JBL 305p monitors with Electro 6D: Set-up Questions

[alexanderlyon]

Hello everyone,

After reading many helpful threads and listening to a pair of JBL 305p monitors in person, I've decided to get a set for home use with my Electro 6D 73. The salesman I spoke with recommended that I run the Electro outputs through an audio interface, however; while a friend with a Nord tells me he uses some kind of mixer. I am a total noob, and so have some questions I was hoping you all could help answer:

1) Do I in fact need to have a device sitting between the Electro and the monitors?
2) If so, should I get a mixer or an audio interface?

Recommendations for basic mixers or interfaces would also be most appreciated, if one is necessary.

Thanks in advance,

AG

[Rusty Mike]

You do not absolutely NEED a device between the Electro and the speakers, but it's a good idea. The benefits are different depending on the type of device.

A mixer will give you the benefit (depending on the model) of more accurately adjusting your gain staging and making small EQ tweaks. Most mixers include EQ controls on each channel. The mixer will also give you expandability should you want to add more sound sources. Decent models such as the Yamaha MG-06 start around $100US and go up from there.

An audio interface, in its simplest form, will also give you gain control. It also connects to your computer, so should you decide you want to record your Electro, the interface provides the way your computer's DAW will "hear" and record the audio. Depending on the model, an interface can give you more capability such as input channels. Decent models abound in the $100US price range as well, and most of them are pretty good quality.

Both of these devices contain circuitry that can help make a cleaner sound in your system as well.

Just to confuse things more, you can buy mixers with audio interface capabilities as well as audio interfaces that can serve as a mixer. About six months ago, I replaced my Steinberg UR-22 2-channel interface and Mackie mixer with a MOTU Ultra-Lite mk 5. It has 8 audio inputs, 8 audio outputs, USB to the computer, MIDI and a few other ports. It also has reverb and EQ capabilities, controlled through free software. It wasn't cheap, but the sound quality is great and it's just the right size for my home studio.

I'm not saying you have to go high end, but you will benefit from adding either a mixer or audio interface. Ask yourself a few questions:
1. Will you be adding more keyboards or modules to your setup?
2. Do you want to start doing home recording at some point?
3. Will you need to tweak the bass and treble just a bit to fit the room?

While you're doing your research, you can play the Electro directly into the speakers. Manage your gain - don't crank the Electro's volume to avoid overdriving the speakers.

[Tasten-Bert]

Hi AG,

all what Mike says is true and good, but to answer your question no. 1: you can as well link your nord directly with the monitors - left out to the one JBL and right out to the other. Just to make it audible.

The doubts I have are whether the 5“ subs are sufficient for the lowest frequencies. I‘d recommend 8“ at least.

Cheers from Germany

[alexanderlyon]

Ah, thanks so much, Mike--that's all really helpful!

I'm not saying you have to go high end, but you will benefit from adding either a mixer or audio interface. Ask yourself a few questions:
1. Will you be adding more keyboards or modules to your setup?
2. Do you want to start doing home recording at some point?
3. Will you need to tweak the bass and treble just a bit to fit the room?

In my case, I probably won't be adding more keyboards or modules, but it would be nice to record the Electro directly to the computer; so it sounds like a simple audio interface might do me at this point. Then again, I don't know if I'll need to tweak the bass and treble to suit the room--so maybe I'll just get the monitors, try 'em out on their own, and see if something with sophisticated EQ capabilities would be helpful.

[alexanderlyon]

Hi AG,

The doubts I have are whether the 5“ subs are sufficient for the lowest frequencies. I‘d recommend 8“ at least.

I'm sure those would be great! Unfortunately, I'm working in a very small, crowded space: 13' x 13' and jam-packed with other instruments, some with large footprints (including an upright piano and a 5-octave marimba!). So I'm going to stay compact for now. Besides, I think anything would be an upgrade from the Peavey KB1 I'm currently using...

[alexanderlyon]

… Besides, I think anything would be an upgrade from the Peavey KB1 I'm currently using...

Oh yes, that for sure. I guess it’s one Peavey only? So you‘ll benefit from the upgrade to two speakers for stereo piano sounds and even more. Enjoy.

Cheers

[maxpiano]

Hi AG,

The doubts I have are whether the 5“ subs are sufficient for the lowest frequencies. I‘d recommend 8“ at least.

I'm sure those would be great! Unfortunately, I'm working in a very small, crowded space: 13' x 13' and jam-packed with other instruments, some with large footprints (including an upright piano and a 5-octave marimba!). So I'm going to stay compact for now. Besides, I think anything would be an upgrade from the Peavey KB1 I'm currently using...

You can always add a subwoofer (like the LSR310S) later, if you will feel bass frequencies missing

[alexanderlyon]

You can always add a subwoofer (like the LSR310S) later, if you will bass frequencies missing

Yeah, I was thinking that!

[alexanderlyon]

By the way, this might be a silly question, but does anyone know if you can power a USB-bus powered device by plugging it into a USB wall charger, or must it run off a computer USB port?

I am strongly leaning towards a simple audio interface, and would like to *not* have always to run it using my computer. But many do not have the capability to draw power *except* through a USB cable, which would seem to limit my options--unless I can simply run one off a wall charger...

[maxpiano]

By the way, this might be a silly question, but does anyone know if you can power a USB-bus powered device by plugging it into a USB wall charger, or must it run off a computer USB port?

I am strongly leaning towards a simple audio interface, and would like to *not* have always to run it using my computer. But many do not have the capability to draw power *except* through a USB cable, which would seem to limit my options--unless I can simply run one off a wall charger...

Yes, in most (if not all) cases you can power it just via a standard USB charger. But many lower cost interfaces cannot be fully configured without a computer, so if you plan to use it in standalone frequently I suggest that, based on your budget, you opt for one that is designed to do that (e.g. my Yamaha AG03 is 90% manageable without a computer and I also have a Motu Ultralite MK3 which is 100% configurable from the panel, though quite cumbersome compared to using a computer)