Please note these are my personal experiences using the equipment I possess and it may be more than likely there is a far better way of doing things , but I detail it for the information of members just in case they ever thought of trying it for themselves !
There is an attraction in adding the wider range of rhythms and variations available in many keyboards and they can run into over 1000 ! But there are pitfalls many would prefer to keep well away from, but once overcome the results can be very rewarding.
Unlike expanders such as the BK7M , Limex V3 . SMAC 1200 or Orla XM800 which I have used in the past they will all merge with the organ’s voices with varying degrees of success, unfortunately the Technics keyboard will not merge when it is connected to the AR’s Aux in sockets, in addition it cannot record any external source onto its own built in recorder so straight away you have problems, according to the Technics web site, (this may also apply to other keyboards).
Consequentially you have to take the individual outputs and use a suitable junction in order to reduce your cable to one twin plug for the connection to your recorder.
This is basically simple but you do need several extra bits and pieces in order to make the necessary connections.
First you need a junction box, I bought a simple audio splitter, this takes three sets of three RCA sockets (of which you only use two) this has a selector switch to switch from any to one inlets to the outlet socket, not exactly what I wanted but a simple internal modification by joining all the red sockets together and the white it became a junction box with all inputs connected to the one outlet socket. The cost of the splitter was £2.51 post free, cheaper than buying all sorts of adaptors, so we are not talking of expensive add ons, you also need 3 or 4 extra Jackplugs and three RCA twin cables with plugs at each end, but all very low cost from Amazon.
The AR’s aux outlet (at least in my case is very low power) consequently the best output is taken from the A R’s headphone socket straight into the junction box. The keyboard’s output is also taken from its headphone socket straight into the junction box for the same reason.
With both headphone outlets in use the AR and Keyboard speakers are muted so some form of monitoring is essential as I do not have a headphone socket in the recorder, but the third inlet sockets in the junction box can be used to plug in a twin plug to headphone socket adapter, (again low cost from Amazon ) for monitoring.
The above is only for recording, straightforward play connections are much more simple, midi out organ to midi in keyboard, Main Aux out of the keyboard to AR Aux in sockets, the rhythm and sounds mix OK on the organ’s speakers and headphones. But whatever do remember not to trip over the cables !
The actual playing can be as simple or complicated as you wish, add a foot controller to the Technics takes away the problem of making fills or endings on the keyboard and trying to reach for the buttons while playing because you will find locating the keyboard nearby can be a problem, and the pistons and shift function on the AR makes voice changing equally simple.
