nord drum connects with stage 2?

[sawcreatives]

I am fairly new to recording, and I'm really looking for a great sounding drum machine that I can use to record / play live. I'm in the process of buying a nord stage 2, and would love to be able to use the nord drum with the stage 2.

Unfortunately my audio interface only has 2 inputs. Is it possible to wire the nord drum to the stage 2? So that I don't take up those valuable inputs? My audio interface is an apogee duet 2. Any other suggestions for connecting a drum machine and nord stage 2 to play through monitors would be great! Perhaps a different interface?

Thanks everyone!

[Hambone]

You could use a direct box. The one I use, the JDI Duplex stereo DI has dual stereo inputs. This enables you to take two separate, unbalanced stereo or two channel signals like the ones output from all Nord devices and combine them into one pair of balanced signals output from the direct box. This you can use to run both instruments (now with a balanced signal) into your interface, a sound board/mixer or whatever you like.

[Hambone]

The new Nord Drum 2 is two channel stereo. I think the previous Nord Drum was mono.

[Mr_-G-]

Unfortunately my audio interface only has 2 inputs. Is it possible to wire the nord drum to the stage 2?

free: Not really... but you could connect the drum out into the nord monitor in and use the phones output of the NS2, but I do not think that this is very good as the impedance would be different than what the stereo input of your interface would expect.

some cost: Poor-man's mixer or summing box. This would add and match the impedances of the outputs of both your instruments but you might get some attenuation. I haven't tried it. If you do, please report back: http://rane.com/note109.html

some more cost: get some small mixer.

[sawcreatives]

some more cost: get some small mixer.

I am completely new to the idea of a mixer. So essentially, I could get a mixer like: http://www.sonicelectronix.com/pictures ... _id=441413 and use line 1 & 2 for the nord stage 2, and line 3 & 4 for the nord drum. Then I would use the main out L and R to plug into my L and R inputs on the apogee duet. This would allow me to play and record together?

Is there any disadvantage to this vs having an audio interface with more inputs?

Any recommendations for a 4 input audio interace with good quality that doesn't break the wallet?

Thanks for all your help!

[Hambone]

This "summing box" is pretty much the DI I suggested. Proven results. It's s pretty good idea to have the balanced signals it provides as well for added flexibility.

[Mr_-G-]

This "summing box" is pretty much the DI I suggested. Proven results. It's s pretty good idea to have the balanced signals it provides as well for added flexibility.

DI boxes convert the signal from unbalanced to balanced and usually have the same number of inputs and outpus, so I can't see how you can mix/add with one.
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/jun02/a ... iboxes.asp
http://www.thomann.de/gb/di_boxes.html

Which one do you have that mixes inputs?

[sawcreatives]

Then I would use the main out L and R to plug into my L and R inputs on the apogee duet. This would allow me to play and record together?

Yes, that is the idea, but you used all the inputs already with that mixer. I guess that for a little more money you can have one with more channels and also with some additional balanced mic inputs too. Sorry I can't recommend one . The very simple mixer I use for playing at home I assembled it many (!) years ago from an Elektor magazine circuit (which I have not clue where the diagram is now).
The guys I play with have a peavey 14 channel which seems to do the job. http://www.thomann.de/gb/peavey_pv_14.htm I plug in to the stereo channel

The above would connect/mix all to the same stereo input of your interface, but But it you want to record multiple *separate* tracks at once you need a different kind of audio interface with more inputs.
Something like http://www.thomann.de/gb/m-audio_delta_1010lt.htm
I am sure that some of the users here will be able to recommend something. I have no idea what is available for macs.

[sawcreatives]

Thanks Mr. G- from a little bit of research people say recording with the mixer (all in the same stereo inputs) isn't the optimal quality, but I am thinking for just playing around the house, that would be a great way to get everything together, and if I need to record, I can just do it separately.

That is a great idea. Considering all the other audio interfaces with more than 2 inputs at the apogee quality are $1000+

[Hambone]

http://www.radialeng.com/pdfs/manual-duplex-mk4.pdf

http://www.radialeng.com/r2011/jdiduplex.php

Just like I mentioned in the first post. It's a summing direct box. You'll want a DI to use the Nord properly with other gear any way. This is a particularly good and versatile model.