Nord User Forum

[danrv]

Hi
I’ve started doing a jazz residency (4 pc band) at a fairly large restaurant/bar and use my keyboard amplification as PA also.
I’m finding the all important stereo piano a bit tricky to achieve with this setup as my DXR10’s are doing 3 jobs - my own sound, audience sound and public address for a bit of banter between tunes.
The ideal setup sound wise would be a seperate PA speaker for chat and piano and then my DXR’s for stereo monitoring.
Even then it’s mono only for audience.
Anybody managing stereo for small jazz gigs?
Any experience appreciated.

[Rusty Mike]

I've done it a little bit. I'll run stereo or mono based on the room size and my personal ambition.

I use a Mackie ProDX 8, and can manage the sound from my iPhone or iPad. I will flank the band with my QSC K8.2's, slightly behind us and/or facing slightly away from the band. We only use one or two mics at most, so it's pretty easy to keep them out of the line of feedback fire. The rooms are too small for monitors. I do use a Mackie SRM-150 sometimes where a monitor is warranted, but mono only.

If I'm too lazy for stereo, I'll use a single K10 instead of the K8.2 pair.

The upside is that these are pretty quiet environments, so the sound is fairly clear and easy to hear. The ProDX 8 has plenty of inputs to run the Stage or Electro in stereo, one or two horns and backing tracks from the iPad. I can put some effects on the horn channels, and have separate channel EQ's as well as a Master EQ.

I would prefer to have stereo in the room, and not just in the monitors. In that kind of setting, I want the room to hear what I hear.

[danrv]

Thanks.

I will flank the band with my QSC K8.2's,

I did the same with the Yamahas but sound not great as I only had right channel for monitoring my side of the stage.

[anotherscott]

Is anything going into the PA besides your keyboard and mic? i.e. any vocals or instruments from the other 3 band members?

[danrv]

If using sax then he may use one that doubles as a chat mic.
We tend to have different players. On the first gig, the upright bass player wanted to go into the PA as his amp wasn’t kicking it out.
Last time we had guitar instead so he was self contained as was the bass.
I think if the Nord did mono well it would be simpler. Each musician has their amp and any chat/instrumental mic could go through a small PA cab or the keyboard amp.

[danrv]

I might try two DXR10’s side by side like a stereo combo.

[harmonizer]

The Royal Grand AP does very well in mono.
Also, I have not noticed any strong difference in how well the Royal Grand sounds with the mono button on or off, when listening to it using only a single speaker.

[danrv]

The Royal Grand AP does very well in mono.
Also, I have not noticed any strong difference in how well the Royal Grand sounds with the mono button on or off, when listening to it using only a single speaker.

Thanks.
I'll have to try that. Not sure if the Royal is a recent addition to the Nord library but I've been using the Silver Grand since in was introduced.
Works well for everything but best in stereo.
Also have the Grand Upright installed.

[anotherscott]

I’m finding the all important stereo piano a bit tricky to achieve with this setup as my DXR10’s are doing 3 jobs - my own sound, audience sound and public address for a bit of banter between tunes.

If using sax then he may use one that doubles as a chat mic.
We tend to have different players. On the first gig, the upright bass player wanted to go into the PA as his amp wasn’t kicking it out.
Last time we had guitar instead so he was self contained as was the bass.
I think if the Nord did mono well it would be simpler. Each musician has their amp and any chat/instrumental mic could go through a small PA cab or the keyboard amp.

It sounds like, often, no instruments (or singing voices) are going into the pair of DXR's except your own, right? So I'd try setting up the two DXRs immediately on either side of you, facing the audience. You get stereo (albeit from behind), the audience gets stereo (or as much as they ever do, as that always depends somewhat on where they are), and other people's stuff comes out of their own amps. (And it really doesn't matter where the banter comes from.)

[danrv]

Thanks, good idea.
Last time, to save room I positioned the keys side on facing across the stage area.
The suggested speaker positioning probably wouldn’t quite work in that case but it’s certainly useful if I can position keys front facing.