"Daisy" chaining hardware keyboards

[jackoo]

Has anyone attempted to connect the analog output of one keyboard to the analog input of another keyboard and then connect the second keyboard to the analog input of an audio interface, in order to use the sounds of both keyboards?

I know having an audio interfaces with more inputs would be beneficial. But I don't want to buy another interface right now.

I know it would be better have a digital (maybe ADAT) daisy chaining instead, but one of the keyboards doesn't have a digital audio input.

I want to be able to combine the sounds of a Genos and a Kronos and maybe some virtual synths as well.
I have a Focusrite 2i4, a Kronos and a Genos.
So I was thinking Genos goes into Kronos goes into Focusrite goes into computer.

Was thinking to use the headphone output of the Genos as well, cause I've got a splitting cable (unbalanced) that could fit into the Kronos. Because... why use 2 cables?

Genos has unbalanced outputs, Kronos has balanced outputs.
I realize: DAC Genos, ADC Kronos, DAC Kronos, ADC Focustrite, DAC Focusrite, Amplifier, Speakers.... is a lot, but is it really a problem?

Yes, I know I'm a cheapskate...

[vurt]

you'd have no mixing capabilities and it might be a bit noisy.
but it should work.

[jackoo]

the keyboards have their software mixers
I'm considering actually recording audio tracks one by one.

Not thinking about sequencing everything from the DAW, yet....

Is a bit noisy really audible?

[vurt]

personally, if you really want to save cash, buy one of the cheap behringer mixers. they do little dj ones (used to anyway) for about 50 quid
only stereo out to the focusrite, but at least you'd have panning/levels

[vurt]

the keyboards have their software mixers
I'm considering actually recording audio tracks one by one.

Not thinking about sequencing everything from the DAW, yet....

Is a bit noisy really audible?

it can get audible the more analog chain you add.

tbh, if you're doing one by one, just swap the cables out you lazy git

[jackoo]

The Genos is damn expensive. I've got negative cash for the next ... months...
Wife isn't extremely happy with my decisions either...

[jackoo]

tbh, if you're doing one by one, just swap the cables out you lazy git

Hmm... never actually thought of that!!!
But... I am lazy.

[vurt]

The Genos is damn expensive. I've got negative cash for the next ... months...

wanna talk expensive?
start a "small" modular system, see where that ends up

[jackoo]

I'd need to buy a house for that. I still need my kidneys, my legs and my lungs...

To get back on topic:
The Kronos has been my master keyboard for years.

And I was tickled to try an arranger keyboard. I thought I'd use this standalone - for fun, practicing, getting some inspiration having some styles already available (before I was doing every sound from scratch more or less).

Actually I'm hoping to unlock some writer's block and have fun at the same time... So then I ordered the Genos, during some moments of temporary insanity...

Let's see if I regret it later.

But why not be able to mix the sounds if I feel like it?

[cryophonik]

wanna talk expensive?
start a "small" modular system, see where that ends up

Seriously, we need to stop calling them "modular systems" and start calling them what they are: "slippery synthery slopery" or something like that.

[vurt]

But why not be able to mix the sounds if I feel like it?

it will depend on the individual keyboard, but the digital mixer i assume works on the digital inputs?

the analog mix will (im assuming) just sum but maybe have levels? not sure about panning?
or ability to add compression to one but not the other?

so you may have "basic mixing" but you won't have access to the channels to insert fx or send channels, i dont think so anyway? like i say, depends on which keyboards and what they can do. (i don't have those so don't know for sure)

[jackoo]

Well, the Kronos has mic/line buttons on left and right channels, as well as some gain knobs.
So I'm thinking of maxing out the volume on the Genos, put on a loud patch / sound, play max velocity and adjust the gain knobs on the Kronos such that it doesn't clip.

After that the Kronos passes on the Genos signal to its main output, 'untouched', mixed with its own sound in the digital domain.

If I want a compressor / efect, I can apply it on the specific keyboard (not in software).
I can also adjust the level of the Genos voices in its mixer, and the level of the Kronos voices in its mixer. Also each keyboard can pan their own sounds.

So then I'm thinking (as long as the Kronos itself doesn't clip - by adjusting the gain knobs on the Focusrite) that the relative levels of all the instruments stays as I set them.

I'm mostly concerned about:

1. Noise - due to long chain of DAC/ADCs
2. [loss of] Quality of taking the output from headphone out instead of Line out from the Genos (instead of buying 2 unbalanced cables to connect line out - line in). But I imagine the inputs of the Kronos would be relatively high impedance so why would the Headphone output distort?...

If the Genos had balanced line outs, then I'd really get 2 TRS cables...

[BertKoor]

I'm considering actually recording audio tracks one by one.

This is the best decision.

[jackoo]

I'm considering actually recording audio tracks one by one.

This is the best decision.

Yes, but still I'd rather avoid rewiring everything.
Would you say the noise inserted by this AD/DA chain could be really audible / noticeable in a mix?
Do you know if the headphone outputs come from the same DAC / analog signal that feeds the line outs?

I'm also thinking about just jamming, so mixing the sounds, even if then I lose the ability to adjust individual levels afterwards.

Controlling the sounds via a DAW sequencer might mean more trouble with an arranger keyboard. I have to see how that could work.

Thinking about it more:
I suppose that even if you have some arrangement on the Genos, you can save it locally as midi, and solo each track, and record as audio each track in realtime, so you can re-adjust levels and panning in a DAW later.

[kritikon]

Probably there's no really obvious way of doing it without spending just a little money. I record hw tracks one by one, but I don't have to rewire, as I use a patchbay. Behringer do a very cheap (and very good one). Patchbays are a studio's best friend in the long run. TBH you could possibly get a small mixer as mentioned even cheaper than a patchbay...