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About Thomas Britanyak
Expertise
I am an organ/piano technician who has been actively involved with the design, building, repair, maintenance and installation of organs and pianos for 35 years. I began as a keyboard instrument apprentice and hold degrees in music and electronics. If you need a piano's date of manufacture, please go to http://www.pianoexchange.com/howold.htm or http://www.bluebookofpianos.com/pianoage.html I am happy to answer musical or technical questions, however, I CANNOT offer appraisals on pianos or organs. Please do not ask what an instrument is worth. For this service please contact an experienced local appraiser or try the following links: https://mmm1100.verio-web.com/blueb1/appraisal.html or http://www.57piano.com/questions.htm

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Piano, Organ, and Keyboard - keyboard amplifier

Expert: Thomas Britanyak - 10/21/2009

Question
I have an keyboard that does not have internal speakers. I have been using computer speakers but they sounded terrible so I tried researching and found out that I needed an amp. So I searched online and found out that a 15 Watt amp would be good, and the one that seemed to have rave reviews was the Behringer Ultratone KT108. All of the reviews I've seen said it is great for practicing at home and light usage. Well I bought it and connected it to the keyboard using a standard instrument 1/4" cable and it does not work. There is a frequency noise, but it does not pick up any notes from the keyboard. Do you know if I need to connect it any differently or connect something else to it?
Thanks!

Answer
Hello Emily! There are two kinds of audio outputs, a line output and a signal output. The latter is what you would commonly use to connect to an amplifier's "signal input". This would be the two 1/4" jacks on the far left on your amplifier. Try plugging a cable into one of these jacks and touch the tip of the other end of the cable with your finger and turn the volume up slowly. You should hear a lot of hum. If you do, the amp and cable is probably OK.

So, next we have to assume the problem is at the keyboard. You did not mention what kind of keyboard you have. It is possible your keyboard may have amplified speaker outputs as well as signal outputs. You should be using the latter. Check your owner's manual for directions on how to connect to an external amplifier. I suspect you may be connecting to the wrong keyboard output jack.

I can see there are a few problems that may be the cause of your trouble. One, the computer speakers may have sounded terrible (besides just sounding tinny) because of how they were connected. For instance, if they had been plugged into a headphone jack output, this output is amplified and could have been overloading your speaker amplifier inputs (computer speakers are powered speakers, meaning they have a built-in amplifier). Overloading an amplifier with a signal that is too strong can really make them sound terrible. The other problem is you may need a different plug on your cable to make the proper connection to your keyboard. Another words, you may be connected to a line or signal "in" or some other jack rather than the signal out jacks. Lastly, I suspect the input 1/4" jacks on your amplifier are mono inputs and your keyboard likely has a dual right and left output (some keyboards have a designated mono output) in which case you might need to use a cable which has a stereo to mono connector or you will need to use two cables to amplify both the right and left outputs from your keyboard.

One more thought, make certain the volume is turned up sufficiently on your keyboard. If the keyboard's volume happens to be turned all the way down there will be no signal output. I doubt this is the case though because there should be no sound through the amp and you said you are hearing some kind of noise out of the amp. Suffice it so say, I think you are connected to the keyboard incorrectly.

Based on the information I have, this is the best I can offer.

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