Recording Different Tones On Keyboard Through M-Audio Interface?

[Tmaka2000]

On my keyboard their is different tones on it, like flute, stuff like fantasy that make different sounds with the keys, and i have an M-audio interface and everything is hooked up, and what i want to do is record from the keyboard into the computer with the different tones, can someone help me, It would be Appreciated, thanks

[itsplayed]

How do you have it hooked up...via MIDI or direct?

[Tmaka2000]

i have it hooked up through an M-Audio Interface, which then hooks up to the usb port on the back of my computer

[itsplayed]

Well if you hooked it up directly then you should be able to record as an audio track into your recording program....Which recording program are you running with?

[Tmaka2000]

^well im trying to record with fruity loops, is their a better program i should try to record with?

[itsplayed]

In my opinion yes there are better programs, but you should still be able to record using FL. I have used FL in the distant past but can't recall anything that may help you in doing what you want to do. Perhaps some current FL users may lend a hand in helping you setup your system for audio recording. Try moving this thread to the FL zone.

[Tmaka2000]

^i did but i noticed it wasnt very active, so i decided to post it in a more active account, what programs would u suggest for me to record with my keyboard?

[ananth]

what programs would u suggest for me to record with my keyboard?

Try Audacity. It's a Free - open source audio editor. http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

[Tmaka2000]

This is so frustrating, i get something new, excited about it and now i can figure everything out, i called a few places and they tell me to call other places, If someone can get me an M-audio Phone number that works i would appreciate it, because the ones in the manuel for the M USB Audio is not working anymore........::Sigh::

[itsplayed]

Didn't the m-audio soundcard come with recording software? It should have! Look on the install disk to see if it does then use that.

[Tmaka2000]

Yea it did, i guess i'll try that and see if it works, ive pretty much given up though, thanks for ur help

[David Muniz]

OK, We need to clarify a few things here.

FIrst, you keep referring to an "M-Audio USB" device, but I'm not clear on which M-Audio USB you are using.

Is it an USB Audio interface, like the Mobile Pre, USB AUdiophile, Fast Track, or Fast Track Pro?
Is it a USB MIDI interface like the UNO, or Midisport 2x2?

If it's one of the Audio interfaces, then we have a direction to go in. If it's a MIDI interface, then we're stuck.

Based on the problem you are having, I'm guessing you have a MIDI interface.

MIDI is not Audio. it is a series of triggers that tell a sound module (hardware or software) when and how to make a sound. When you connect your keyboard to the computer via a USB audio interface, you are creating a setup in which you can record your MIDI performance (triggers only, not sound) to the computer. The computer can then play that performance back through the MIDI interface (triggers only) where you keyboard receives the MIDI and actually generates the sounds.

Try this analogy - Remember the player pianos? The ones you always see in old western movies/saloons. The Piano is the sound module. The card that scrolls inside the piano is the sequencer. The holes in the card are the MIDI notes. Take the card out and it doesn't make sound by it self. The piano can still be played without the card.

Helpful?

[sabianq]

good description on MIDI there David,

I would add that Musical Instrument Digital Interface or (MIDI) is a communication protocol, it is now an industry standard. It allows electronic instruments like keyboards and computers to exchange information.

MIDI does not transmit audio.

when you press a key on your keyboard, the keyboard knows what key you press then assigns it a value (number) this number is based on things like how hard and fast you pressed on the key and which key it is. then it sends that value to a "sound bank" which stores your voices (flute, harpsichord, piano, etc..) in side your keyboard, the value plays the corresponding voice in note and in velocity, (the value telling the sound bank how hard you hit the key)

now if you have your MIDI cable hooked up to the computer, the signal bypasses the internal sound bank and goes to the sound bank stored in your computer and plays the assigned value related to note from there.

(if there is no sound bank stored on your computer, you wont get it to play any sounds)

so your flute voice stored on your computer might not sound like the one stored in your keyboard.

here is more information on MIDI.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musical_Instrument_Digital_Interface

your computer can record a string of MIDI information and play it back later.

you can tell if it is a MIDI connection by looking at the cable.
the plug looks like this.


http://orgues.free.fr/stjoseph/img/midi.jpg

the MIDI cable looks like this
http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/images/midi-cable.gif
__________________________________________________ ________________________
an audio plug looks like this:

http://www.adorama.com/images/Product/CVSPP.JPG

or this
http://www1.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/1189122/2/istockphoto_1189122_audio_plug.jpg

or this

http://www.wfp76364.w1.com/XLR%20MALE%20TO%20FEMALE%20CABLE%20B1%20%232.jpg

you need to hook up your audio connection if you want to record the voice stored in your keyboards sound bank.