Hi.

How do I record the original sound from my Roland FP7-F?

I've tried to connect it with a USB-cable to my computer, but the sound then comes from the computer-program and not the piano. And the computer-sound is awful compared to the beautiful sound from the Roland.

Regards
Jonas

You need to plug in audio cables from the keyboard auxiliary outs to the computer's audio input. USB-out from the keyboard only carries MIDI, not the actual piano sound, so the computer must, by default, be substituting its own (inferior) piano sounds.

Once you've plugged the piano into the computer, you need to set the recording program you're using in the computer to receive the audio signal externally, rather then the internal sounds it's drawing on now (which are probably from a standard GM sound font).

The best way is to use an audio interface for your computer. Just plug your line outs into it and plug the interface into your computer via USB. There are many different ones available at many different price ranges depending on your needs. A cheap one usually provides satisfactory results for most people.

Art USB Mix audio interface

If I can do it, anyone can. Get thee the free "Audacity" downloaded. Throw it up on the screen. PLug a lead from your "line out" (stereo) on the Roland (You will get decent results from the headphone socket too) into the "Line In" on the computer.
The Audacity will pick up on the signal; you should see the red strips moving at the top. When you press the red recording button on Audacity, it will scroll across the screen; when your playing or Roland recording is in operation, this will be apparent. You`ll soon learn how to manage the result fit for Youtube or whatever!
Your piano is nice nice. Look forward to hearing it . . .

...yes, that's like what I use: http://www.thomann.de/gb/behringer_xenyx_302_usb.htm

But you still need to plug the piano's aux-outs into the audio inputs on the USB mixer - the mixer/interface then converts the signal back to digital via USB.

Otherwise, though, you can try using the sound card that is already installed in your computer - some of them are professional quality & very expensive, some are just about OK, but others don't cope well with line level inputs at all because they're designed for little more than microphones for skyping - it's a matter of experimenting with levels and the computer's drivers and control panel.

Wow, you're fast in here!

Thanks for the answers. I think I'll try peterws's method first, and if the results aren't acceptable, a USB-soundcard might be the solution.

Most computers do not have "Line in". Do you mean the microphone in instead maybe?

Yes, I mean microphone in. However, so many people seem to manage recording audio using standard sound cards in their laptops that I assume they must be using that (red 3.5mm jack) input. They may be able to do it by altering the volume OR the computer is somehow designed to recognize line level inputs.

...although I must admit, those inputs have never worked for me - I'm using an external interface.

Line in to the computer - it`s the connections in the back. on mine it`s stereo input; single (stereo) mini jack plug. Definitely not mic. That`s mono . . .yeeeeeuck! Doesn`t bear thinking about . .

I use a long cable permanently connected. The free end gets to go into the computer headphone socket . . .which is over the other end of the room!

"Line in to the computer", I see. It must be on the sound card of a desktop computer. For laptop though, there is no such thing usually. For laptop, you have to rely on USB.

This is a great site:

http://www.pianoclues.com/how-to-record-piano/

James
x

I've made a little test where I use the Line-In on my computer.


You can listen to it here.(Only a part of the song)
https://soundcloud.com/jonas-sejersb-l-larsen/nothing-else-matters-sound

The sound is decent, though it was hard to control the volume of the piano. I've plugged a pair of headphones into the other output on the Roland. The volume in them was very high, but very low on the computer.

Sooo... One of these would be the best option? http://www.thomann.de/gb/behringer_xenyx_302_usb.htm