Old fart and new technology

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Ches

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I'm a 67 year old retired carpenter with a Yamaha S90 and Cakewalk Home Edition. The software is installed ok, and the screens look like they should, but I do not understand the instructions concerning "inputs" "outputs" "instrument definitions" "busses" etc. I am satisfied that the computer is connected correctly to the keyboard (MIDI in-out stuff)I have several books on basic setups, but none is really on my level. I am very visually directed in my thinking, and I need to actually "see" how things inter-relate in order to understand how they work- unfortunately, all the books I have assume a level of understanding that is rapidly leaving me in the digital dust.
Does anyone have any suggestions?
Thanks for any help!

Ches
 
Note: MIDI is not audio. If you want to record audio, the midi signal from the keyboard must connect to an in-computer sound program. Otherwise, use the audio output from the keyboard to the audio-in on your computer.
 
I great resource is youtube, believe it or not. There are tons of very rudimentary tutorials for just about any function of any piece of equipment. I'm fairly thick, and I've been able to find some on my level!

Wait, just reread your post... what the interface BETWEEN your keyboard and computer?
 
Thanks for the replies!
My keyboard came with the appropriate cables to connect it to a computer, which I have done correctly, however my problem is really with the Cakewalk software and how to setup the different "input" "output" functions so that I can record; The tutorial instructs me to setup the Midi outputs first so I open the "options" tab on the tool bar, there are 2 collumns, the left side named "input" and the right named "output. Shouldn't the "input" collumn show my keyboard, since that is where the signal is coming from, or am I not understanding this correctly?
 
Have you tried looking on You Tube? In the search box type Cakewalk Instructional videos,Cakewalk tutorials, or Cakewalk set up. You may have to watch several in order to find what you are looking for so be patient. Some of the videos may not help you at all but some will explain exactly how to achieve exactly what you need to know. I don't know about you but for me watching a video of someone else doing what I am trying to do makes it a lot easier for me to grasp the concept.
 
since the signal is coming "from" your keyboard, the keyboard is "outputting" to the recorder
 
I don't use midi or software to record, but it seems like maybe you should try the "line out" from your keyboard to the input on your computer or interface... and just try to get a signal to record before you worry about midi stuff. Just a suggestion. I may be off base since I don't use this stuff
 
Okay, so I just looked at the S90 manual and apparently you have USB, so forget the "line out" thing... sorry about that..
 
Well, what do you know....

I'm not all by myself after all and I'm not the only"old fart" who is groping for digital understanding. I think I've asked similar questions about midi on these forums but, for what ever reason, didn't get the helpful feedback that you have. I guess I just didn't present the questions correctly. I'll follow your thread and hopefully benefit from it. thanks for asking.
 
Thanks for the replies!
My keyboard came with the appropriate cables to connect it to a computer, which I have done correctly, however my problem is really with the Cakewalk software and how to setup the different "input" "output" functions so that I can record; The tutorial instructs me to setup the Midi outputs first so I open the "options" tab on the tool bar, there are 2 collumns, the left side named "input" and the right named "output. Shouldn't the "input" collumn show my keyboard, since that is where the signal is coming from, or am I not understanding this correctly?

You’re probably going to see the computers audio device as the input not your S90. Most computers don’t come with built in MIDI connectors, maybe yours did. What exactly are you plugging the S90 into? A jack on the computer or do you have an interface box between the S90 and your computer.

Details of your system and gear will help.

PS: Get a copy of Recording for Dummies – no joke, I have one.
 
Details of your system and gear will help.

PS: Get a copy of Recording for Dummies – no joke, I have one.

Agreed...we need a few more details if possible. Are you using an interface or just going straight into your soundcard? Unless you are using an Atari ST, I can't think of many mainstream, consumer soundcards with midi capabitily.

And pay attention to Manslick....he is a dummy.:D
 
Yes more info on the connections - is it USB to Midi, MIDI to USB, RCA to RCA, etc. Also if you're running MIDI in or USB in, I think you need the drivers from your device to be able to make them work. If you're running audio in (like from a headphone jack on your keyboard) you can skip the MIDI IN/OUT on Cakewalk as you're not using it.

What version of Cakewalk HE are you using?
 
Are you trying to record the sound of the keyboard or are you using the keyboard as a MIDI controller to run a software synthesizer within cakewalk
The approach will be different depending on what you are trying to do

If you are attempting to record the sound of the keyboard then you have to have a way to get the sound into the computer. This could either be the monitor speaker outs from the keyboard into either an audio interface or the computers soundcard inputs. Or if you want to hear what you are playing and record the sound of the music in your recording space by micing up the speakers/monitors and running the mic into an audio interface and into the computer.
In this case you would be recording audio onto an audio track in cakewalk

If you are using the keyboard as a MIDI controller then the approach is different. MIDI is simply data about which keys were pressed, how hard, for how long, whether there was aftertouch etc etc. This would be recorded onto a MIDI track by the action of you playing the keyboard. The MIDI data describing the performance would be recorded and could then be used to recreate the performance exactly on your keyboard or any other MIDI device including a software synthesizer within Cakewalk. This however is not an audio recording and would need to either be recorded at a later date from an external source such as the keyboard or rendered into a .WAV (audio File) if the MIDI device is a software synth within Cakewalk

Hope that helps
 
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