How I CONSISTENTLY get Good Audio with my Keyboard Rig

Build YOUR Rig YOUR way.

You are a producer. The technical aspects of your setup are important and so is your creativity. A great performance can be undermined by gear that you don't just cant get along with. I have found that it is beneficial to pay attention to the components that make up your production rig. Whether you're recording, composing, or performing live, your audio setup plays a key role in making sure your final product sounds great. From your keyboard to your audio interface, virtual instruments, and effects, every element contributes to the overall sound. In this post, we’ll dive into why each of these components is essential and how I unexopectedly figured out a hack for sending a solid signal to the Front-of-House.

The keyboard is your command station and, in many cases, you will find yourself building your production rig around it. While certain keyboards may offer better technical specs or more features, the best keyboard is the one that works right for you. How will your audience engage in your shared experience if your instrument is frustrating you? You may have the skill to adapt and push through and you'll probably run an excellent production but will you truly have given your best if you cannot get the most out of the keyboard? I know it seems shallow but the connection you have with your gear directly affects your creativity, it also influences your ability to contribute to the moment and connect with your audience.

The Keyboard: I chose what works for me.

I've been a Korg junkie for nearly two decades. I’ve always loved the sound and feel of Triton and I haven't quite found anything like it since; Krome gave me Triton's workflow with beautiful sounds (courtesy of the EDS-X sound engine) and low-key superpowers; and Nautilus (my favourite) embodies the essence of Kronos in a sleek, simple, robust chassis and I actually know how to use it. Nautilus has an intuitive workflow that allows me to easily curate sounds for a productions and access parameters critical to my workflow. This not only makes it fun to play but an effective tool during pre-production and in post. Ultimately, your personal preferences matter. I recommend choosing a keyboard that feels comfortable, sounds great TO YOU, is easy for you to use and fits your creative style. This might be a Stage Piano, Workstation, Arranger or a MIDI keyboard with a Virtual Instrument player. A good keyboard should be easy to for you to navigate and make working with it as seamless as playing it. Believe me, you will find one.

The Audio Interface: Clarity, compatibility and Ease of Use

The next component of any production setup is the audio interface. This device acts as the bridge between your instruments (hardware and virtual), and the mix console. A high-quality interface will ensure all your production assets are routed the way you want and that your mix engineer gets properly organised lines. The reality is that it is tough to find a bad audio interface. Once again, your choice will depend largely on your preferences and how the features of the audio interface honour those preferences.

For my setup, I chose the Focusrite Clarett+ 4 Pre. I'm a long-time Focusrite user and they have consistently delivered products I trust. Clarett+ offers great sound quality, ease of use, and reliable performance. With four line inputs (eight in total) four outputs, and MIDI In/Out on its rear panel, it provides plenty of flexibility for connecting various instruments and equipment when I need to record in a pinch but still works perfectly in my production rig. What really sets it apart for me is the Focusrite Control App. It’s cross-platform-compatible and incredibly jntuitive, allowing me to easily manage routing, adjust levels, and adapt my audio to spec for the engineer. Plus setup is really fast. With a bit of research and planning you can get a serious rig together and produce with confidence.

Virtual Instruments: The Crouching Tiger of Your Rig

While I tend to rely less on virtual instruments for playing live these days, I still use them when building out my tracks and composing or doing sound designfor my friends. Native Instruments Komplete remains at the heart of my virtual instrument rig, it offers a wide array of sounds and tools to enhance my productions. Virtual instruments have consistently allowed me to contribute high quality assets to each production, from a risers for an intro, to sub-drops for a breakdown, your favourite virtual instrument has it.

For many producers, a solid virtual instrument collection is a must-have. Whether it’s lush strings (Spitfire Audio's Albion One), rich synths (Logic's Alchemy), or cinematic percussion (Damage), virtual instruments expand your creative possibilities without the need for a large collection of physical gear. Whether you're just starting out or upgrading, good virtual instruments offer some excellent tools that can cover you for everything from bread-and-butter samples to unique and complex soundscapes. There are so many excellent virtual instrument libraries that are available and some of them come with your DAW.

DAWs and the Power of Software

I don't have much anxiety about digital audio workstations (DAWs). It just has to not be a pain to work with.

For me, Studio One is my go-to DAW—it’s powerful, stable, and capable of handling any production task I throw at it. However, I also really enjoy producing with Ableton Live and Logic Pro, both of which offer robust features and great workflows for different types of projects.

Ultimately, the DAW you choose should be one you’re comfortable with. They all offer intuitive user-interfaces and powerful features so, whichever one you choose, you will have all the tools you need for your productions.

Cross-Platform Flexibility: Mac vs. Windows

I work on both Mac and Windows platforms, I try to ensure that all my production tools are compatible with the computing platforms I work on. This approach allows me the flexibility to switch between systems without worrying about compatibility issues and exclusive platforms.

The Importance of Testing Your Rig

I was messing around one day when I discovered that I could monitor my production rig. This may seem obvious but I did not have the ability to do this before getting a second audio interface. This allowed me to set up two rigs: One for production and another for audio capture.

With this system upgrade I can now benchmark my production audio against a calibrated audio capture rig and ensure that Front-of-House gets workable signals at standardised levels

Conclusion

Great audio comes down to how well you command your equipment and how confidently you can capture and shape your sound. Whether you’re choosing a keyboard, selecting an audio interface, or working with virtual instruments, the key is to find the gear that supports your creative process. A well-chosen rig gives you the flexibility to work quickly and without frustration and communicate your production elements to your fellow musicians in the best possible way. By testing your setup before you hit the rehearsal room, you can ensure that everything works smoothly, leaving you with more time to focus on what matters most—making epic music.

So take the time to find the right gear for you and enjoy getting to understand your tools.