Acoustic & Pedalboard into Home/Studio Monitor Speakers - anyone tried it?

[cloudyafternoon]

I’m going to be moving & downsizing quite a bit. Looking to condense all my music playing needs (guitar & just playing music) into an apartment-sized setup.

I’m wondering, has anyone ever tried or had success running a guitar with an active p/u & pedalboard into studio monitors? I have a decent set of M-Audios, and am thinking something like a Radial Pro-AV would help me convert the signal to RCA or 1/8” and then into an AUX input on the speakers.

Anyone tried it? Would it work?

[Cuki79]

Yes it will.

From my point of view, studio monitors usually gives the best tone.

If you play home, consider using an external mic for the guitar also.

I had great results with DPA4099G, a Yamaha MG mixer and a pair of Presonus Eris 8.

Of course it was for my own pleasure... Don't expect to "throw" sound to an audience with such a setup.

[cloudyafternoon]

Originally Posted by Cuki79

Yes it will.

From my point of view, studio monitors usually gives the best tone.

If you play home, consider using an external mic for the guitar also.

I had great results with DPA4099G, a Yamaha MG mixer and a pair of Presonus Eris 8.

Of course it was for my own pleasure... Don't expect to "throw" sound to an audience with such a setup.

Nope, just for me in an apartment-sized setting. Would it work without the mixer? Like acoustic guitar with active p/u -> passive DI -> XLR to 1/8” cable -> AUX input of studio monitors? Obviously it’d lack EQ but I’d be okay with that for a bit.

[SpruceTop]

Originally Posted by cloudyafternoon

I’m going to be moving & downsizing quite a bit. Looking to condense all my music playing needs (guitar & just playing music) into an apartment-sized setup.

I’m wondering, has anyone ever tried or had success running a guitar with an active p/u & pedalboard into studio monitors? I have a decent set of M-Audios, and am thinking something like a Radial Pro-AV would help me convert the signal to RCA or 1/8” and then into an AUX input on the speakers.

Anyone tried it? Would it work?

I've done it, and it'll work and sound good but be careful with your volume level and generating any inadvertent transients resulting from hitting the guitar with your hand or against something as it could bottom-out the bass speaker cones and damage them. Then again, high-frequency feedback squeals could harm the tweeter elements too. I'll go out on a limb and state that home-audio speakers and monitors aren't as ruggedly-built as PA speakers and likely won't have the overload protection that PA systems have to help protect the speakers from harm.

[MikeBmusic]

I've done it, but using my audio interface (Tascam) as the input device. If turning it up, just be careful of feedback - high end, and also low bass feedback (where the guitar body starts vibrating from it!)

[varmonter]

I went the other way and run a helix stomp into a k10. The helix will replace
My pedalboard.and it’s a recording interface as well.

[Cuki79]

Originally Posted by cloudyafternoon

Nope, just for me in an apartment-sized setting. Would it work without the mixer? Like acoustic guitar with active p/u -> passive DI -> XLR to 1/8” cable -> AUX input of studio monitors? Obviously it’d lack EQ but I’d be okay with that for a bit.

I think most monitor speaker won't provide enough input gain. I'd use a mixer or a preamp.

[cloudyafternoon]

Originally Posted by Cuki79

I think most monitor speaker won't provide enough input gain. I'd use a mixer or a preamp.

That’s what I was wondering and that was definitely the case. Not enough gain.