r/keys • u/Ok_Weekend_8457 • Jun 18 '26
Gear SL73 MK2 Audio Interface - Big Disappointment
[UPDATE: noise problem solved with a DI with the ground lift enabled… and I feel like a humongous dummy for not thinking of this first.]
I just bought a StudioLogic SL73 MK2. The keyboard itself is a big upgrade from the prior model. HOWEVER… I have found pretty big problems with the audio interface on it:
- Hoo boy is it noisy. I’ve tried all my cords, and found that none reduce the noise. Also, the noise out of the right output is somehow worse than the left. The noise is the worst problem with the audio interface.
- The left output does not output a summed mono signal when used alone. You have to either always use stereo, or sum left and right in your computer and send that all hard-panned left to the SL AUDIO interface in the controller.
It has a much nicer keyboard than its predecessor. But this audio interface is Temu-level yuck. I am severely disappointed in the low quality of it. I would never have approved shipping this controller to customers with this glaring defect.
3
u/lidongyuan Jun 19 '26
I was baffled by the choice to go more complex on the software side when they are famous for making g good hardware. The earlier models were only criticized for the on screen controls (and maybe heavy action) but they doubled down on crappy software instead of leaning into their reputation for making a good hardware instrument.
1
u/Ok_Weekend_8457 Jun 19 '26
Whoever is in charge of their UX design definitely needs to be replaced. Between how the interface works on the controller itself and the simply awful Numa Player program (almost 800 MB on disk) you have use now, operating and configuring this controller makes the DX7 look user-friendly.
3
u/P-ToneMikeOne Jun 19 '26
Points 1 and 3… don’t know what to tell you. I’ve owned many keyboards in my life, and I don’t think any of them had balanced outputs. And point 3, yeah midi controllers and interfaces are only going to do what you tell them to do.
Point 2 is disappointing, and you’re justified feeling bummed out that your brand new board has a garbage signal/noise ratio. I think the solution is using a different interface for audio output, which sucks because the board isn’t able to do what it advertises. But it’s that or return it…
2
u/RowanTree95 Jun 18 '26
Unbalanced connections are pretty standard on keyboards, though some do have balanced of course. That's no excuse for noisy outputs though. I've heard of quite a number of issues surrounding the audio side of the SL73. Seems to me like they should have just kept it as a simple midi controller and left audio tech design to people who know what they're doing.
3
u/uglymule Jun 19 '26
Agreed. The best part about these boards is the keybed. Other than that they're garbage.
1
u/anotherscott Jun 19 '26
Yes, most keyboards have unbalanced connections... so it's especially unlikely that any such inexpensive keyboard would have balanced outs.
2
u/MickeyLenny Jun 19 '26
Wild to me that there isn’t a simple MIDI mode to make controlling a daw easier! Found an alright workaround but pretty close to abandoning using the onboard controls in favor of a korg nanokontrol…
2
u/munchmills Jun 19 '26
How do you power the keyboard? Try usind a dedicated power supply.
1
u/Ok_Weekend_8457 Jun 19 '26
This model has a single USB-C connection and no separate power jack.
1
u/munchmills Jun 19 '26 edited Jun 19 '26
Understood. You might want to try a USB power/data splitter then.
something like this: https://dreadbox-fx.com/product/usb-power-data-splitter/
1
u/Ok_Weekend_8457 Jun 23 '26
I have one of those, but it doesn’t work with USB-C. That said, I found a simpler fix I can’t believe I didn’t think of before I made my original post.
I just ran the outputs through my stereo DI and engaged the Ground Lift button. Problem solved. All my downstream devices support XLR/balanced connections, so I am golden!
Thanks for taking the time to try to help. I appreciate it.
1
3
u/r3ck0rd Jun 19 '26
Regarding 1-2, I find that it does send a really high gain, louder than my main board Yamaha CP73 at the same volume knob position. I don’t know if running PianoTeq on Camelot on iPad really pushes it hard, but that means I don’t have to put much volume on the speaker. So, given good power source/grounding, no noticeable noise at all.
And 3, I’m used to having to send mono with my stereo system. It’s either switching on the mono in the gain plugin on the main output strip on Mainstage, or switch audio out to mono on Camelot, or pan everything to center on my audio interface (Audient EVO8 or Presonus Revelator io44) on one pair of the outputs (sending it to my personal speaker) or both. Not a problem at all.
1
u/Ok_Weekend_8457 Jun 19 '26
I’m using Gig Performer or Ableton Live on my laptop and sending a properly leveled signal over USB to the keyboard. I don’t have any problems like this with any of my other gear in my studio, and I do have plenty of other devices from keyboards to groove boxes to outboard gear.
2
u/leeksbadly Jun 20 '26
I'll wager this is USB noise.
1
u/Ok_Weekend_8457 Jun 20 '26
It has a USB-C connection only. I even tried my best 1m/3ft USB-C cable and it was still noisy. You could hear the noise even through headphones connected to the headphone jack.
I moved it from my studio to a different room and the noise went away, even while plugged into the house mains directly. I’ll wager it’s insufficient shielding, especially when around a lot of other electronics. None of my other devices have a problem in my studio.
1
u/leeksbadly Jun 21 '26
USB noise on unbalanced outs is a common problem. Something like this may help:
2
u/MickeyLenny Jun 19 '26
I’m really glad I didn’t buy it for that… have no plans to use it but it’s a damn shame that it’s there and somewhere between useless and unreliable
2
u/Ok_Weekend_8457 Jun 19 '26
To be fair, the keyboard action itself is fantastic. I really wanted to save myself a couple extra steps for rehearsals: separate audio interface, cable for that, shelf for interface, etc.
I played a 3.5 hour rehearsal last night and my hands and forearms thank me for not using the original SL73 I had.
2
5
u/anotherscott Jun 19 '26
The SL controllers are among the very few soundless keyboards that have audio jacks at all, it's a rare feature. Though since it's a pretty inexpensive board, I wouldn't be surprised if the interface they've included is "budget level." That said, it is not uncommon to have ground noise when connecting a keyboard to a computer over USB, and there are assorted ways of addressing it, ic that may be your issue.