Al - Progress in Recording Dept.

[isabel95]

Al...I can save a midi file from a performance on my keyboard to a floppy disk. Of course when I put the disk in the computer it sounds nothing like the instrument(s) I recorded. My first test was a vibraphone and it came out as a piano. Is there any way I can change a midi file to something decent sounding with simple software? I'm trying to avoid having to move the keyboard near the computer. This is my workspace: http://www.pbase.com/image/24749366

Isabel

[alrobin]

Hi, Isabel,

Sorry for the delay in responding to you. I'm visiting the West Coast right now enjoying some warmer temperatures.

I think, like me, you need more room in your computer corner. Sooner or later, you are going to want to have your keyboard closer to your pc. Maybe you could move the fridge out and make room for it there??

Unfortunately, if you want to use the good-quality sounds from your keyboard, you will have to somehow record them, and the easiest way is to do it digitally through your pc sound card. There is one other way, but not as good, fidelity-wise. You could record them onto a cassette (or other recorder device) and then digitize the music on the cassette by playing it back through the sound card.

Which sound card do you have? Some cards (e.g. Creative's "Audigy" series) have MIDI voices which do not sound too bad. You can change the instrument in a sequencer program by changing the "program" number (e.g. #1 for piano).

The only way to improve the quality through software is to buy an additional sound module or synthesizer (e.g. Sound Canvas), connect it to your pc through a MIDI port (your sound card might have one already), and play the MIDI files through it with the aid of MIDI software such as Cakewalk or Cubase, etc. The output from the sound module could then be routed back through the sound card for digital recording.

Hope this helps some.

[isabel95]

Hi, Isabel,

Sorry for the delay in responding to you. I'm visiting the West Coast right now enjoying some warmer temperatures.

I think, like me, you need more room in your computer corner. Sooner or later, you are going to want to have your keyboard closer to your pc. Maybe you could move the fridge out and make room for it there??

Unfortunately, if you want to use the good-quality sounds from your keyboard, you will have to somehow record them, and the easiest way is to do it digitally through your pc sound card. There is one other way, but not as good, fidelity-wise. You could record them onto a cassette (or other recorder device) and then digitize the music on the cassette by playing it back through the sound card.

Which sound card do you have? Some cards (e.g. Creative's "Audigy" series) have MIDI voices which do not sound too bad. You can change the instrument in a sequencer program by changing the "program" number (e.g. #1 for piano).

The only way to improve the quality through software is to buy an additional sound module or synthesizer (e.g. Sound Canvas), connect it to your pc through a MIDI port (your sound card might have one already), and play the MIDI files through it with the aid of MIDI software such as Cakewalk or Cubase, etc. The output from the sound module could then be routed back through the sound card for digital recording.

Hope this helps some.

Thanks, Al. Just as soon as I fix up an apparent conflict in my computer which is causing distorted sound I will try the direct recording process. I think I can put the keyboard on the table to the left of the computer. It is on wheels and when pulled out will accommodate the keyboard. Just have to figure out how to keep the cat off it!

I just put in a Santa Cruz card because I didn't like the sounds on the Blaster that came with this Dell machine...and lo and behold I experienced the same distorted sound (it had been happening on and off with the Blaster. From what I can tell from surfing the web it is probably some sort of conflict with our network setup. My husband is going to put the card into a different pci socket tomorrow. Hopefully that'll solve the problem.

Thanks again.

Isabel

P.S. Cakewalk makes so many different versions of their software. Which is the least I can get away with?

[alrobin]

Hi, Isabel,

I'm not familiar with the Santa Cruz card, so don't know if the sounds will be better than from the Sound Blaster. You will probably find than no sound card produces sounds as good as those directly from your keyboard.

Re Cakewalk, I haven't used it for some time. Cubase is one of the most recommended sequencers at the moment, but it's expensive.

I used to use a freeware version of Cakewalk, but I don't think it's offered any more. The most basic one you can find will probably play back most MIDI files.

Voyetra Turtle Beach have an inexpensive MIDI sequencer called "MIDI Orchestra Plus" which will play MIDI files, but isn't too user-friendly when it comes to composing and editing. Last time I looked it was available at Costco for around $20.

[Chumba]

Hi Isabel!

What keyboard are you using? I assume it is of reasonable quality, bearing in mind it has a floppy drive!

What is the problem with recording the output (audio) from the keyboard into the computer? Surely space doesn't matter - you may just need longer leads.........

This way you can record it as a wav file, and use any of the many wav to mp3 converters to keep the file size down.

Alternatively, if your keyboard has a General MIDI soundset, then providing you put program changes at the beginning of each track in the keyboard sequencer, even Win XP will interpret these correclty and use the in-built software synth in GM mode to select the correct sounds.

Let me know if I can be of more help! (musician by trade, know a little about this stuff)

Mark

[alrobin]

Mark,

This thread is a follow-up from This One. Isabel has a little more info here about her configuration and keyboard. I am sure she would appreciate any further info you have to offer.

What keyboard/sequencer system do you use?

