Musicians report. R...
 

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[Closed] Musicians report. Recommend me a monitor amp for my new synth please

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I received my Korg Minilogue yesterday and I'd like to hear what it can do.

Any recommendations for a decent low powered amp? I've for £100 to spend.

Many thanks.


 
Posted : 27/10/2017 7:38 am
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Blimey this is gonna roll off the page before I get a response!


 
Posted : 27/10/2017 9:09 am
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Something like an Alto TX10 PA speaker? Not terrible and will do the job..... I'd keep an eye out for a 10 inch PA speaker on the second hand market tbh.... although not that many come up for sale as a single....


 
Posted : 27/10/2017 9:40 am
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If you're using at home the better solution would be to buy an audio interface and some monitor speakers?


 
Posted : 27/10/2017 9:46 am
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Plyphon - I will only be using at home. Could you give an example of an audio interface please?


 
Posted : 27/10/2017 9:49 am
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Just buy some decent headphones. You only need an audio interface if you are connecting it to a DAW.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sony-MDR-7506-Professional-Headphone-Black/dp/B000AJIF4E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1509098194&sr=8-1&keywords=the+sony+mdr-7506

I use those, paid cheaper for them mind, 70 if i remember right.


 
Posted : 27/10/2017 9:56 am
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I already have some Sennheiser RS180s.

If I spend £3 on a 6.3>3.5mm jack am I away?


 
Posted : 27/10/2017 10:02 am
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Should be, a synth is more than a midi controller, it makes noise, so aye I'd imagine so.


 
Posted : 27/10/2017 10:04 am
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[b]Connectors Headphones (6.3mm stereo phone jack) [/b]
Output (6.3mm monaural phone jack)
Audio In (6.3mm monaural phone jack)
Sync In (3.5mm monaural mini jack)
Sync Out (3.5mm monaural mini jack)
MIDI In
MIDI Out
USB Type B

http://www.korg.com/uk/products/synthesizers/minilogue/spec_downloads.php


 
Posted : 27/10/2017 10:06 am
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If you're using at home the better solution would be to buy an audio interface and some monitor speakers

This.

Something like a Focusrite Scarlett (Or RME if you're feeling flush) and a pair of these -

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tapco-S5-Studio-Monitor-Pair/142544504176?hash=item2130508570:g:zjAAAOSwZW5Z6PBU

Or these

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/tapco-s8-studio-monitors-active-speakers-made-by-Mackie/332219972522?hash=item4d59da7baa:g:65YAAOSwIQdZF5fG

I have both and they are suberb especially with the SW10 sub, the quality is indiscernible from my brother's Mackies.


 
Posted : 27/10/2017 10:08 am
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Audio interface is to connect to a computer. Is that what you are after?


 
Posted : 27/10/2017 11:51 am
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At the moment I just want to play through some speakers at a moderate volume.

DAW etc. may come later.

Can I play through my Denon mini system via USB?


 
Posted : 27/10/2017 12:28 pm
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I have a Native Instruments Audio Kontrol 1 audio interface that would work, connect that to a small pair of active speakers such as [url= https://www.whybuynew.co.uk/sound-pa/speakers/active/alesis-m1-active-320-usb-studio-monitors-speakers.htm ]these Alesis M1 if money is tight[/url] or if you are feeling flush [url= https://www.whybuynew.co.uk/sound-pa/speakers/active/krk-rokit-4-g3-.htm ]KRK Rokit 4 if you are feeling flush[/url]

You could have the Audio Kontrol for £25 if you like, it's been sitting in my cupboard for a couple of years. I'm pretty sure i have the xlr jack leads to connect audio kontrol to active speakers.

[url= http://www.musicradar.com/reviews/tech/native-instruments-audio-kontrol-1-22773 ]Link to Audio
Kontrol here[/url]

EDIT : the usb output on the minilogue is for midi control only, The Audio I/O is a single quarter–inch output, a single–channel quarter–inch audio input, and a quarter–inch TRS headphone output - this is the output to use. I'd use a stereo cable which splits to two mono outputs which would take the stereo output of the headphone jack and split it out into separate left and right leads to plug into the Audio Kontrol then to active speakers


 
Posted : 27/10/2017 12:28 pm
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Look for a second hand powered stage monitor - something like the Studio Spares stage monitor or Behringer Eurolive.
Full range speakers, pretty powerful amps, and will give you a decent sound.

