Do you play live in Mono or Stereo?

[Mr_-G-]

I believe in mono live. Why? If a person is on the left side of the audience they won't even hear the right speaker. Only lucky people dead center will enjoy the stereo. Unlike a recording or headphones where you hear it all.

My question is, if I want to send a mono signal to the mixer, do I need to connect both left/right outputs or is there some setting on the keyboard that would send both to one output?

Sure the ones on the left (or right) might not benefit much, but that assumes that the stage is very large, that the other side speakers add nothing at all and that sound does not bounce, which is most likely not the case. For the rest it is likely to sound better in stereo that in mono to varying degrees.
If your instrument does not have a mono mode (like the NS2) then try only one output (whichever sounds best for you). It seems that using only one channel causes less phase cancellation than summing the outputs (there was some info from Nord posted here explaining that the mono mode is not just the sum but a weighted sum that minimises to some extent phase cancellation that happens when summing channels.
If you are using stereo, make sure that you pan the 2 channels full in opposite directions.

[venro]

Just rehearsed with my active speakers (Eurolive F1320) fully left and right on the stage on a stand. The sounds were ever so loud and could not be better. Pianos/EPs/Organ just sound great and with lots of extra volume left for a large audience. I'll refuse to be controlled over the PA from now on.

[iamdave]

It all depends on the setting. For instance, sometimes the audience is close and you're sure to have people close to one speaker and not hearing the other. Or in a wide setting that is an issue also especially if the audience is up close. If they're farther back or you have a good bit of overhead speakers stereo does work.

I think you have to look at the stage and audience setup for each gig and determine quickly if stereo makes sense in that venue or not. What % of people will accurately hear both speakers? Sure, sound bounces but if I'm 20' from one speaker and 70'-100' from the other column guess which I'm not going to hear no matter how much sound travels and bounces?

Just my input as a soundman and lifer musician.

[vcfvca]

So, odds in most gigs and at clubs/bars on I'm just going to run Mono because it will give a more consistent sound and I won't piss the sound guy off asking for 2 DI boxes just so I can be in stereo. In all honesty 90% of the time the sound guy isn't going to turn me up to be audible against the guitars and drums anyway so I may as well not be plugged in at all for most of the gig!

Yep, got to agree with you - really sick and tired of not being heard in the mix. From reading the other posts it looks like everything is a lot more pro than in the UK. So MONO for me!

[dhbp-nord]

I bring my own DI's in my rack so the sound man can do what he wants - I always monitor myself in stereo regardless.

DH

[iamdave]

"I may as well not be plugged in at all for most of the gig"

One option is to bring your own di's. you can get a stereo one also that has 2 inputs and some will offer a sum or keep them both separate. then the sound crew just needs to give you two lines. Sometimes I do sound for a guy that has 2 keyboards, and 1 band a dude has 3 and wants his own monitor with vocals only in it.
The thing is the sound person (generally) is working for you. Or in a way is. His job is to make you / your band sound great with a killer mix etc. When it doesn't it reflects on him. If they're hired for the event, they're still responsible for making you sound good. Maybe have a friend in the audience who can tell you if you're being dropped from the mix. Then speak with the person in charge of the band and or sound man and have it corrected.

A good sound person mixes with the song also. For instance, one song is guitar driven and another is a piano ballad or key driven. Aside from that, he needs to bring parts out (riffs etc) in the song from the various instrumentalists. If they're not doing that, then... you need a new soundman.

Doing both sides of the stage has helped me a lot in understanding and realizing the bigger picture. There's also times you twist the knobs all you want and the sound just ain't there. The next band comes on and it's like OH YEA there it is. It was the band... lol! Good music is a lot easier and more fun to mix for sure. A soundperson often mixes the way "they" like music rather than as it should be or as the band wants also. Not so cool.

You are certainly at a sound person's mercy though in many ways. But make sure they are working with you and your band's best interest.

[thefingers]

When I can't go Stereo I just use a Stereo to Mono adapter like the one here: http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/prosound-mono ... pter-a68rz
That way I effectively have the stereo output in a single channel. Send this straight to the Line-In and set your main output Vol to about 2to3 O'clock giving you a little extra to boost up if needed.
Have the Sound Guy set the Gain from the Desk.
It's also worth checking that the Desk has a good equalisation and is clear of FX.
After this has been done you can tweak the EQ / Reverb on your board to get the sound you want.

[thefingers]

Not sure if that is what you should be using...
Have a look here about how to sum 2 channels properly: http://www.rane.com/note109.html

You'll probably get less phase cancellation if you use the Mono button of your NS2 (as it is a weighted sum), and perhaps even better if you use only one channel, as it has been reported here several times.

[thefingers]

Not sure if that is what you should be using...
Have a look here about how to sum 2 channels properly: http://www.rane.com/note109.html

You'll probably get less phase cancellation if you use the Mono button of your NS2 (as it is a weighted sum), and perhaps even better if you use only one channel, as it has been reported here several times.

Wow, This is great info. Thanks for the heads-up Mr_-G.
I was originally using ch1 but thought it was lacking "oomph" so then bought the splitter.

I'll try this out next week.

[Quai34]

Iamdave wrote:
"A good sound person mixes with the song also. For instance, one song is guitar driven and another is a piano ballad or key driven. Aside from that, he needs to bring parts out (riffs etc) in the song from the various instrumentalists. If they're not doing that, then... you need a new soundman.

Doing both sides of the stage has helped me a lot in understanding and realizing the bigger picture. There's also times you twist the knobs all you want and the sound just ain't there. The next band comes on and it's like OH YEA there it is. It was the band... lol! Good music is a lot easier and more fun to mix for sure. A soundperson often mixes the way "they" like music rather than as it should be or as the band wants also. Not so cool. "

TOTALLY AGREE. This is very often the issue when you joined a band without keys and when the sound guy used to mix only guitars, bass and drums...Hard to make habits changed...