Whats the easiest way of recording midi keyboard onto computer?

[Marshal]

I want to record a track from my keyboard (as it plays it) onto my computer. Whats the best way of going about it? I have midi cables but have never really figured out how to use them to record things coming from the keyboard - I also have a Line 6 Toneport with normal guitar input type jacks.

I tried playing the midi track straight off the computer but it doesnt sound as good as when the keyboard plays it. So I need to either record the song direct from the keyboard or somebody to help me out get the midi sounding professional enough on my computer so that I can record it and use it for gigs.

[Rythameen]

Well first off, you don't record audio with midi cables. You would have to hook up the midi out from your computer, to the midi in of your keyboard, then hook the audio outs from your keyboard to your computer audio in. In any event, I think you are going to run into some latency issues. There are others more knowledgeable in this area than I am, so maybe someone else will step up.

[italianstallion]

There are several varieties of Universal Midi Connectors available, but all do the same job. If you were lucky you may have receive one with your sound card. If not, the best place to start looking for one is at a MIDI keyboard and equipment retail store.

Carefully examine the Two 5 pin MIDI connectors. On the rubber or plastic body, look for markings to determine which one is the "IN" connector. With this simple setup, we will not be using the MIDI "OUT" connector at all. Mark the "IN" plug with some white tape, or a dab of nail polish.

The final step is connecting the keyboard. You will need one standard MIDI cable about 8 to 10 feet long. One end of the cable must have a 5 pin "male" connector and the other end could be male or female, depending on which MIDI Adapter you have. Small male to female adapters are available to help you complete this connection.

Your midi keyboard should have three 5 pin midi jacks, marked "IN", "OUT" and "THRU". This is the most important connection-- Connect a midi cable from "OUT" on your keyboard, to "IN' on the MIDI Adapter cable.

The configuration we have utilized is that of using the keyboard as an input device only.

Now all you need is some software like Cakewalk or Aduition, and you have to change the input type. When you are at the panel where you select "INPUT" and "OUTPUT" devices; You must select an "INPUT" device that looks like "MIDI IN [220]" (Available choices will be listed).

Next you must select an "OUTPUT" device. Do NOT select "MIDI OUT" as we have not set up for that configuration. Look for "Midi Mapper", "Creative MIDI Mapper" or a similar output device, click on the selection then "Okay" to save it.

Now, In your Sequencer software, select File|Open and navigate to where you have a midi file saved. Click on the file to load it. Now click on the "Play" button. If you have chosen a valid output device, the midi should play through your Stereo or system speakers. If you are using an external Stereo amplifier, make sure you have the selector set at "AUX". If there is no sound, experiment with a different output device if more than one is listed for selection. One of them has to work.

I hope that helps.

Ciao, Joe

[Marshal]

Hi Joe,

Yeah I already have those cables - but will they give me the ability to record whats coming from the keyboard? In other words, the exact instruments as they are on the keyboard rather than the inferior ones that my computers sound card will substitute the midi instruments for?

[Captain Spasm]

Midi only sends and receives control data ... NOT the audio itself. That means you can use your keyboard to send keystrokes via midi to the synthesizer embedded in your pc's soundcard (if it has an embedded synth) or to trigger samples already loaded on your pc ... and vice versa, the pc can send keystrokes via midi to your keyboard to trigger the onboard sounds.

As Rythameen said above, if you want to use your keyboard's 'native' onboard sounds instead of samples on your pc, you'll have to use the midi cables to send the control data from the pc to your keyboard and then connect the audio output from your keyboard, back into the audio input of your pc (or mixer if you use one), but this 'may' cause latency problems, i.e. the resulting audio that appears back into the pc soundcard and eventually in your song file, may lag behind the triggering midi track/file. Whether the lag is noticeable depends on your setup/soundcard, pc resources etc.

Even if the lag (if any) IS noticeable, you still should be able to tidy it up a bit by manually 'cueing' up ('dragging') the resulting audio track within the song file, to match up with the backing, etc. You may also be able to set control points within the song file to 'snap' to with your audio track. Done it myself with 'natural' audio tracks when the sync's been out, or if I've had to cut out a 'bad' part of an audio track and paste in a replacement section. You can get surprisingly good results if you're patient and careful.

[italianstallion]

I think Captain Spasm sumed it up pretty good. Do you have a midi input on your computer? or are you going from Midi to usb with a converter? Also like stated above if you want the actual audio and not just the ones from your computer's soundcard, "you'll have to use the midi cables to send the control data from the pc to your keyboard and then connect the audio output from your keyboard, back into the audio input of your pc"

[Marshal]

Ahh I have worked out a better solution. Ive just been reading the guide on using different samples in fruity loops. I loaded the midi into it and have started dabbling with different samples - sounds better already

cheers for the info though.