Nord User Forum

I have a CPS Spacestation v3.

When I plug the TS audio cables from the Nord directly to the Spacestation amp, the sound is noticeably superior then when I go through a Mackie mixer OR a Radial JDI Direct box

The Radial JDI direct box is equipped with Jensen transformers which are supposedly the "best". It also has THRU outputs, and I'm using another pair of good quality unbalanced cables to connect the Radial JDI to the amp. Basically the Direct box is acting just as an adapter or extension in this case (but normally I'd use it to send a balanced mix to FOH, and the THRU ports for my personal monitor)

On the other hand, the mackie mixer is equipped with their new Vita preamps which are supposedly great quality also.

Question is, why is this happening (why is sound degrading)? The THRU port on the Direct box, shouldn't that just send an untouched duplicate original signal?

And I'm positive that the sound "degrades" somewhat, it seems richer and fuller when I connect my Nord directly to the amp

Oh, and this happens to every other keyboard as well (so this doesn't necessary apply only to the Nord).
My TS cable lengths are pretty short.

Hi,

a high-Z input may give a better bass response, compared to a low-Z input, because the DC decoupling caps in the output act as highpass filter.
The corner frequency (3 dB/octave) is 1/(2 pi RC).
As long as R is high it affects only earthquake frequencies, but lower R ("Z") will move the cutoff frequency into the audible range.

For example, an assumed 10uF coupling cap into a 10kOhms input forms a 1.6 Hz highpass, which is as good as a wire.
The same source into a 100 ohms input moves the corner freq to 160 Hz, which will have a very audible impact on the signal.

This is just a possible explanation.

How do you set the pan in the channels of your instrument when playing thought the mixer? They should be kept separated, (i.e. panned in opposite directions). If you have both channels the middle, that is mixing the output into a mono signal, and the ss3 will not be able to make its simulated stereo trick.

(accidental duplicate post by editing)

I think Mr G's suspect - stereo - may very well be the culprit. If you're using the Radial Duplex model, you should check the settings of the Mono switches.

I just bought CPS V3. I plugged my Stage 2 EX to SS3 in diffrent ways: directly, thorugh the mixer and through my interface. Every time when i play something (no matter what instrument) the side speaker of the SS3 generates a large amount of distortion . Is that normal?

Not normal. The SSv3 is especially sensitive to cable issues. Even the smallest amount of dirt in one signal path will be dramatically amplified by the side-firing speaker. Start by swapping out your audio cables, then go from there.

My Spacestation was broken. I got a new one from Thomann. How to set up my Stage 2 EX with SSv3 properly? I noticed that when I set the volume on Stage at 3 o'clock and set the volume on SSv3 at 10 o'clock, the sound becomes clipped faster, than when I set the volume on both devices at 12 o'clock. Ps. Sorry for my English

I just purchased the Radial Pro Key Largo... And it is fantastic!

3 stereo line inputs
1 USB in / out for Soft Synth (see recessed studio / live switch)
1 stereo effects buss
Midi In / Out for USB to Midi
Stereo XLR mains with level / ground lift
Stereo TRS for Stage monitoring with level / ground lift