Something like this.... [url= https://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/Behringer-eurolive-F1220A-125-WATT-active-monitor/302496298456?hash=item466e2f35d8%3Ag%3ACr4AAOSwXrdZ60rV&_trkparms=pageci%253Ab0b6b9dd-bb12-11e7-a53e-74dbd180816d%257Cparentrq%253A5dd06a1b15f0a991b25c8eaefffcf010%257Ciid%253A2 ]Speaker on EBay [/url]


 
Posted : 27/10/2017 12:35 pm
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derek_starship - Member
At the moment I just want to play through some speakers at a moderate volume.

DAW etc. may come later.

Can I play through my Denon mini system via USB?

The USB will most likely be for it connect to a computer for midi purposes, you're probably looking at taking the headphone/output out to your hifi somehow.

you should mibbe read the manual/youtube a couple of videos...


 
Posted : 27/10/2017 12:35 pm
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If you're only using it at low volume, get an active studio monitor. Don't get a stage monitor because it'll sound feeble unless you can increase your budget tenfold.


 
Posted : 27/10/2017 12:48 pm
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It depends what the end goal is.

If the goal is to play in 'isolation', like you would an acoustic guitar round the campfire, and not record or process your sound in any way what so ever - then a portable amp type thing works.

If you want to connect your synth to bigger, better sounding speakers, be able to route the sound to a computer, add (virtual) effects to your synth and ultimately record your music - then you'll need an audio interface. Broadly speaking.

A great beginner audio interface is the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2. It has two outputs to your active monitor speakers, and two inputs for your synths. It goes to USB to your PC.

Personally, I would never listen to a synth dry. Some people like raw synth sounds, but I only enjoy subtractive synths with some EQ and a reverb/delay. I don't have hardware racks, so I used to connect my BassStation 2 to my interface and apply FX inside Ableton. I could record that into my tracks that way. My 'studio' (read: lounge) monitors reproduced the sound.

At the end of next week I'll have a Focusrite 2i2 for sale. If anyones interested let me know. There are plenty on the Bay though.


 
Posted : 27/10/2017 12:51 pm
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@somafunk, I'm looking for an audio interface for my brother. Is it still available?


 
Posted : 27/10/2017 12:51 pm
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Or a simpler method : you could just use a stereo cable which splits to two mono outputs which would take the stereo output of the headphone jack and split it out into separate left and right leads to plug into the RCA/jack input on active speakers


 
Posted : 27/10/2017 12:53 pm
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Yeah, if you want it?


 
Posted : 27/10/2017 12:54 pm
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Or a simpler method : you could just use a stereo cable which splits to two mono outputs which would take the stereo output of the headphone jack and split it out into separate left and right leads to plug into the RCA/jack input on active speakers

Or into the aux input on your hi fi.


 
Posted : 27/10/2017 12:55 pm
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At the end of next week I'll have a Focusrite 2i2 for sale. If anyones interested let me know. There are plenty on the Bay though.

convienient! 😆 😉

Only kidding! I can recommend it, been happily using the 2i4 for a good while now. Might need to double up on usb sockets if using a laptop though, one port wasn't enough for me.


 
Posted : 27/10/2017 1:19 pm
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Or a simpler method : you could just use a stereo cable which splits to two mono outputs which would take the stereo output of the headphone jack and split it out into separate left and right leads to plug into the RCA/jack input on active speakers

I got one of these cables and plugged it into the ANALOGUE IN sockets on the back of my mini-system. Absolutely lovely. I also got a 6.3>3.5 adaptor so I can use my RS180s. Again - works lovely.

So all sorted thanks to STW and Maplin for £20.

Thanks all.


 
Posted : 27/10/2017 3:11 pm

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