eq and a preamp, and 5/6 don't, so 5/6 would probably suite your purposes better.