Once you get it connected, install drivers for the device. Use the supplied cables that came with the interface. Audio Interface -> ComputerĬonnecting your audio interface to your computer is fairly straightforward. It basically translates MIDI messages into data that can be transferred through USB. If you have a keyboard without USB MIDI capability, you’ll need a device like this. When in doubt, just Google “your keyboard model USB drivers,” You’ll most likely have to install drivers on your computer as well. If you have a keyboard with USB MIDI capability, you can use a USB cable like this to connect it to your computer. Let’s talk about how to connect all your gear together. You can always mix down your output from MainStage to mono, and connect one speaker to your interface. Keep in mind you don’t need to immediately buy a pair. The QSC K-series speakers are active speakers, so you won’t need to purchase a separate amplifier to drive them. The 8 inch model, while very portable, will not generate enough bass frequencies for your sound patches. The 10 inch model is a good compromise between sound quality and weight - the bass extension won’t be as low as the 12 inch model, but it still sounds great. The sound quality is phenomenal, but they can be a hassle to move around. These speakers come in three sizes - 8, 10, and 12 inches. I know many people, including myself, who are using the QSC K-series. The best solution is a pair of PA speakers. You wouldn’t buy a guitar amp to amplify a digital piano, and you shouldn’t buy a keyboard amp to amplify strings or drums. In the past few shows I’ve done, the sounds in the keyboard book have ranged from strings to synth drums. SpeakersĪs a keyboardist in a musical theatre production, chances are you will be playing more than just basic keyboard sounds. I’m currently using it as my audio interface for musical theatre gigs, and I have nothing but good things to say about it. The MOTU UltraLite AVB is often used on Broadway tours. Alternatively, you could also send string and brass patches to different outputs for different processing. For example, it would be possible to send a click track to a specified output. The MOTU UltraLite AVB also comes with a large number of inputs and outputs, so you’re free to route sound to a number of different places. It’s extremely well built, and MOTU’s drivers are extremely stable - this means less MainStage crashes. The MOTU UltraLite AVB is THE interface to get if you’re looking for something rock solid. It’s a great deal, and lets you connect your keyboard’s audio outputs for fallback sounds in case MainStage crashes. It’s possible to connect the 3.5 mm line out on you computer to a speaker, but I do not recommend because it sounds awful.įor the budget-minded, I recommend the Focusrite 2i2. Audio InterfaceĪn audio interface is a device that takes the digital sound signal from your computer, converts it to an analog signal, and sends it to any number of outputs that can be connected to speakers, recording devices, etc. It’s available for $999, and it’s possibly the best deal in keyboard history. The only one I can recommend is the Casio PX-5S. It’s hard to find a decent weighted keyboard under $1000. A piano sound is always better than a minute or two of silence. External sound sources are never 100% reliable, and it’s always good to have backup sounds to fallback on. I recommend getting a keyboard with onboard sounds as well as MIDI capability. Instead, they send MIDI messages to an external sound source - either a software program like MainStage or a hardware sound module. MIDI controllers are keyboards that are not capable of generating sounds on their own. Almost all musical theatre shows are best played on an 88-key weighted keyboard. If you’re reading this post, there’s a good chance you already own a keyboard. The download will take a while, so let’s talk about a few other pieces of equipment you’ll need for a functional musical theatre setup. I recommend only downloading the instruments and not the Apple Loops. These are free sounds that can be used in MainStage. After you buy and install MainStage, click “Download Additional Content” under “MainStage” in the menu bar. It’s possibly the best deal in music software history. Now, it’s available as a standalone app on the App Store for $29. Apple MainStage used to be part of Logic Studio, which was $499.
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