Nord User Forum

I was about to purchase a Roland 880 for my Nord Stage 2 when I began to read this forum and I see that the consensus here is that it is better to go with two powered PA speakers (QSC and EV seem to be the favorites) if you want a stereo monitor. My question is this- If I go with two powered speakers, how do I get a mixed mono signal to the soundboard? The reason I was going to go with the Roland 880 is that I would get to enjoy a stereo mix on the stage, but that amp will mix the signal to mono to send out to the house. However, I don't want to sacrifice overall sound quality by going with an amp over speakers.

Sometimes I have to play a smaller venue where it's just me and the Nord and a vocal mic, so the ability to use the amp/ speakers as a small PA for the room when required is also important. Again, the 880 fits the bill, but from what I read here I will be disappointed in the acoustic piano sound.

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Most of the active speakers have a balanced di out to carry the signal to the main mixer.
If not, you can use a double in di box, connect your nord in the box and take from the other in connector the copied signal and connect your amp from there.
I send a stereo signal to the pa mixer and have an active jbl eon 15 clone, with jbl original driver, and a Yamaha mg802 to mix if i'm using more than 1 keyboard. I don't get worried on the perfect sound on stage, i just wanna hear what i'm playing over the drummer and guitar amps!!! The pa operator has the good signal in his hands.

Leo, thanks for the response and yes, I could take the balanced di from the speakers, but that still will give me two lines to the house PA, and they will typically only want one from me. I can't find a double in di box that does what you described. I would need it to give me two lines back to me speakers, but one line to the house. Do you know of such a device?

Given that, find a less-lazy sound tech or use a little mixer to feed the l -r monitors ans the pre fader aux to the sound board. The mixer will do a mono mix of al the channels in use.
Just my opinion!

Try having a look at the Radial Stagebug SB2, about £60 over here, so I guess under $90 for you. Very small, very neat, very effective. Should do what you want. There is a demo on You Tube. Like all Radial products, built to last for ever.


SSM

The Radial is just a mono input. No help there.

Incorrect. If you read about the product info, you'll find out that you can use it for mixing stereo to mono by connecting the other channel to the thru socket.

What Mr G said.

Like most of Radial's DI boxes, you can set it up two or three different ways to suit differing configurations. AS I said in the earlier post, check the video demo. Also, look at the instructions from Radial when you google "SB2 Stagebug"


SSM

ah, I see it now! Thank you, I do believe this will solve my issue!

I use since many years Motion Sound KP 100 s and I am very satisfied. Clear piano sounds and also for fine Synth sounds very good and transparent.
Maybe a little bit too weak if you play in bigger Venus. For home it is for me perfect.
Wolfgang