Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Digital Pianos - Electronic Pianos - Synths & Keyboards Need some help in connecting my Roland FP-30 to speakers

I need some help in connecting my Roland FP-30 keyboard with JBL LSR305p monitor speakers that I purchased in 2016. I have not used this set up for the last couple of years, so I have forgotten what is the correct method in doing it. My hardware is the FP-30, the JBL 305 speakers, and the Focusrite 2i2 2nd generation audio interface. I already have the Hosa 1/4" TRS jack to dual 1/4" TS jacks, two USB-A to USB-B cables, and the Hosa CPP-206 Dual 1/4" TS to Dual 1/4" TS Stereo Interconnect Cable, 6 Meters. For software, I have the latest update for the Modartt Pianoteq version 7 for my MacBook Air (2019). I also purchased a USB-C hub that has 4 3.0 USB-A ports for the MacBook Air.

I want to go over the steps I believe is the correct way in doing this.

1. Connect one USB-B to USB-A cable from the FP-30's USB-to-Host port on the back of the keyboard to one of the USB-C hub's USB-A port.
2. Connect another USB-B to USB-A cable to the Focusrite 2i2's USB-B port and plug in the USB-A part to the next USB-A port of the USB-C hub. That way, the FP-30 and Focusrite 2i2 audio interface can communicate with my laptop.
3. To use my external monitor speakers, I connect the Hosa 1/4" TRS cable to the headphone jack of the FP-30, and I then connect the dual 1/4" TS jacks to the left and the right speakers. This will help me to hear the sounds from the piano and Pianoteq to the speakers.

Are my steps correct? Do I need to connect the left and the right speakers with the interconnect cables to the right and left line outputs on the Focusrite 2i2 audio interface? Would it be easier to use two XLR-to-1/4" TRS cables? This could allow me to connect the left and right monitor speakers using the XLR connectors, and then I can use the two corresponding left and right 1/4" TRS connectors on the back of the audio interface. How do I change the input from the digital piano to the laptop, so I can use the monitor speakers for sound instead of the laptop's built-in ones?

I have tried searching for answers using this website's Google search, but it did not help me find what I am seeking for information.

Thank you,
David

> 3. To use my external monitor speakers, I connect the Hosa 1/4" TRS cable to the headphone jack of the FP-30, and I then connect the dual 1/4" TS jacks to the left and the right speakers. This will help me to hear the sounds from the piano and Pianoteq to the speakers.

If you want to hear Pianoteq, you should connect the speakers to the line outputs on the audio interface (or the headphone output of the laptop). If you connect the speakers to the headphone jack of the FP-30, you will hear the FP-30 sound engine.

Your steps #1 and #2 are correct. But, #3 does not sound right. What you do in #3 will depend on what you want to achieve.

It is not clear what you want to achieve. Do you want to hear Pianoteq's sound through the monitor speakers or your Roland FP-30's sound through the monitor speakers or both combined?

If you want only Pianoteq's sound through the monitor speakers, you connect the Focusrite 2i2 audio interface's speaker outputs to inputs of JBL 305.

If you want only Roland FP-30's sound (which I don't think is the case given that you are connecting the laptop), then you connect the line out of FP-30 to inputs of JBL 305.

If you want to listen to both Pianoteq's sound and Roland FP-30's piano sound from the monitor speakers, then you will have to connect line out of Roland FP-30 to line in. And, connect Focusrite 2i2's speaker outputs to inputs of JBL 305. Then use DAW to combine both Pianoteq sound and the line in of Focusrite to line out of Focusrite.

Osho