Hello hello
Can I record a stereo Synthesizer with 2x Mono Combo Jack Inputs in a Soundcard?
Can a modern DAW handle this scenario?
Do I loose Stereo Informations when I record 2x Mono and sum to Stereo in the DAW?

Im getting my first small Hardware Synth this week and need a Soundcard.
Now I'm thinking about the Motu M2. But it has only 2x Mono Combo Jack Input.
The M4 has real 2 Channel Line In.

Like always I'm on tight budget
Thank you

Thank you

 

Which synth is it?

Yes, that's fine:

Mono (left output from the synth) to IN 1 L
Mono (right output from the synth) to IN 2 R

 

No problem. The M2 is fine for recording one synth. The Daw will handle it for you fine and take your l+r input pair and record it to one stereo audio track. I had an M2 for awhile as a second interface, and it worked with no additional software at all; which was nice because it did not interfere with my motu 828Es which does have software to control it. I mostly used it separately with my laptop, but when connected to my daw computer it was fine to just click the speaker icon to go back and forth.

I had 2 minor complaints. The usb cable they ship it with is garbage. The usb port it connects to the computer at is kind of budget. It's literally just a little hole cut into the plastic. Other than that, worked fine.

I have to say though, are you really going to only have 1 synth? I don't believe you. If the price is not a big difference, I'd get the M4. They (either) are decent for the price and the convertors will surprise you for the money.

 

just plug it into the mike's left & right inputs of your soundcard or aux L & R inputs of your PC soundcard, or on your audio to USB interface (scarlett, behringer or whatever) come on you gotta be kidding, you've been a member for over 10 years. You can even buy a an inexpensive audio to USB interface for your PC for about $50. or less if your budget is tight.

 

Thanks for your feedback
I'm a digital one.
Only Synth I had was the Virus TI plugged in via USB.
Now I really get the JT-4000M Behringer JP Clone and want to play with that.
Sure maybe I start to like that and get more in the future.

I think the Motu is a good choice.
I also can get the Audient ID14 from a friend which provides Stereo Line In.

Will see, but you already helped me out

 

For the "Behringer JT-4000 micro Synthesizer" you need this one:

Y-Audiokabel 3,5 mm Klinke TRS male an 2x 6,3 mm Klinke TS male

Artikel-Nr.: K3YWPP
www.aweo.de/Y-Kabel-35-mm-Klinke-stereo-auf-2x-63-mm-Klinke-mono

How many USB-C ports do you have on your PC or laptop? Consider the following:

MOTU M2 --> Connector format: USB Type-C
Behringer JT-4000M Micro --> Power supply via USB-C

 

Last edited: Oct 14, 2025 at 10:21 AM

Thank you very much.
I will get the Audient 14 today and will try.
The Adapter cable looks also completely correct

 

Just keep in mind you are getting answers for/from Windows users. The Motu will work perfectly with your Mac. I tell you the things I think are not great about the inexpensive Motu, because I am not trying to sell you one like other users here. Just an honest report.
I do not understand why people are so insistent other people buy the same things they use. Otherwise I'd be trying like them, to talk you into a Motu that runs about 4x the cost of what you asked about. Either the Audient or the Motu will have no problem with 2 line in connections to one stereo channel recording.

What Virus do you have? You say "used to run over USB"... lol. That is a MacOS after Catalina issue, and on Thunderbolt ports you need a cable that goes from USB one to TB2,3, whatever you have. That means problems because the only way to create such a connection is Apple expensive bi-directional Thunderbolt to USB adapter. Better off to just use the Misery Island aka Aura librarian/editor and midi cables.

 

I always appreciate your honest Feedback. Thank you clone

I tested the Audient ID14 for few hours and i´m very disappointed.
I answered in this Thread, because it´s already opened: http://audiosex.pro/threads/audient...-about-sound-quality.60866/page-2#post-866843

So the Audient will not be a candidate for me.
And you´re right about the Motu M4. It´s good to have a Device with multiple input and real stereo input.
The Audient indeed was really cool with it´s optical input and ADAT possibilities. But the sound is meeh.

I start some researches the next days because i want to decide between the newer Focusrites or the Motu M4

About the Virus.
Around 2000, I had the Virus C and a very cool external Soundcard. Crazy design. But don't remember the name. I used the Virus Editor and recorded the sound into Line In. Absolut phat sound.
Years later I got the Virus TI 1. Disappointed from the Sound. It didn't sound that phat anymore and I had more fun with VSTs. To this time I had a Windows workstation. I switched to Mac this year because I want to be mobile and Mac is definitely way more stable for music than Windows.
I use just vsts. And the JT4000 will be my first small Synth since years again

 

Last edited: Oct 14, 2025 at 11:26 PM

With the double plug (previous post), you split the mono signal into two channels so you can hear both sides (left and right) in your headphones. But that's not stereo; it's called pseudo stereo.

