+4 -10 keyboard

[Ken Breezy]

i an't seem to find , in my books, if my keyboards are +4 0r -10. I use a ensoniq ZR-76 and roland fantom. I'm tring to achive optimal gain structure.
I'm using a Protools 002 and I need to know if the switch in the back needs to be +4 0r -10. also I read that most keyboards put out -20db. Is this true, if so should i be using a preamp and if so which one. I know that the pre amp will have to be 2 channels to run the keyboard stereo.


Thanks in advance Ken Breeezy

 

[ssscientist]

All modern keyboards' outputs are @ 'line level'.

This means you don't have to worry about using an outboard preamp either one channel, two channel or more channel for your keyboards

+ 4 is the nominal 'professional' standard while -10 is the 'semipro' standard. You probably want to set that switch to -10 until you have a good reason to change it --- like buying a high end preamp that puts out TONS of gain. Think of that switch in the same way you think of a pad on a microphone - most mics have -10db pads, but this one has a +/- 14db range.

 

[Atterion]

Yup, I almost always -10, if I'm running into a stereo channel that offers a choice between -10/+4.