Keyboard amplifier
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A keyboard amplifier is a powered
Keyboard amplifiers differ from
Two notable exceptions to the "low distortion" rule are keyboard amplifiers designed for the
Design
Since keyboards have a very wide range of pitches, from deep bass notes to very high treble notes, keyboard amplifiers have to provide solid low-frequency sound reproduction and crisp high-frequency sound reproduction. This distinction affects the design of the
Comparison with guitar and bass amplifiers
While electric
Unlike bass amplifiers and electric guitar amplifiers, keyboard amplifiers are rarely used in the "amplifier head" and separate speaker cabinet configuration. Instead, most keyboard amplifiers are "combo" amplifiers that integrate the amplifier, tone controls, and speaker into a single wooden cabinet. Another unusual aspect of keyboard amplifiers is that they are often designed with a "wedge" shape, as used with monitor speakers. This permits them to be used as
Design features
Keyboard amplifiers often have an onboard three or four-channel mixer, so that multiple keyboards (e.g., a
Most inexpensive to mid-priced amplifiers currently produced are based on semiconductor (solid-state) circuits. Solid-state amplifiers vary in output power, functionality, size, price, and sound quality in a wide range, from practice amplifiers to professional models. The smallest, most inexpensive practice amplifiers may have only two channels with volume controls and one or two tone controls. Home practice amps have from 20 to 30 watts of power, often through an 8" or 10" speaker. Small keyboard amplifiers designed for small band rehearsals have 50 to 75 watts, a 12-inch speaker, and possibly a tweeter. Large keyboard amplifiers designed for shows in large clubs or halls have 200 to 300 watts of power, a 12-inch or 15-inch speaker (or two 12-inch speakers), and a horn-loaded tweeter.
Some keyboard amps may be equipped with a compressor or limiter to protect the speaker from damage when the amplifier is being used at high volume levels. Some keyboard amps (e.g., Yorkville's 200-watt keyboard amp and Peavey's KB-4) have an extension speaker jack, which enables the amp to be connected to a second speaker cabinet for more volume.
Use in performances
In small venues such as a
Comparison with PA systems
In the 2010s, there was some convergence between the functionality of keyboard combo amplifiers and small
Keyboard amps with an XLR mic input, preamplifier and a multichannel mixer are in effect small combo PA systems. While small combo keyboard amps with mic inputs became widely available on the market in the 2000s (decade) and were promoted as an innovation, in fact, the first portable PA systems sold in the 1920s and 1930s were "combo" systems, in which a
There are several limitations to using a combo keyboard amp as a small PA system. First, it is hard to elevate a keyboard amp's speaker the way most PA speakers can be raised up, using PA system speaker stands with a pole onto which most small- to mid-sized PA
Stereo models
While most keyboard amplifiers produce monophonic sound, a small number of higher-priced, higher-wattage keyboard combo amps have two speakers and two horns and can produce stereophonic sound. When a stereo keyboard amp is used with a stereo
Use of subwoofer
Keyboardists who want powerful low-end may use a powered
Several concert sound subwoofer manufacturers suggest that their subs can be used for instrument amplification. Meyer Sound suggests that its 650-R2 Concert Series Subwoofer, a 14-cubic-foot (0.40 m3) enclosure with two 18-inch (460 mm) drivers, can be used for bass instrument amplification.[1] While performers who use concert sound subwoofers for onstage monitoring may like the powerful sub-bass sound that they get onstage, sound engineers may find the use of large subwoofers (e.g., two 18-inch (460 mm) drivers) for onstage instrument monitoring to be problematic, because it may interfere with the "Front of House" sub-bass sound.
Rotating speakers
The Leslie speaker is a specially constructed
Other approaches
Not all keyboard players use keyboard amplifiers to make their instruments audible on stage. Some keyboard players use a combo guitar amplifier, with a power amplifier and a speaker in a single wooden cabinet. The potential challenge with using guitar amps with keyboards is that a guitar amp is only designed to go down to about 82 Hz, the lowest note on an electric guitar, while an electric piano or Hammond organ may go down as low as 30 Hz. Playing these low keyboard pitches through a guitar amp may damage the speaker. Some keyboardists use bass amplifier combos for their stage sound. While bass amps can easily handle the low pitches of a keyboard instrument, bass combo amps from the 1970s and 1980s are less likely than post-1990s bass combo amps to have a speaker and a high-register horn. Horn-less vintage combo bass amps may not provide crisp, accurate reproduction of high-pitched keyboard sounds.