[Chumba]

Isabel

I see from your earlier post (thanks Al!) that you have a Roland Fantom. This will sound infinitley better than any soundcard you are likely to install inside your PC!

I really would suggest making an audio recording of your arrangements from your keyboard. It is just as Al suggest;

1) LINE OUT (left & right) from your Fantom into LINE IN on your soundcard. This will probably be in the form of a 3.5mm mini stereo jack (the kind you get on headphones for personal stereos). You may already have this lead.

2) Use ANY audio app to record the output. You can even use Sound Recorder that is bundled with Win XP.

3) Use any of the freeware conversion tools to change the audio into the format you would like.

It really is that easy!

Mark

Alrobin,

I use Cubase SX 2.0 and various VSTi's for my compositions eg PRo 53, B4, Halion 2 & String Edition etc. I really only use my keyboard (an old SY77) as a controller. I also have a Roland RD150 digital piano for, surprisingly, playing the piano!

This all runs through a Mackie 1604vlz mixer into my Terratec EWX 24/96 soundcard. I monitor using a pair of Tannoy Reveal Active monitors.

I write all sorts, really, although I am happiest writing electronica. I enjoy writing for piano, and string arranging aswell. At the mo I am working on several presentation PTEs for a pro photographer, incorporating menu systems etc. They look (and sound) good, even if I do say so myself!

What about you?

Mark

ps take this off list if necessary

[LumenLux]

Mark, welcome to the forum, of course. Thank you already for your contributions.

Now, ps take this off list if necessary - Please don't. Almost everything, if left on this congenial forum, helps a great many more of us than just the original questioner and responder.

[alrobin]

Hi, Mark,

I, too, use Cubase SX 2.0. I've been using the MIDI features of versions 1 through 3 for years and just upgraded. Now I'm in the process of learning to use all the new VST sound recording and editing features. I'm taking a course in sound production and a workshop in "mastering" at the local college this spring - both use Cubase SX as the basis for the course, so they should be helpful. I also use Audition, which I find a little more user-friendly when it comes to sound editing.

I have not done much original composition, although I plan to give it a whirl some day. I use a Roland U20 (mainly as a keyboard for input to Cubase) and an old Technics sound module & synthesizer (something like "SRL1" - can't remember the exact model name at the moment) which I still find very confusing and complicated, but it does a lot of nice things when it comes to putting sounds together.

Most of my sound editing has been associated with slide shows (both analogue, and now PTE digital shows), but I have used Audition to clean up some choir music from some old tape recordings that someone had lying around.

It's a great hobby, and maybe someday I'll be able to incorporate more special sound effects into my slide shows.

[isabel95]

Hi Isabel!

What keyboard are you using? I assume it is of reasonable quality, bearing in mind it has a floppy drive!

What is the problem with recording the output (audio) from the keyboard into the computer? Surely space doesn't matter - you may just need longer leads.........

This way you can record it as a wav file, and use any of the many wav to mp3 converters to keep the file size down.

Alternatively, if your keyboard has a General MIDI soundset, then providing you put program changes at the beginning of each track in the keyboard sequencer, even Win XP will interpret these correclty and use the in-built software synth in GM mode to select the correct sounds.

Let me know if I can be of more help! (musician by trade, know a little about this stuff)

Mark

My problem is lack of knowledge. I need to know which cables I need to record directly from the keyboard! There is so little information on the web or in manuals that I can comprehend. I have a Roland Fantom (the previous model). Can you tell me what sort of cables I need? (I supposed the store where I purchased it can tell me. I just feel like such a doofus in the audio department. I am not used to being so helpless!)

I have a sort of simple program that might help, called "Band in a Box".

......Hummmmmmmm....just read down a few messages and see that you found out I have a Fantom...I will have to check with the music shop for the proper cables.

When I say reasonably priced, I can spend more than $20, but I don't want to spend way more than $100...I am a software junkie and get so many programs that initially excite and them get abandoned. I like the idea of recording directly from the keyboard.

Will have to read up on Cubase. (no doubt more than $100!)

Isabel

[Chumba]

Hi Isabel

The cables you would need would be described as follows;

2 x 1/4 inch mono jack plugs to 1 x 2.5mm stereo mini jack plug.

Get it as long as you need, but if really not then be careful not to get really thin cable, as this will result in loss of audio quality. If you can afford gold-plated plugs, so much the better!

Then connect the large jack plugs into the Fantom; one in LEFT output, one in the RIGHT output. (use the MAIN outs if there is a choice.) Then plug the mini-jack end into the LINE-IN of your soundcard.

As you are only recording the audio, forget programs such as Cubase and Cakewalk. They are MIDI and AUDIO sequencers, and they would be totally unecessary. All you need is a program to record the audio ( a bit like a tape recorder would). So a program like Windows Sound Recorder would do the trick. For more options, a shareware program such as Goldwave is also extremely good.

This will be all you need, provided you remain sequencing on the Fantom.

By the way, those are standard terms for the audio leads, so any music/electrical shop will know what you are talking about, even if you aren't sure

Regards

Mark