Can I use Kontrol Z1 with active studio monitors?

julyunter
julyunter Member Posts: 1 Member
edited October 22 in Traktor Software & Hardware

I've had my Z1 for a while now but now I have upgraded my speakers to a pair of active KRK studio monitor, good for production and mixing.

The thing is that I don't know how to make them work together.

Each monitor has a balanced input and the Z1 has the unbalanced RCA output.

I used to connect this RCA output to a normal 6.35 jack input but now this is a new challenge.

Any ideas or advice on how to make all of these work together? What is the best way to use these NI controllers with this kind of monitors?

One more thing: for production I use an Akai mini with an Scarlett solo sound card but if I connect the Z1 output to this soundcard I can't use the controller because is one sound card or the other.

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Best Answers

  • mykejb
    mykejb Moderator Posts: 1,694 mod
    Answer ✓

    You probably need a standard RCA to mono jack cable, not to TRS. Plugging a mono cable into a balanced jack connector will work ok as it grounds the cold side of the balanced connection.

    -- Mike

  • lord-carlos
    lord-carlos Member Posts: 3,495 Expert
    Answer ✓
    https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/153758#Comment_153758

    No it's not.

    Also unbalanced is not a huge problem unless the cable is really really long or next to other cables with interference.

    Even in huge clubs with expensive equipment and a sound engineer on staff there can be unbalanced equipment. The one I help out at at times we have 3m long RCA cables from CDJ to mixer, laying next to power cables and powerstrip. Of the longer cable from mixer to amp is balanced.

    I have a 15 meter RCA at home, but then again my ears are not the best :D

Answers

  • Isotoxin
    Isotoxin Member Posts: 205 Advisor
    edited October 2022

    How about this type of cable?

    Here is how wiring looks like.

  • Kubrak
    Kubrak Member Posts: 3,054 Expert

    Not sure, if all KRK monitors have combo connector, they may have only XLR... Also, the cable you linked is not ballanced. It may be OK, or may not, depending on monitors....

    I use XLR-XLR cable, reduction XLR-RCA, and RCA-RCA cable. Or RCA-jack, DI-BOX and XLR-XLR cable.

    But in case of OP, the best would be to buy something like Mackie Big Knob, connect Z1 and Scarlett to inputs of Big Knob and its output to monitors.

  • John Deere Traktor
    John Deere Traktor Member Posts: 22 Member

    I have the exact same question as the original poster, I have a pair of KRK Rokit 6 G3. However I only want to use one KRK monitor with the Z1, as original poster already stated the obvious cable that comes to mind is phono to 6.3 jack however I’m getting buzzing plugging into the TRS jack input on the monitor.

    6D07E940-0A3F-4144-A65E-CF559FFF48F6.jpeg


  • Kubrak
    Kubrak Member Posts: 3,054 Expert

    No, you cannot use this cable.... It would be usable, if KRK would expect stereo signal. But it expects ballanced (or maybe unballanced) mono signal.

    You need two cinch connectors on one side and two TR or TRS ones on other end. For stereo.

    If using just one monitor - one cinch and one TR/TRS plug. And set in Traktor output as mono.

  • mykejb
    mykejb Moderator Posts: 1,694 mod
    Answer ✓

    You probably need a standard RCA to mono jack cable, not to TRS. Plugging a mono cable into a balanced jack connector will work ok as it grounds the cold side of the balanced connection.

    -- Mike

  • slavik.xo
    slavik.xo Member Posts: 3 Newcomer

    I buyed a Krk Rokit 6 G2 and a Z1 traktor kontrol.

    I will try to connect them with a xlr to rca, will that work?

  • lord-carlos
    lord-carlos Member Posts: 3,495 Expert
    https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/153752#Comment_153752

    It should, but it looks like they also have RCA input. So you could just use an RCA-RCA cable. Simpler and cheaper.

  • slavik.xo
    slavik.xo Member Posts: 3 Newcomer

    Yes but then its unbalanced.

    XLR to RCA is balanced I think..

  • lord-carlos
    lord-carlos Member Posts: 3,495 Expert
    Answer ✓
    https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/153758#Comment_153758

    No it's not.

    Also unbalanced is not a huge problem unless the cable is really really long or next to other cables with interference.

    Even in huge clubs with expensive equipment and a sound engineer on staff there can be unbalanced equipment. The one I help out at at times we have 3m long RCA cables from CDJ to mixer, laying next to power cables and powerstrip. Of the longer cable from mixer to amp is balanced.

    I have a 15 meter RCA at home, but then again my ears are not the best :D

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