PSR 970 Output Connections

[SandeepSaxena]

This Keyboard has two outputs labeled
R &  L/L+R

Does it mean that on the output which says "L/L+R" can also consume a TRS plug thereby ignoring the "L"  output ?
I've been a bit confused about this. I only have 1 powered speaker so not sure how to test this out.
Thanks
Sandeep

[overover]

Hi Sandeep,

All line outputs of Yamaha arranger keyboards (e.g. PSR-S, PSR-SX, Tyros, Genos) are wired unbalanced and only TS jack plugs are supported. If you use balanced cables (TRS plug) on ​​a balanced input (mixer or active speaker), RING and SLEEVE contacts would have to be bridged.

If you only connect one speaker, ie if you are working "mono", you normally use the "L / L + R" socket. If no plug is connected to the "R" socket, both stereo channels are summed to mono at the "L / L + R" socket.

However, it would always be better to work in stereo, since many voices and effects on Yamaha keyboards are designed for stereo playback and sound significantly worse when they are summed to a mono signal.

By the way, in some cases it is better to use only ONE of the two stereo channels for mono playback. So if you are not satisfied with the mono sound via the "L / L + R" socket, just try using the "R" socket only. The disadvantage here is that Voices that are wholly or almost LEFT in the stereo panorama cannot or can hardly be heard on the right channel. Then you would have to change the panning of these Voices in the mix.


Hope this helps!

Best regards,
Chris

[SandeepSaxena]

Chris,
That really clears up the confusion in my head.
Thank you so much for the clarity.   
Regards
Sandeep

[overover]

Thanks for your kind feedback, Sandeep!


Best regards,
Chris

[GregB]

Yeah, on the single channel mono vs mixed mono topic - in particular if you're using a rotary speaker simulator, such as when playing a B3 organ type sound, you may need to either use one channel or else narrow the mic angle in the effect settings.

TRS connections are used for stereo, for balanced mono, and for inserts, and the result of interconnecting TS and TRS is different for those three needs.  It's best to use a purpose-made cable rather than depending on exactly how the jack is wired up.

If you want to use just the L signal, connect your cable to the L jack, and connect something (even a 1/4" to 1/8" adapter) to the R jack.  That will give you just the L signal.

I usually keep a 1/4" to 1/8" adapter with me, just for plugging into the headphone jack on the keyboard to quickly turn off the onboard speakers.

- Greg

[SandeepSaxena]

Thanks.

[SandeepSaxena]

Hi Sandeep,

All line outputs of Yamaha arranger keyboards (e.g. PSR-S, PSR-SX, Tyros, Genos) are wired unbalanced and only TS jack plugs are supported. If you use balanced cables (TRS plug) on ​​a balanced input (mixer or active speaker), RING and SLEEVE contacts would have to be bridged.

If you only connect one speaker, ie if you are working "mono", you normally use the "L / L + R" socket. If no plug is connected to the "R" socket, both stereo channels are summed to mono at the "L / L + R" socket.

However, it would always be better to work in stereo, since many voices and effects on Yamaha keyboards are designed for stereo playback and sound significantly worse when they are summed to a mono signal.

By the way, in some cases it is better to use only ONE of the two stereo channels for mono playback. So if you are not satisfied with the mono sound via the "L / L + R" socket, just try using the "R" socket only. The disadvantage here is that Voices that are wholly or almost LEFT in the stereo panorama cannot or can hardly be heard on the right channel. Then you would have to change the panning of these Voices in the mix.


Hope this helps!

Best regards,
Chris

Hi Chris
When you say for TRS cable  RING and SLEEVE need to be bridged. What exactly does that mean?
Could I use two separate TRS cables ( one from 'R' and then other from 'L+R/L' of PSR 970) and connect them to two separate inputs on a mixer?
I'm trying to use balanced instrument cables for both outputs on PSR 970. Would using two TRS cables work and is it better to do so? Thanks.

[overover]

Hi Chris
When you say for TRS cable  RING and SLEEVE need to be bridged. What exactly does that mean?
Could I use two separate TRS cables ( one from 'R' and then other from 'L+R/L' of PSR 970) and connect them to two separate inputs on a mixer?
I'm trying to use balanced instrument cables for both outputs on PSR 970. Would using two TRS cables work and is it better to do so? Thanks.

Hi Sandeep,

A "TS" plug has only two contacts (Tip and Sleeve) and is used for unbalanced Mono connections.
    TIP = Signal
    SLEEVE = Ground/Shield

A "TRS" plug has three contacts (Tip, Ring and Sleeve) and is used for balanced Mono connections (or unbalanced Stereo connections, e.g. for headphones).
    TIP = Signal (+ phase, "hot")
    RING = Signal (- phase, "cold")
    SLEEVE = Ground/Shield




Electrically bridging RING and SLEEVE contacts of a TRS plug (e.g. by soldering a short wire into the connector), converts a balanced cable/signal to an unbalanced cable/signal. (TIP is still "Signal +" then, but SLEEVE is "Signal -" and "Ground/Shield".) This is absolutely necessary to feed an unbalanced output signal into a balanced input when not using a standard "TS to TS" cable or a DI box.

As I wrote, all Yamaha arranger keyboards have unbalanced Line Outputs, and you have to use unbalanced audio cables with a TS plug on the keyboard end.

Inside the Line Output sockets, the "RING" contact is NOT CONNECTED. So if you would use balanced cables ("TRS to TRS" or "TRS to XLR male") to connect the keyboard to balanced Mixer Inputs, the Mixer will only receive the plus (+) phase of the Signal but not the minus (-) phase.

This results in a 6 dB weaker input signal on a balanced Mixer input (compared to a balanced signal), and hum can also occur because the RING contact of the TRS plug is not connected on the keyboard side. So the Mixer Input for the minus (-) phase of the signal is OPEN. The best way to avoid this problem is simply to use a "TS to TS" cable. "TRS to TRS" or "TRS to XLR" cables can be used if either RING and SLEEVE contacts are bridged inside the TRS plug or alternatively Pin 1 and Pin 3 are bridged inside the XLR plug.

If the keyboard is to be connected to balanced inputs of an external mixer or active speakers, a stereo DI box (or two separate mono DI boxes) must be used. The DI box is connected to the line outputs of the keyboard with the shortest possible "TS to TS" cables and converts unbalanced TS input signals into balanced XLR signals with low impedance, which can also be transmitted without interference over longer distances.

For relatively short distances (less than 3 - 5 m) unbalanced audio cables are normally sufficient. However, they should not be routed parallel to power cords or very close to power adapters.

By the way, I use the following DI boxes:
- PALMER PAN 04 (stereo, passive)
- PALMER PAN 04A (stereo, active, phantom power or external power adapter needed)


Hope this helps!

Best regards,
Chris

[SandeepSaxena]

Hi Chris

Thanks for the detailed explanation and sharing teh info on DI boxes. Will check them out.

I recently purchased a Behringer's Digital Mixer Flow 8.
I was thinking of using inputs 5 & 6 by plugin TRSA cables coming out from PSR 970. I haven't yet tried this coz I don't have TRS cables. But it was a thought based on knowing that TRS cables are balanced. Hence I was pondering around that idea.

Sandeep

[attachment deleted by admin]

[GregB]

FWIW, if you have a digital audio interface, sometimes it can be used as an active DI box.  My Behringer UMC404HD works great for this purpose - just turn the output mix knob all the way to input (not playback), ensure the stereo mix setting is selected, plug your keyboard cables to inputs 1 and 2, and then use the main out XLRs as the balanced outputs to the sound system.

- Greg