Another approach used by some keyboard players is to use a small
Some keyboard players use powered PA speakers (also called "active speakers") with their keyboards. Powered PA speakers are speaker enclosures with a built-in
Selected brands
Below the keyboard amplifier lineups of three mainstream brands are described. These lineups are described to give readers a sense of the range in size, speaker types and power (in watts) of standard keyboard combo amplifiers. These brands were chosen because they are widely available.
Peavey
Peavey's smallest keyboard amp is the KB 1. It has 20 watts, an 8" speaker, and "2 separate channels with a 2-band EQ per channel and a headphone out."[2] This amp would be suitable for in-home practice. The next keyboard amp in the Peavey line is the KB 2. It has one ten-inch speaker "four separate channels, including a mic input on channel 3 and a monitor input on channel 4", a "2-band EQ per channel, headphone out, FX send/return, and balanced XLR out", and it is rated at 40 watts.[3] This amp would be a good model for at-home practice. It could be used for a rehearsal for a quieter genre of music, such as folk. The KB 3 has 60 watts, a "12" speaker with tweeter...[,] 3 separate channels each have 2-band EQ and Channel 1 has mic input." There is also a balanced XLR main out, an effects send/return and a "headphone out with level control".[4] Peavey's KB 4 puts out 75 watts through a 15-inch speaker. The onboard mixer has a "2-band EQ and main effects send/return", the "Mic/Line channel has 3-band EQ and effects send/return plus monitor input with level control and assign, and a headphone out with level control."[5] This amp would be suitable for rehearsal or small venue shows (e.g., a coffeehouse).
Roland
Roland's smallest keyboard amp is the CM-30 Cube Monitor. It delivers 30 watts through a 6.5-inch speaker and it has "3 input channels, with one XLR mic/line input and 2 additional AUX RCA and stereo mini-phone inputs, making a total of 5 simultaneous inputs possible."
Yorkville
The 50 KW has 50 watts of power, a 10" woofer and a 3.75" tweeter. It has "2-channel operation", with "Channel 1 optimized for microphones with an XLR and a 1/4" input" and "Channel 2 optimized for line level and keyboard sources with 2 phone jack inputs and 2 RCA inputs"[12] The 50 KW is wedge-shaped, so it can be used as a monitor for a seated keyboardist. The 200 KB delivers 200 watts through a 15" woofer and a horn tweeter. It is a four-channel amp. Channels 1 and two have an XLR and TRS phone jack. "Channel 3 has a TRS phone jack input", and "Channel 4 has one TRS phone jack and 2 RCA jacks" There are treble and bass tone controls for channels 1 and 2.[13] This amp would be suitable for mid-to large-sized shows.
References
- ^ "650R2 Subwoofer". Meyer Sound Laboratories. Archived from the original on August 30, 2009. Retrieved April 24, 2010.
- ^ "Peavey KB 1 20W 1x8 2-Channel Keyboard Amp". Musician's Friend. Retrieved May 26, 2013.
- ^ http://www.musiciansfriend.com/keyboards-midi/peavey-kb-2-keyboard-amp
- ^ "Peavey KB 3 Keyboard Amp". Musician's Friend. Retrieved May 26, 2013.
- ^ "Peavey KB 4 75W 1x15 3-Channel Keyboard Amplifier". Musician's Friend. Retrieved May 26, 2013.
- ^ "Roland CM-30 Cube Monitor". Musician's Friend. Retrieved May 26, 2013.
- ^ "Roland KC-60 Keyboard Amplifier". Musician's Friend. Retrieved May 26, 2013.
- ^ "Roland KC-60 Keyboard Amplifier". Musician's Friend. Retrieved May 26, 2013.
- ^ "Roland KC-350 120W Keyboard Combo Amp". Musician's Friend. Retrieved May 26, 2013.
- ^ "Roland KC-880 Stereo Keyboard Amplifier". Musician's Friend. Retrieved May 26, 2013.
- ^ "Roland updates the KC keyboard amp range with six new models". Music Radar. October 19, 2017. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
- ^ "Yorkville 50KW 10" 2-Channel Wedge Keyboard Monitor". Musician's Friend. Retrieved May 26, 2013.
- ^ http://www.musiciansfriend.com/keyboards-midi/yorkville-200kb-4-channel-keyboard-amp
See also
- Guitar amplifier
- Instrument amplifier
- Power amplifier