Hi all,

Because this question -- how do I record my piano -- keeps getting asked and I found myself giving the same answers over and over, I wrote an article about it.

Here it is:
http://www.originalsolopiano.com/how-to-record-piano.html

I hope you'll find it useful. Let me know if you have any suggestions or other comments.

What a valuable resource, mahlzeit! Thank you so much for putting that together, and I am going to bookmark this thread so I can point to it every time we get the inevitable "how to record" questions.

One of the best features of your article, imo, is that you provided actual photos of the jacks and cables etc., which is an ENORMOUS help to technological illiterates like myself.

The only suggestion I would make is a teeny-tiny editorial one, regarding your comment that the Zoom is "a bit pricey". I personally think it is pretty cheap considering everything it contains (two stereo mics, recorder, etc.). Maybe just add a parenthetical comment "costs about $300-350" so as not to scare too many people off.

I am glad you like it, Monica!

Yup, that was my whole point.

Your comment on the Zoom is noted; I'll try to rephrase it a bit. Thanks!

Great job. This should get a sticky...

Bravo!!

Great - thanks for all the work (and for the pictures as well!)

this link definitly needs a sticky!!! the most informative explanations i have read thus far!!

Very useful article. Thanks.

If you haven't already, you might want to start a thread about your article in the digital forum, too.

Great Job mahlzeit!

Thanks for posting this, very helpful.

I think you will find the answers to the acoustic side of the question in the thread from when we (actually Axtremus et-al) created the Piano World Piano Forums CD...
http://www.pianoworld.com/ubb/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?/topic/33/5.html

Between the two posts, you've got it all covered.
And yes, please post to the digital forums too.

Well Done.

Thanks, everyone. I hope it answers most questions.

I will also link from the article to that thread on recording acoustics; it looks very good!

Great job mahlzeit! This question comes up a lot so I've made the thread sticky. It's even more useful now that it includes the link on how to record acoustic piano.

Wow. This is a great resource. Saved me from asking a lot of questions.

*Thanks Mahzeit!! I am a clueless moron in the area of recording , I bookmarked your site, I hope to get the guts to use it one day!

The other thread on recording acoustics was indeed informative, but I got a kick out of the prices they mentioned there for soundcards, e.g., $99 for a 1 Gig card. Technology sure does get cheaper with age, doesn't it?

Mahlzeit, if you're not averse to posting links, I'd also (obviously) recommend adding a link to the Zoom mega-thread:

Just got a Zoom H4

That's a good idea, Monica. Thanks!

Thanks 'mahlzeit'

Now that I have a digital piano keyboard as well. I can have a great time with all this added technology.

Alan (swingal)

Agreed, nice job mahlzeit. BTW, is there anyway to record live using audacity without the lag?


Swingal, I totally missed the news on your new digital, so looking forward to hearing your recordings!

Hello, All.

This looks to be an interesting thread and one that I will certainly follow. Thanks to all who have posted some very useful information.

Regards,

Gary

What do you mean by this? Specifically, I don't understand what you mean by "record live" -- aren't all recordings live?!

Actually, it's a moot point now, I found a way around this.

I have to use the headphone audio out, before I couldn't hear what I was playing if I decided to record live (record as I play, vs. recording a playback of a saved session) and had to rely on the sound from audacity as it was processed so suffered a lag. Now I just turn off the audacity sound and enable the desktop's mic volume (didn't have this option on my laptop for some reason).

BTW, for those who haven't tried this, try hooking up your keyboard to your computer's sound system, I just have a low end 70W 5.1, but wow, you can get some really nice volume and clarity from the piano on these speakers.

Funny story, when I was experimenting with the 5.1 sound system yesterday, whenever I played a middle A, I would get this irritating buzzing (even on playback of recordings) I couldn't figure it out, was worried the cabling or keyboard or soundchip was defective or something...until I found out it was sympathetic vibration coming off of a metal grill on my pc, lol.

Thanks Mahlzeit!

I just asked this question at the composers forum earlier this evening.

Glad I looked here and saw your thread.

When I have more time I will read it and put it to use.

Great job Mahlzeit!

And some timely advice on handling recording situations for audio. Do you have any experience with video and suggestions?

Mark

Thanks for the advice! Glad someone smart and has the time to help the rest of us out!

question:

I was able to hook up my ES4 with a USB connection and record some music. But the play back using Red Dot gives it a harpsichord sound from my computer. It sounds fine through the piano itself. Suggestions, otherwise all my songs will seem like an Adams Family reunion...

Mark,

You'll only get a midi recording with a usb hookup. If you want the acoustic sound from your piano, you'll have to hook up using either the line-in (or headphones to mic) and fool around with audacity or similar software to record.

With the midi you can switch out the instrument or use software pianos to add back in the piano voice (you might want to look at the free soundfonts etc if you want to start playing around with giving midis back a sampled piano sound (the end path of going down this route are the rather expensive sampled piano software such as Akoustik, Ivory, Art Vista etc..

Good luck.

Thanks Sid, I was wondering why the Audacity wouldn't work. I guess back to the drawing board.

Mark

mahlzeit,

To record from your acoustic piano here are a few options:

* Condenser microphone (or two, for stereo).

* A professional mixer from E-Bay with microphone module. I got two professional-grade Peaveys for $60.

* Audacity is the free recording program of choice.

* Ensure your computer is capable of sampling audio input in the form of a microphone or line-in jack. Most modern PC's have this capability.

In my case the whole setup ran about $130. To do stereo I'd need to spend another $60 for another microphone and cord and another $??? for a second microphone module. I already have the two mixers.

Once you perform your recording, depending on your PC you'll need to remove the noise. My PC generates a lot of noise into the AC line, and this gets picked up by the mixer and must be removed with Audacity. Yet, if you remove too much you'll affect the recording's acoustic quality (make it sound like your in a room with wierd walls).

The alternative is much simpler but costlier: get the Zoom recorder. It will not have the line noise problems.

Can someone please direct me to the following cable to purchase. I've been searching and can't seem to find one. Thanks

"To use Line Out, you'll want to use a stereo cable with two big mono jacks on one end and a small stereo jack on the other."

Even Wal-Mart may have this.

Mark737

You are looking for a RCA to 3.5 mm (1/8") stereo mini plug. They can be found almost anywhere eg. Radio Shack, Best Buy, Circuit City, Walmart, any electronics shop etc. Gerg has posted the picture.

K