You're always talking about real stereo inputs; guitars, for example, are mono. Real hardware synths, which have two L/R (left & right) output jacks, connect to L/R (left & right) in your audio interface, so you need two 6.3 mm jack cables, and that's stereo. When buying audio cables you should pay attention to the second ring, which is a stereo cable.

Behringer JT-4000 - Synthesizer Connections

Power is supplied via the included USB-C cable, as are MIDI configuration, firmware updates, and saving and loading sound banks. For the audio connection, a stereo mini-jack cable is required, which plugs into the headphone output. The output level is a bit low, but can easily be adjusted on a mixer, as the signal is truly clean and free of artifacts. If you want to use the JT-4000 with a professional mixing console, you will also need an adapter cable to route the stereo signal to one or two channel strips.

RCSSound - JT-4000 Editor - Free --> www.rcssound.com/index.php?page=9

This is a CTRLR based editor panel for Behringer JT-4000 and JT-4000M Micro synthesizers.
The package contains: Windows standalone 32-bit and 64-bit + VST32, VST64 version.
The first release is free for everyone.

 

Last edited: Oct 15, 2025 at 10:38 AM

Thank you very much for the detailed clarification about pseudo and real stereo. I also made the decision to get real stereo inputs. Focusrite seems to offer Balanced TSR or XLR Stereo input in the 2i4 Versions or 4i4.

And thanks for the free editor. There are so many community driven presets and editors. When I have some experience with the device I will collect them here.

 

Just like you shouldn't necessarily take advice from Windows users about Mac audio interfaces. you should also watch for advice from people who are "smart" enough to think that a company like MOTU hires engineers who are dumb enough to use AI results and end up confusing their schematics with their shopping lists.

Here's a little unconfused AI results from ChatGPT since it seems all someone here can read anymore:


1. MOTU M2

• Inputs: 2x combo jacks (XLR/TRS), each is mono.
  
  
• Recording stereo synths:
  • If your synth has stereo outputs (Left/Right), you would connect Left → Input 1, Right → Input 2.
    
    
  • In your DAW, you can create a stereo track and assign Input 1 → Left, Input 2 → Right.
    
    
  • ✅ Result: True stereo recording is possible.
    
    
  • If you record just one input, you only get mono.

Spoiler

1. True stereo

• A stereo synth outputs two distinct signals: Left and Right.
  
  
• Each channel carries different audio information (panning, modulation, effects).
  
  
• Recording Left → Input 1, Right → Input 2 preserves those differences.
  
  
• In your DAW, routing them to a stereo track gives you the exact stereo image the synth is producing. ✅

2. Pseudo/stereo-widened mono

• Pseudo stereo is when you have a single mono signal and try to make it stereo by:
  • Duplicating it and panning left/right.
    
    
  • Using delays, chorus, reverb, or other processing to create artificial width.
• This does not capture true stereo information — it’s just simulating it. ❌

 

Last edited: Oct 15, 2025 at 11:34 AM

Thank you clone. Need to to some own research today evening.

 

Some people on here act like they are selling stuff on commission. If your synth or instrument is sending different signals to left and right over two analog cables, you are recording true stereo. If the output of the synth is just a mono output split into two, it’s not a stereo source.
If your synth has distinct L/R outputs and you use one TS cable per output, you will still record true stereo. If it’s just one output split, it will be mono.

TS is always mono and unbalanced. TRS can be balanced mono, or stereo unbalanced.

 

Last edited: Oct 15, 2025 at 12:45 PM

I would need to order this cable:
https://www.thomann.de/de/cordial_cfy_15_wpp.htm

The JT-4000 has a mini stereo jack output. Need this Y Cable to record the stereo signal.

 

Yessir, done
I ordered the Focusrite 2i2 3rd gen. for 120€ (Nobrainer)
The reason is here:

http://audiosex.pro/threads/audient...-about-sound-quality.60866/page-3#post-867033

I will give you a feedback here, when it´s up and running.

 

I hope not ^^
From what i read is, that the Soundcard and my DAW provide it as a real Stereo Input?!
In the Daw i need to Set Line IN1 and Line In2 together as a stereo Input.
For the JT-4000 i bought this one:
https://www.cordial-cables.com/de/produkte/cfy-wpp


I just need one Stereo Input. I have only one HW Synth.
When this becomes more, i would have won the Lottery and than i can also buy a bigger Interface :D
But for now it´s one small HW Synth, the rest is VSTi

I also found this. And the comments are good. Crazy
https://www.musicstore.de/de_DE/EUR...-In-to-USB-Interface-Cable/art-PAH0018083-000

 

Last edited: Oct 15, 2025 at 10:02 PM