Difference in Piano sound through interface

[JD01]

OK,

My piano has a headphone out, sounds great on my AKG reference headphones that I've been using for everything for years.

So, I popped a cable from the headphone out into my interface.
Got a signal on the meters in my interface.
I can hear through the headphones..

But - it sounds shit. Its still clearly a piano, but all of the depth of tone is gone from it.
If I can give you a guitar analogy, it sounds DI'd as opposed to a mic'd amp.

Any ideas?

The cable from the headphone out to the interface is a balanced stereo cable if that makes any difference. Its just what I had to hand given that my monitors are still dead.

[Greg_L]

Are you arming a stereo track?

[JD01]

Are you arming a stereo track?

I'm not arming anything. Just the sound in the headphones is completely different when I'm listening through the headphones connected to the interface as opposed to headphones straight into the headphone jack.

[Greg_L]

I'm not arming anything. Just the sound in the headphones is completely different when I'm listening through the headphones connected to the interface as opposed to headphones straight into the headphone jack.

Is there a better way to get into the interface than from the headphone output? Like a DI output or MIDI cables? Headphone outs are usually only good for one thing - headphones.

[JD01]

I'm not arming anything. Just the sound in the headphones is completely different when I'm listening through the headphones connected to the interface as opposed to headphones straight into the headphone jack.

Is there a better way to get into the interface than from the headphone output? Like a DI output or MIDI cables? Headphone outs are usually only good for one thing - headphones.

Yeah - I could USB it. I just haven't bothered with that yet.
This just seemed like a simple thing to do and I was surprised that it didn't work.

[vomitHatSteve]

Is the channel on the interface stereo? If you're just using the one cable (rather than a splitter), you're probably summing the stereo signal down into mono.

[JD01]

Is the channel on the interface stereo? If you're just using the one cable (rather than a splitter), you're probably summing the stereo signal down into mono.

Ah, that'll be it. Cheers Steve.

[Greg_L]

[Armistice]

LOL. I had a moment like that once when I wasn't paying attention and couldn't figure out for about a minute why what I was listening to sounded so flat. Checked a few things in Reaper, the interface...

Whoops - accidentally pushed the mono button on the headphone amp.

[vomitHatSteve]

Ha ha! Happens to the best of us.

[JD01]

Ha ha! Happens to the best of us.

Steve, do you know what sort of cable I need to look for?

[ocnor]

You need a 1/4 inch TRS Stereo to Dual 1/4 inch TS Mono Insert Cable Y-Splitter Stereo Breakout Cable Patch Cord.

[rayc]

You need a Y cable - stereo at one end and two monos at the other. Easy enough to acquire...
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/1-2m-PRO-3- ... SwxOReKoEN
or
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/5Ft-1-4-6-3 ... SwuxFYwWPm

[JD01]

Cheers, that's what I'm after.

[WhiskeyJack]

Does this keyboard of yours not have midi on it [mention]JD01[/mention] ?

[vomitHatSteve]

You need a Y cable - stereo at one end and two monos at the other. Easy enough to acquire...
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/1-2m-PRO-3- ... SwxOReKoEN
or
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/5Ft-1-4-6-3 ... SwuxFYwWPm

Yep. Exactly.

[JD01]

[quote=WhiskeyJack post_id=70743 time=1582038881 user_id=2]
Does this keyboard of yours not have midi on it @JD01 ?
[/quo[mention]JD01[/mention] Not a 5 pin no. Just a USB out.

I also have to find a longer USB cable so I can reach my laptop from where the keyboard is - they're not far away from eachother, but the cable needs to run behind my amp, monitor stand, interface and video monitor to get to my laptop.

I'm not in a hurry with recording keyboard - it'll be another couple of months before I can play well enough to stick on a recording.

[JD01]

Finally got around to ordering one of these... The only reason I got around to it is cos I have a piano lesson via video call during "lockdown"

I also finally got a USB cable for my keyboard. Wouldn't mind trying to programme some midi with it.

[WhiskeyJack]

Finally got around to ordering one of these... The only reason I got around to it is cos I have a piano lesson via video call during "lockdown"

I also finally got a USB cable for my keyboard. Wouldn't mind trying to programme some midi with it.

that may expedite some of your drum programming.

I have been getting the itch to get some cables for my wifes keyboard and start playing with some string synths.

[Greg_L]

I have a MIDI keyboard out in my garage collecting dust. Maybe I'll drag it out in these sitting at home doing nothing times.