Korg, poor sound quality issue

floydkahue · Post by **floydkahue** » Mon Aug 22, 2011 6:02 pm

I'm pretty new to computer-based music, so this may seem like a silly issue...(I'm a lot smarter about guitar

I love the iMS-20, but it sounds terrible when I plug it into my studio monitors...

1. Is this because it's using the ipad sound card?
2. Does the Alesis dock solve this problem?
3. If this is a sound card issue, can I change the settings on my iPad to use my Rig Kontrol or Macbook sound card?

BTW, this is the connection I'm currently using...headphone jack to Y connector. Y connector to inputs 1 & 2 on Rig Kontrol. Korg plays thru an audio track in Ableton.
BTW, I'm using a stereo 1/4" chord, but am still getting mono.

inaheartbeat · Post by **inaheartbeat** » Tue Aug 23, 2011 11:54 am

I connect the headphone output with an adapter that splits the 1/8 stereo plug into two channels and then I use balanced cables to connect up to a patch panel in my studio. From there the inputs go to a MOTU 828 MK II and the output of that goes to a Hafler amp with NS-10 speakers. I have no issues with the sound other than wishing I could get the digital signal directly out of the iPad instead of the analog headphone out. For that I have to wait till iOS 5. The noise floor on the headphone out is not great but I am guessing you are getting a lot more than is typical from your description.

The Alesis IO Dock will likely not solve your problem. Start with your cabling. Are you using balanced cables? They will give you less noise if you are running over some distance. I don't know what the performance of your other equipment is either so that may be introducing the noise.

xmlguy · Post by **xmlguy** » Tue Aug 23, 2011 12:53 pm

You both should look more carefully at the plug for the normal apple earbuds. Notice that it has two rings, not one like a standard It isn't a normal stereo 1/8" jack. It has two stereo outputs plus a mic input, thus it has a tip and two rings, instead of a tip and a single ring. You can't use most audio 1/8" cables or adapters unless they've been made for iPod.

Also many Y adapters are mono, and it's very bad to use one of those on any 1/8" stereo jack because it shorts the two outputs together.

inaheartbeat · Post by **inaheartbeat** » Tue Aug 23, 2011 1:13 pm

xmlguy wrote:You both should look more carefully at the plug for the normal apple earbuds. Notice that it has two rings, not one like a standard It isn't a normal stereo 1/8" jack. It has two stereo outputs plus a mic input, thus it has a tip and two rings, instead of a tip and a single ring. You can't use most audio 1/8" cables or adapters unless they've been made for iPod.

Also many Y adapters are mono, and it's very bad to use one of those on any 1/8" stereo jack because it shorts the two outputs together.

Mine was for the iPod. I have no problems.