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Hi there everyone, I would like to get some tips on how to record my digital piano properly. I own a Yamaha CLP 330 and usually i record myself via headphone out (at the CLP) to the Line-in on my pc. The audio results I am getting are often "broken" meaning the audio goes into overdrive youtube this would be an example, i have to record at a very low volume and reduce the input strength in my audio program ( I am using audacity) I have absolutely no idea how to properly record my dp but ive seen many videos on youtube with the same dp which had absolutely stunning, crystal-clear sounds and i would like have this quality too. The only thing i can imagine is that my pc is too "weak" to handle the signal, since i dont have a real soundcard and am currently connecting my dp directly to the onboard sound on my motherboard. Thanks
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Well, I'm not a great expert on that matter but as I see nobody answered to your question I'll dare to tell my thoughts:
I've heard that if you want a nice quality recording you may not mix different input/output types. If your Clavinova has a Line Output (I guess it has as it's a cabinet model), that is what you must plug to your computer's line in, not the headphones output. If you can only use your headphones out (i.e the line output isn't accesible in the back, you don't have a special cable, the DP doesn't have a line out, etc), you may try to plug headphones out into the microphone input on your computer instead of using Line In.
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Thanks for your input!
I just checked and my Dp doesn't have a line-out, the only other outputs are AUX in/out and MIDI in/out i already have a MIDI cable but from what i understand midi is for sequencing and not actual recording.
I will try the headphone to mic suggestion in the next days, any thoughts on buying an audio card for my pc or is that a waste of money?
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What's the quality like using the inbuilt recorder?
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Allright when i play it directly in the dp, as soon as i transfer it on a usb stick and further onto a pc the quality decreases, reverb/sustain are getting totally messed up for some reason..
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i have to record at a very low volume and reduce the input strength in my audio program ( I am using audacity) This is very often caused by having "Microphone boost" slider turned up in Windows. When recording the output from piano, it should be turned completely down. I don't know which OS you have, but it should be easy to google proper instructions (for example, this page shows the opposite, how to turn it on, for Windows XP and 7).
Last edited by PtJaa; 12/07/12 01:10 PM.
Kawai CA65 :: Galaxy: Vintage D, Vienna Grand, Giant :: Pianoteq 5 :: Kontakt 5 :: Reaper :: True Keys pianos
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The mic boost thing is a good catch, assuming that the OP is using the mic input. But he says he's using the line input, so the mic boost should not be pertinent.
Adamanthul: When you say that you record "to the Line-in on my pc", I assume that (a) you really mean the line input, and that (b) you're using a desktop computer, not a laptop. Is that correct?
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Emenelton: so would i improve quality by getting an AUX to cinch cable?
MacMacMac: maybe i am referring to the line out? i don't know it is the 3,5mm cinch next to the audio out and mic in at the back of my (yes, desktop) pc. I just figured it was the Line-in since i can record audio with it and line-out wouldn't do that, would it?
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Ooops, thanks for the correction, MacMacMac. I missed that.
Kawai CA65 :: Galaxy: Vintage D, Vienna Grand, Giant :: Pianoteq 5 :: Kontakt 5 :: Reaper :: True Keys pianos
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The proper cable in your situation would be the 1/4" male x 2 to 1/8" male stereo. It's probable that the headphone send on your DP was the culprit and it was hitting your 1/8" line it too hard. This cable will be a starting point for you. How-ever, you would most likely get the best results using the keyboards built in(if it has it) recorder.
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the 1/4" male x 2 to 1/8" male stereo.
can you translate that to european english for me? what is a "male"? and i assume 1/4 is a 6,5mm and a 1/8 a 3,5 mm cinch?
perfect would be a link to such a cable
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http://www.musiciansfriend.com/accessories/live-wire-1-8-trs--dual-1-4-y-cable?src=3WWRWXGPPlease understand, you're going down a path that many have taken before you. Referring to the quality of the piano sound in the video link you posted, it is more than likely that with the equipment you are using, you will have problems matching it. It is definitely worth it to buy this cable but you would be well advised to put more effort into using (if your keyboard has it) the built in recorder. ps cinch might be misspelled, it is most likely 1/8 inch
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Last edited by gvfarns; 12/07/12 07:12 PM.
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Hey thanks again for your elaborate answer, i am using a 1/8 to 1/8 cable with a 1/4 adapter on one side (the dp side) would i have better sound using a "real" 1/4 to 1/8?
with "cinch" i meant the type of plug the cable is ending with, i thought it was the english term for it, i googled it, could it be "jack plug"?
I will definitively try the build in recorder again in the comnig days.
Also i didnt quite catch the meaning of
"Referring to the quality of the piano sound in the video link you posted, it is more than likely that with the equipment you are using, you will have problems matching it."
Did you mean matching the audio quality in that video? That is actually me playing and the audio quality is the problem i am talking about as soon as i play a bit faster/harder the sound goes into heavy overdrive... if you meant something else, i didnt get it, sorry.
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By heavy overdrive, you mean to say it's clipping and distorting because the signal is coming in too strongly.
I don't think the problem is your physical cable. If you have done everything that has been said here, you can try simple things like turning down the volume on your DP. Record the music at a lower volume level, then you can amplify the signal in postprocessing (using audacity or a similar tool) if you feel it is necessary.
Unfortunately, you will probably not get spectacular results with the onboard audio of your computer. In many cases the onboard audio has very poor recording capability. For a moderate investment you can get a USB audio interface that will do a good job (m-audio fast track pro, presonus audiobox, focusrite scarlett or saffire, that kind of thing). This kind of recording project is basically what those interfaces are for.
[edit] Oh wait, I just realized that you are recording out of the headphone output of your piano. Buy whatever you need to in order to use the aux out instead. That will make all the difference. If you are still not satisfied after that, look into the external interfaces I recommended above.
Last edited by gvfarns; 12/07/12 08:17 PM.
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sorry about that, I didn't think that was you because it didn't sound like it had a problem, I didn't really listen to it very long, now that i do I realize that it's distorted. Mr GvFarns conclusion is correct. get the aux cable and at least your gain matching will be correct and you should be able to play with normal dynamics and more standard volume settings throughout.
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So, today i have recorded something via AUX to Line in, while i was able to record without any distortions/overdrive there were some annoying background hissings that were audible throughout, i was able to edit it to my liking but still had some problems. First and foremost it only recorded for the left speaker and the right one was a loud hissing noise which i had to remove and manually edit it to simulate surround sound, so as not to have a onesided sound. http://i.imgur.com/gzvJV.jpg the screenshot shows the left (upper) stream to be fine, the lower one is a constant hiss... There were some other minor hisses in the left audio line which i could not absolutely eliminate but it is definitively better than before! Do you guys think an external audio device like recommended above would help to increase the quality of the recordings? If so, how much money will I need to spend on that, i can't afford much since i am a poor student.
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Sounds like you might need to check a few things. Are you using the cable people mentioned a little earlier in the thread? Did you double check that you are using both 1/4 aux jacks on your piano?
As for the hissing in the other one, that could be one of a number of problems: electronic noise inside your computer, crappy onboard circuitry, the gain/volume set at non-optimal levels, ground loop issues possibly, etc. I'd suggest fixing the big one first, then moving to these.
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Getting a sound card may solve the hissing etc, I think you are picking up motherboard sounds through the onboard. Cards like the asus xonar dg or dgx are affordable (have to check whether or not your pci or pci-express slot are physically free on your motherboard and then choose the card that corresponds).
Zaahir
Self-taught renegade - Kawai CL-36
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