Topic by HermanVanAartsen

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  • HermanVanAartsen
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Topic: Which (keyboard)amplifier for live use?

Dear all,

Currently I'm playing in a jazz-band consisting of a double-bass, saxophone, voice and piano. I like to use PianoTeq during the gigs but also want to blow the others away,....sound-wise
Because everyone is using his/her own amplification/speaker system, I need a good (keyboard)-amplifier myself for use in small venues. In large venues (if there will be some) we'll hire a large system.
The question is: which (keyboard)-amplifier is the best for amplifying the sound of PianoTeq live on stage? Last time I used Adam's (which are pricey studio monitors) but the sound was muddy and blurred; i.e. individual notes were not distinguishable and therefor there was no click with the other band members So not completely up to the task.

Any advice would be really appreciated so that next time jazz is really jazz

Thanx,
Herman

Last edited by HermanVanAartsen (07-03-2011 20:31)

Reply by sigasa

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Re: Which (keyboard)amplifier for live use?

http://www.mlancentral.com/forums/showf...l&vc=1

Reply by HermanVanAartsen

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Re: Which (keyboard)amplifier for live use?

Thanx! I've a bit of reading to do

Reply by Luc Henrion

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Re: Which (keyboard)amplifier for live use?

yes, you probably should avoid studio monitors: they are made for precision in a controlled environment, not to "push the dB's out" !
Currently, I'm very satisfied with a pair of dB Technologies Opera 410D (well, I own 3 pairs now, actually!). You could investigate in other bi-amplified systems, there are a lot of them now with "digital" amps, that means not weighting a ton. The 410D are 300 w + 100 w each but weight 10 kilos only (so you won't destroy your hands before the gig !), and the sound is really well balanced. When I'm not at the piano but at the mixing console I frequently use them as stage monitors and the musicians (mainly jazzmen) are always happy.

http://dbtechnologies.com/index.php?id=..._amdbt_pi1[category]=16&cHash=694e18c137

Luc Henrion's Website

Reply by HermanVanAartsen

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Re: Which (keyboard)amplifier for live use?

Thanx again!
I was just wondering: what a about a keyboard-amplifier like e.g. Motion Sound - kp-500sn? Are there pros/cons? I will use the speaker just for my keyboard/PianoTeq setup only. Of course I want a system that is up to the task, i.e. producing the Pianoteq sound and all of its dynamics without getting muddy or notes "melting" together.

Cheers,
Herman

Last edited by HermanVanAartsen (08-03-2011 20:29)

Reply by sigasa

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Re: Which (keyboard)amplifier for live use?

HermanVanAartsen wrote:

Thanx again!
I was just wondering: what a about a keyboard-amplifier like e.g. Motion Sound - kp-500sn? Are there pros/cons? I will use the speaker just for my keyboard/PianoTeq setup only. Of course I want a system that is up to the task, i.e. producing the Pianoteq sound and all of its dynamics without getting muddy or notes "melting" together.

Cheers,
Herman

I would seriously recommend, at the very least, a stereo setup. Whether you decide on two Keyboard amps, or a pair of speakers etc.

Chris

Reply by Jake Johnson

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Re: Which (keyboard)amplifier for live use?

HermanVanAartsen wrote:

Thanx again!
I was just wondering: what a about a keyboard-amplifier like e.g. Motion Sound - kp-500sn? Are there pros/cons? I will use the speaker just for my keyboard/PianoTeq setup only. Of course I want a system that is up to the task, i.e. producing the Pianoteq sound and all of its dynamics without getting muddy or notes "melting" together.

Cheers,
Herman

Not advice that I want to give, but...I rarely see reviews of keyboard amps these days. My experience listening in shops hasn't been good. Squashing both channels into mono and reducing the sound source to one cube just seems to wreck the sound. My impression, just from watching shows and reading, is that most people plug into the house sound system or use a powered stereo set up.

Try going to a shop on a week day when few people are around and talking to the people in the pro sound department. They can set you up a keyboard and let you hear the difference between a good set of monitors and an amp. If you can take the time and let them know in advance, bringing your own keyboard will be fine with them. They'll understand if you tell them up-front that you're testing things out and don't plan to buy on first listening. But buy from the shop that lets you do this, if you do this, and they have monitors that you like. Yeah, more funding required, for the monitors and the advice, but the sound is just a lot better.