digital home piano plugged into the CI2:good sound?

[Harmen]

Hello,

Firstly, I am not well known with professional audio hardware and software and my English is not so good. Anyway, I hope you can help me?

I play piano and I have a digital homepiano (Kawai CA51) with a speakersystem. I want to record my playing also in combination with guitar, a singer or an other instument. In a local audio shop they give me the advice to buy a Steinberg CI2.

I have installed the CI 2 with the software accompanied with the package. I didn't do any driver updates yet. I plugged the Kawai CA51 with a good quality cable (2x mono jack to 1x stereo jack) into the Input 1 of the CI2. For speakers I have two KRK Rokit 6 active studio monitors and I use a AKG K.66 as headphone. When you hear the piano sound through the CI2 and through the headphone or KRK's the sound is very different in comparison with the speakersystem of the Kawai CA51. I came to the conclusion the sound is worser! Some characteristics of the sound
- very hard sound
- less natural
- less mellow
- all effects on my digital piano (reverbe, mellow, touch) has more, or actually too much effect in combination with the CI2.
- the digital piano has also a contra bass sound. This sounds very bad, no bass and the volume is much lower.

The recordings sounds also worser. Even my old Creative Extigy sounds better!

- Is the CI2 a good product for recording a digital piano which is connected to the CI2?
- Are there solutions to get the sound better or different? I have also Steinberg's Cubase 5.
- What is another good and simple product to record my playing on a digital piano?

I hope you van give me some advice! Thanks!

Harmen

[Kurzflint]

Hi Harmen,

If you connect CI2 and digital piano with 2x mono to 1x stereo (Y form) cable, it's not adequate.

CI2 input jack is "BALANCED" jack, not "STEREO" jack. If you plug both left and right channel into Input 1 by such cable, what you hear is difference between left and right channel. It will be harsh, less bass, much reverb sound.

Get 2 straight mono to mono phone cable. Try to connect piano's left output to CI2 input 1, right to input 2.

I think CI2's sound is not the best, but reasonable for it's price.

Thanks
Kurzflint