Recording a Keyboard
This is another question we get asked time and time again. How do you record the actual sound of your keyboard onto your computer? Many people get confused about the difference between making a MIDI connection from their keyboard and actually recording the sound
If you do want to record the sound of your keyboard, then a MIDI connection will not do the job. A MIDI interface will transmit your control data (for example which notes you have played, how loudly you played them etc) then this information can be used to play software instruments on your computer.
If you want to record the actual sound of your keyboard on your computer then you need to connect the line out (or headphone out if no line out) from your keyboard to the line in of your sound card or external audio interface. If you have a generic sound card built in to your computer, and your keyboard has one line out port, then a will do the job in the first instance.
You can try this out and see what it sounds like. You will almost certainly find the recording quality of your sound card is not great, in which case you can significantly improve the sound quality by using a more suitable device or by upgrading your sound card. If you are not keen on taking the back off your computer, or you have a laptop/macbook then the ideal device woud be something like the , which is a USB audio device with 1/4 inch line in ports. All you'd need to do then is get the right cable to connect the line in on the Alpha to the audio output of your keyboard. The great thing about this is the Alpha also has a mic input if you also want to record vocals, plus it is equally suitable for recording a guitar, so it really is multi-purpose. And it comes with a fantastic music software suite.
If you have a bigger budget and are looking for an even higher quality solution solution, then even better results can be obtained by upgrading your , or using an or interface. If you have a Firewire port then that really can be the most robust and reliable solution. Our firewire devices all come with professional line inputs so you will get a fantastic result. Here follow our top recommendations in each category.
Our top-selling PCI sound card for connecting up your keyboard is the mainly because of the high quality balance inputs. The great thing about this PCI sound card upgrade is that it also has MIDI ports, so as well as recording the sound of your keyboard through them, you can also easily make a MIDI connection with . It is really simple to fit and works seamlessly with any recording software for a fantastic result.
Then there are some excellent high end USB audio interfaces which also have MIDI ports as well as line input and high-quality mic pre-amps so you could use them as a one-stop recording solution. Take a look at either the or for slightly more, the . Brand new in is the recently upgraded this really is a fantastic grown up interface with Pro Tools SE software so you will be recording using industry standard software, and it has a range of inputs suitable for microphone, guitar, other instruments and of course your trusty keyboard.
Our top pick on the Firewire front if you want to do is get a nice clean recording of your keyboard
I suppose the short message from this is the following: you can buy a simple cable and record your keyboard using your existing sound card. But spending money on the right recording hardware, whether it's a better soundcard, a USB or a Firewire interface, plus the correct cable, will give you much improved qualtiy and a much more rewarding experience
This is a really brief intro to the world of Recording - if you want to know more, then there is a fantastic guide to computer music making written by Cakewalk- The Desktop Music Handbook - which covers MIDI in depth, and also features a great guide to Digital Audio.
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