Balanced Out TRS cables?

[drchris]

So I think I understand the 1/4" TRS cable balanced output on the Kronos. But I still have a question about this for my home studio setup...

As I understand it, using a TRS cable (thus keeping the signal balanced) can have substantial benefit in long runs in regard to noise reduction.

In my home studio situation, I will be running the Kronos to a small mixer, which will send it's main output to BlueSky powered monitors. The mixer does have balanced TRS inputs.

So the question is: Is there an advantage to using TRS cables between the Kronos and the mixer, or am I just as well off using TS cables for such a short (3 foot) run?

Thanks!

[jahrome]

In short runs it may not make too much difference. But if your keyboard and your mixer has balanced I/O, I would still use balanced cables. They are not expensive.

[jg::]

I don't think you'll notice any difference.

jg::

[JimH]

I would say it's worth it regardless of the distance because it helps to avoid hum from ground loops. That's a bigger problem for me than electromagnetic interference. But if you try a regular TS cable and it sounds good and quiet to you, then maybe you won't need it.

[drchris]

Thanks all!

[cminor]

In a good studio , the digital output of the keyboard worth a fortune if you have an audio card with digital input

[Akos Janca]

In my home studio situation, I will be running the Kronos to a small mixer, which will send it's main output to BlueSky powered monitors.

The simplest solution is if you skip the mixer (if you can) and use:

a) an optical audio cable from Kronos to computer
b) a USB cable from Kronos to computer - this would transmit audio and MIDI, too.

In both cases you should connect your powered monitors directly to the computer.

[Melodialworks Music]

In both cases you should connect your powered monitors directly to the computer.

It would be better to connect the powered monitors to a digital audio interface that is connected to the computer. Audio cards in computers do not provide the best sound or the best latency.

[Akos Janca]

In both cases you should connect your powered monitors directly to the computer.

It would be better to connect the powered monitors to a digital audio interface that is connected to the computer. Audio cards in computers do not provide the best sound or the best latency.

You are right. Still my MacBook Pro does it well enough (for a simple home studio) without additional soundcard.

[orpheus2006]

It would be better to connect the powered monitors to a digital audio interface that is connected to the computer. Audio cards in computers do not provide the best sound or the best latency.

Especially if you have more than one HW synth.
For a simple Kronos-Computer setup, wouldn't it be better to connect the monitors directly to the Kronos and run any computer audio playbacks through the Kronos, so you don't necessarily need to turn on the computer?

[Akos Janca]

It would be better to connect the powered monitors to a digital audio interface that is connected to the computer. Audio cards in computers do not provide the best sound or the best latency.

Especially if you have more than one HW synth.
For a simple Kronos-Computer setup, wouldn't it be better to connect the monitors directly to the Kronos and run any computer audio playbacks through the Kronos, so you don't necessarily need to turn on the computer?

Yes, that's the best. In this case Kronos will function as an external soundcard.

[Lou]

It would be better to connect the powered monitors to a digital audio interface that is connected to the computer. Audio cards in computers do not provide the best sound or the best latency.

Especially if you have more than one HW synth.
For a simple Kronos-Computer setup, wouldn't it be better to connect the monitors directly to the Kronos and run any computer audio playbacks through the Kronos, so you don't necessarily need to turn on the computer?

I guess, you would then have to set your main outs in the daw to S/PDF, to return all tracks for playback.
Where and what in Kronos would you have to do , to receive and monitor this signal?

[orpheus2006]

It would be better to connect the powered monitors to a digital audio interface that is connected to the computer. Audio cards in computers do not provide the best sound or the best latency.

Especially if you have more than one HW synth.
For a simple Kronos-Computer setup, wouldn't it be better to connect the monitors directly to the Kronos and run any computer audio playbacks through the Kronos, so you don't necessarily need to turn on the computer?

I guess, you would then have to set your main outs in the daw to S/PDF, to return all tracks for playback.
Where and what in Kronos would you have to do , to receive and monitor this signal?

If I got it right, the USB audio connection is bidirectional, so you would have a USB connection between computer and Kronos and balanced TRS connection between Kronos and active monitors.

[Lou]

Especially if you have more than one HW synth.
For a simple Kronos-Computer setup, wouldn't it be better to connect the monitors directly to the Kronos and run any computer audio playbacks through the Kronos, so you don't necessarily need to turn on the computer?

I guess, you would then have to set your main outs in the daw to S/PDF, to return all tracks for playback.
Where and what in Kronos would you have to do , to receive and monitor this signal?

If I got it right, the USB audio connection is bidirectional, so you would have a USB connection between computer and Kronos and balanced TRS connection between Kronos and active monitors.

That's right, but what about the vocal tracks you want to monitor?
This simple way of monitoring can get complex, very fast?

[orpheus2006]

That's right, but what about the vocal tracks you want to monitor?

You would connect the mic to one of the analog inputs. There's actually an "audio" button that lets you easily control the audio inputs. See page 521 of the param guide for more details.