Subject:keyboard to computer recording

Posted by: joejon

Date:7/1/2014 9:00:52 PM

I bought a cable that has dual 1/4" plugs to one 1/4" plug. I put the dual inputs into the L and R channels out and the single 1/4" input into my line in on my sound card. I don't get any sound/input. I just bought a M-Audio Plus USB interface as suggested by someone and tried that but still nothing. I tried every single option in the Options/Audio. Either the cable is bad or it's not the right cable. I selected one from Amazon that said it was an audio cable. I will need to try another cable. Now that I have a usb interface I should probably use that instead of going directly into the sound card - is that correct? So then I should get a dual 1/4" to dual 1/4" or get two separate cables with 1/4" male on each end. Could you please list a good quality cable, preferably with a model number so I can order the correct ones? I only need about 10'. I will also post this in the Sound Forge forum since I can't get it to work with that program either.

Subject:RE: keyboard to computer recording

Reply by: ChristoC

Date:7/2/2014 4:23:56 PM

"I put the dual inputs into the L and R channels out and the single 1/4" input into my line in on my sound card. "
Not the recommended way to combine/mix 2 outputs from keyboard >>> soundcard input for a start.....

You should be using 2 separate 1/4" cables to connect keyboard direct >>>> M-Audio Plus USB interface's 1/4" line inputs (switched to "Mic/Line", not "Guitar"). Check your Keyboard specs - the 2 Outputs MAY be Balanced, in which case you need 1/4" balanced plugs at each end of cables (e.g. like headphone plugs with 3 'terminals')

Subject:RE: keyboard to computer recording

Reply by: Geoff_Wood

Date:7/2/2014 6:26:54 PM

What are your keyboard output/s . Mono on one jack, or stereo on two jacks ?

If the first, then a single mono jack-jack cable to one channel of the interface is all you need. If stereo on two jacks, two mono jack-jack cables to two channels on interface.

Your cable - the single jack end - is that a jack with tip/sleeve, or tip/ring/sleeve (in which case it's probably wrong for your keyboard, unless using headphone or a stereo jack output...).

geoff

Subject:RE: keyboard to computer recording

Reply by: joejon

Date:7/3/2014 5:31:23 PM

Yes, the cable I was using did have the tip and ring labels. You're right, wrong kind of cables. I think I will splurge and get the Mogami cables:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001LNN2D2/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A2O1A8NNN5Y1TU

They are expensive but I don't want to get really cheap cables and be disappointed. Unless you have any other suggestions I'm pretty sure these are the correct ones.

Subject:RE: keyboard to computer recording

Reply by: Chienworks

Date:7/3/2014 10:11:32 PM

The difference in quality between a $3 cable and a $6 cable is astounding.

The difference in quality between a $6 cable and a $55 cable is negligible.

Subject:RE: keyboard to computer recording

Reply by: joejon

Date:7/7/2014 8:16:53 PM

Ok, now I'm totally confused. I bought two instrument cables with 1/4" male plugs on both ends. I went from the R and L out of the keyboard to my USB audio interface which is connected to my computer. I selected my interface in the audio settings but I get nothing. I then tried another method. I connected a USB cable from the keyboard USB port directly to my computer. Again I get nothing. I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong. I know it must be something in the settings, but I seemed to have tried them all. I have a Casio PX-400R keyboard. My computer is running Win7 Professional. The interface is a M-Audio M-Track Plus.

Subject:RE: keyboard to computer recording

Reply by: rraud

Date:7/8/2014 10:05:48 AM

- Does the M-Audio interface work otherwise.. for instance with a mic? Can you hear the input through the M-Audio HP out. If so, we know the audio interface is working.
- Confirm the desired USB or audio interface is selected in the SF menu, "Options> Preferences> Audio> Audio Device Type"
- Do the SF record meters show activity? "Transport> Arm Record", then select "View> Record Options" (assuming you have SF-11)

OTOH, if your only recording keys, (and the keyboard also has a USB port) you wouldn't need the M-Audio in that configuration.

Subject:RE: keyboard to computer recording

Reply by: joejon

Date:7/8/2014 10:53:47 AM

I don't know what I'm doing wrong. When I plug my M-Audio interface into my laptop I can plug a mic in and it works. I get a sound level and I can record. When I plug the interface into my desktop I can't get it to work. I selected my interface in Control Panel>Sounds>Recording. I also selected my interface in Sound Forge (SF9) under Options>Audio>Record. I tried two different USB ports. I'm probably doing something stupid but I don't know what.

Subject:RE: keyboard to computer recording

Reply by: rraud

Date:7/9/2014 10:09:39 AM

"When I plug my M-Audio interface into my laptop I can plug a mic in and it works"
> OK joejon, this tells us the M-Audio interface is functioning properly

"I When I plug the interface into my desktop I can't get it to work. I also selected my interface in Sound Forge (SF9) under Options>Audio>Record"
> So SF is 'seeing' the M-Audio USB interface? If so, this means the USB port is functioning properly.

"When I plug the interface into my desktop I can't get it to work"
> Does not work at all.. or just with a mic?

Subject:RE: keyboard to computer recording

Reply by: joejon

Date:7/9/2014 12:18:01 PM

I finally got it to record. I think something might be weird with my installation of SF9. For example, if I go to Options>Audio and select an option for playback, then go to record and select an option, then go back to the playback tab all of my selections disappear under both tabs (blank) and I have to select a different option and then select the option I want again. The monitor check box then was also unchecked so I rechecked that. Maybe I need to reinstall SF. Even though I got it to record I'm getting a lot of echo. I tried setting the buffer on the interface lower but it didn't help.

Subject:RE: keyboard to computer recording

Reply by: rraud

Date:7/9/2014 2:52:58 PM

As I recall the echo issue, you could set the levels, then disable the monitor, which should eliminate the echo. I don't recall if that behavior was specific to an OS, version or SF setting.
Try the ASIO or other driver mode if that's available in your set up.

Subject:RE: keyboard to computer recording

Reply by: joejon

Date:7/10/2014 11:28:11 AM

These are my options in SF for audio playback:

Microsoft Sound Mapper - terrible sound
Direct Sound Surround Mapper - terrible sound
Windows Classic Wave (ASUS Xonar Essence) - okay, but with echo
ASIO4ALL - no sound
cmasiopPCIX - best sound with little or no echo, no volume control
M-Audio ASIO Driver (usb interface using earphones) - okay, but a bit tinny

The first 5 are using my speakers for playback and the last one is using earphones plugged into the interface.

Correct me if I'm wrong. The MS Sound Mapper and Direct Sound Surround Mapper are generic Microsoft drivers not used by the sound card but are the integrated sound. The Windows Classic Wave driver uses my sound card since when selected it shows ASUS Xonoar Essence in the box below. I don't know what ASIO4ALL is since I don't get any sound selecting it (probably some universal driver). When I select cmasiopPCIX I get the best playback sound, but I don't know what that driver is and I can't control the volume through my speakers with the volume control buttons. The M-Audio ASIO driver with earphones plugged into the device doesn't have echo but sounds tinny.

As a reminder, I am recording from a digital piano. I have the L and R line outputs of the piano connected to the M-Audio interface, which is connected via USB to my computer.