Nord Piano 4 stereo vs mono, balanced vs unbalanced

[Nord33]

Question #1:
In Stereo mode, does this mean that each output contains all sounds in a single channel (mono), or in 2 channels (stereo)? I'm thinking it's probably mono, but want to be sure. Of course, even if it were stereo, it wouldn't help me because Logic Pro only receives one channel per input, and I have only 1 line input.

Question #2:
The manual's use of the term unbalanced output is confusing to me because from my reading I thought that balanced/unbalanced was a cable characteristic, and you can choose to use either cable based on your physical setup. In fact, I've done trials with both a TS (unbalanced) and TRS (balanced) cable, and they both work equally well. So I'm not sure what it means to call an output unbalanced?

Thanks!

Actually, exactly from the user manual (from what you have written here) you can easily see answer to both of your questions (and both of them are related to each other).
1. Stereo outputS --> 2 holes, each contains 1 mono output
Stereo outpuT --> 1 hole, contains stereo output (it's unbalanced) --> example of that is headphone jack

2. when you add balanced/unbalanced terms to this whole story --> you can see, Nord manual says unbalanced outputs, that means that you'll need to use not TRS but TS cable.

Important: Don't confuse TRS cable with stereo and balanced output... because that are two completely different terms. Stereo only means two of something. In Keyboard terms, that almost always means L+R, and that L+R could either be sent through:

1. One TRS cable --> single unbalanced stereo output (LR)
2. Two TS cables --> two unbalanced mono outputs (L+R) --> but it's still a stereo image when two mono tracks are connected together
3. Two TRS cables --> two balanced mono outputs (L+R) --> not all keyboards support this (so many players use DI Boxes with TS cables) --> in this case, you're sending two inverted signals through each TRS cable, but one cable contains only one L or R mono.

That's the story with mono, stereo, balanced and unbalanced (TRS, TS, XLR...) cables, keyboards, sounds, whatever

P.S. Sorry everyone, I just saw many of you already answered this question... I missed that and went straight to answer this

[Hlaalu]

where the "R" part is (hopefully) unused.

Consider though that in our use case (keyboard outputting mono signal(s) through TS jack(s)), if the input jack of your recording device (or mixer, or amp, or effect pedal, or whatever you're hooking your keyboard to) is equipped with a TRS connection, you shouldn't use a TRS cable because it will route the T (where the totality of your sound lies) to one side, and the R (where nothing is there) on the other, so you'll end up with a mono sound (albeit carrying 100% of the information) panned to the left, and no sound at all (or buzz, since the R inside your keyboard is floating) on the right.

Conversely, if you use a TS cable, the Ring and the Sleeve will short inside of the recording device (mixer/pedal/whatever) basically "telling" the device it's a TS mono signal that you're sending, and you'll have it correctly spread to the L and R.

So in short: don't use a TRS cable with TS jacks, unless both ends are equipped with TS jacks, in which case the R will truly float at either ends of the connection and it will literally have no more impact on the system than a piece of cable you keep in your bag.

[diogenes]

Interesting that the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 interface manual says its 2 inputs accept both TRS and TS plugs. I guess that means it detects which it is and adjusts accordingly, which seems clever.

[FZiegler]

I don't have it, but the manual says, that you should set the litlle switch to INST if you have a (unbalanced) TS and to LINE if you have a (balanced) TRS connection. You don't need to switch anything if you plug in a microphone via XLR connector - that will be detected automatically. Cf. p. 10 in the manual.

[diogenes]

I don't have it, but the manual says, that you should set the litlle switch to INST if you have a (unbalanced) TS and to LINE if you have a (balanced) TRS connection. [...] Cf. p. 10 in the manual.

Yeah, that's an interesting paragraph in the manual, and IMO is an example of how unclear writing causes confusion. The manual actually reads:

Press the INST button (illuminates red) if you are connecting a musical instrument (a guitar in the example) via an ordinary 2-pole (TS) guitar jack. When INST mode is not selected, you can connect a line level source such as a keyboard, synthesiser or the balanced output of an external audio mixer via a 3-pole (TRS) jack

(bold mine)

I think the TRS jack was meant only for the bolded section, i.e. an external audio mixer. It's the only thing that makes sense to me, since TS/TRS should not have anything to do with the strength of the voltage in the line. In fact, I am connecting the Nord with the TS cables -- because unbalanced mono is coming from the Nord.

[FZiegler]

Even if the text I was reading from the online PDF version of the manual was quite different:

Note the Scarlett 2i2 has no “Mic/line” switch – the Focusrite preamplifier stage is automatically configured for a microphone when you plug an XLR into the input, and for a line or instrument when you connect a jack plug. Set the LINE/INST switch next to the socket to INST if you are connecting a musical instrument (a guitar in the example) via an ordinary 2-pole (TS) guitar jack, or to LINE if you are connecting a line level source such as the balanced output of a stage piano via a 3-pole (TRS) jack. Note the Combo connector accepts both TRS and TS types of jack plug.

your are right, that I may have been mislead. It may well be that the LINE/INST switch has the same function as on any other audio device (level switch) - and nothing to do with balanced and unbalanced input.

Which would mean that you have to set the selector to LINE if recording your Nord even if it is unbalanced. What you usually do anyway.

So no need to wonder about the terms used for marking the switch. Just to wonder about mixing in TS and TRS into the text for describing the difference and confusing people. It will probably be totally unimportant if it's balanced or unbalanced input.