Hi Everyone,

I want to connect my RolandFP4 to my Macbook Pro and record the sound I specify on the FP4 into Garageband. How do I do this? So far I've only been able to use my ROland as a controller for the Garageband sounds. But I want to use my Roland sounds.

I hope this makes sense. I'm a bit new to the digital recording thing! Thanks!

So you've been recording MIDI into GB and now want to record audio? Actually you can record both at once.

You need an a USB audio interface connect that to the Mac and select it as the source of an "real instrument" track. Connect the line-out from the FP4 to the Line-in on the audio interface. (You need a pair of cables with 1/4" plugs on both ends)

Actually just to test the concept but the result will be very poor quality. Select the built-in mic as the source for the real instrument's track and place the FP4 near the computer. Enable the FP4's speakers. It will sound worse then a cell-phone but it works. Spending $80 to $200 on an interface box will get you near perfect sound quality.

You can buy a box that has MIDI combined with the audio interface. This saves some cable runs. You are looking for something like one of these
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Saff6USB/
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Alpha/
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/AudioBoxUSB/

I had a similar question...Thanks ChrisA.

Thanks Chris,

OK...I get what you're saying about running it from the keyboard to a box and from the box to the computer. But just indulge my curiosity for a minute.

I don't understand why I can't hook my keyboard directly to my computer and record the sounds from my keyboard. Isn't it just midi out of my keyboard and into garageband?

Thanks for your patience! I'm learning!

A MIDI cable does not send sound. It sends little messages that say what you are doing. One message is sent when a key goes down and another when you raise the key. If you play a triad chord six messages are sent, a key-down and key-up for each note. What is sent is logically equivalent to sheet music. In fact notice how Garage Band can display what you play as notes on a grand staff. That is because what you are sending is "G4 keys down at X velocity", and not the sound of "G".

The line out jacks send sound all ready to go to a speaker.

The advantage of recording MIDI is you can edit it. Correct wrong notes or fix the tempo. Or later assign the notes to different instrument. MIDI is kind is nice for pactice too. You can see that you played a dotted 1/16 when you meant to play an 1/8 note. I'm not good at time and man a recorded performance shown in music notation shows that in a very clear way

AH! I get it now. Thanks very much. Yes, I can see how the midi notation print out would be nice for practice. I'll bet it's nice for composition too! I've been composing putting pencil to paper, which is kind of nice, but I have a lot of trouble figuring out note values that I'm playing.

Thanks for your help Chris!