Why does Maschine MK3 require TRS input jacks for its Line In inputs ?

I'm trying to get Maschine to connect to an external synth (a Yamaha SEQTRAK) and while I can trigger sounds I can't get any audio to go into the MK3. The cables I have, a stereo minijack to 2 1/4 inch TS mono jacks works fine and outputs sound when connected to the SEQTRAK, but when plugged into the MK3 Input 1 and 2, no sound is heard.

Is this because I need to have a stereo minijack to 2 1/4 TRS jacks? This would be a bit mad and very, very uncommon. Was the scenario of bringing in the output of a stereo minijack never considered?

What cable do I need in order to connect these devices (it has to be a stereo minijack from the SEQTRAK)?

Thanks

pic 1 - the cable I am currently using stereo minijack to 2 1/4 inch TS jacks

pic 2 - the configuration of my sampling page for the chosen destination of the SEQTRAK sound

pic 3 - the input configuration of the selected destination for the sound.

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Accepted answers

LostInFoundation

One info is missing in your images: what is assigned to Maschine In 1L and 1R in Maschine settings?

PK The DJ

Ditto. Definitely nothing wrong with using standard mono jacks. If you're not getting sound, it's a config thing, not the jacks.

Lionzinio

Thanks everyone who posted.

I have sorted this out. And I can confirm that even though the manual says that inputs 1 and 2 are TRS sockets, they will take TS jacks (as in the picture above) just as well.

<Phew>

All comments

LostInFoundation

One info is missing in your images: what is assigned to Maschine In 1L and 1R in Maschine settings?

Schmapps1

do you have “Maschine mk3” selected as the sound card/audio device in the Maschine settings?

I know I’ve made that mistake before and had a different audio interface selected. And then tore my hair out trying to figure out why no sound would record into the Maschine haha

mykejb

I've check on mine here and it definitely works with standard cables like the one you have. If you plug a TS plug into a TRS socket it just links the cold side of the balanced signal down to ground. As suggested above, make sure your interfaces are correctly configured, and also check that the input gain knob is turned up. I checked on an M+ in controller mode, but as far as I'm aware that's the same as a MK3.

PK The DJ

Ditto. Definitely nothing wrong with using standard mono jacks. If you're not getting sound, it's a config thing, not the jacks.

Lionzinio

<Phew>

LostInFoundation

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/239904#Comment_239904

Can we ask to share which was the issue?

It would be useful for future users with the same doubts checking the thread

Lionzinio

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/239932#Comment_239932

I think a few things.

First it wasn't a hardware issue. My connections and equipment all worked fine. And the conclusion, that the Input 1 and Input 2 jacks will both accept a 1/4 inch, mono TS jack and work fine is true. So you can use a conventional stereo mini jack to 2 mono 1/4 inch TS jacks as in the image above. This is the common splitter cable sold on Amazon.

Second, I don't even think it was a software issue, because it does now work when configured the way I had it configured (as above)

It's most likely because when you switch the Maschine's Audio > Device to Maschine MK3, that changes not only the inputs, but the outputs too. There is no mechanism for the Maschine to use different devices for input and output. And obviously, I don't normally output my Maschine through its outputs - I use its USB connection to output via my computer/audio interface.

So, if you combine that with the fact that I solo'd the input, so I could hear/not hear it and you have a perfect storm.

What was weird was that the sound from the SEQTRAK didn't register in the Sound > Sampler module, although that too could be a user error from me.

So overall, almost entirely idiot user errors…

pics show the Audio input and output panels from the settings.

One other solution to this if you are on a Mac is that you can create an Aggregate Device using the Audio MIDI Setup app and combine all your audio devices in one.

When you select this as your device in Maschine's audio preferences, you have the option to send your audio out to any of the Output Channels in your Aggregate Device. Which means I can route my SEQTRAK through Maschine (using Maschine's Inputs 1 and 2) and out via my Audio Interface using the USB output connection. Which is what I was aiming to do at the start.

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