D
dassy
New member
hi, whats the best way to record keyboards?
TexRoadkill
Audio Bum
What equipment are you using? Keys are pretty simple. Just plug the output into a line level input and go.
D
dassy
New member
i got sum crappy casio or sumthin, go direct for keys? not micing.
what about mic placement if i did mic?
what about mic placement if i did mic?
Shailat
New member
TexRoadkill said:
You might need a DI.
Last edited:
Sennheiser
New member
Direct.
The speakers in a Casio aren't worth micing. On the other hand you might be surprised at some of those crappy Casio sampled sounds if you hear them out of something other than the speakers they come with.
The speakers in a Casio aren't worth micing. On the other hand you might be surprised at some of those crappy Casio sampled sounds if you hear them out of something other than the speakers they come with.
D
dassy
New member
yeah, i was thinking i could hook the keyboard up to the amp and mic it, would i still be better of going direct?
Sennheiser
New member
Your keyboard will sound cleaner if you run it direct and forget the amp.
You could use a gate on the mic for the amp, but it's just not worth the hassle when you can get the exact sound the board was programmed with by going direct. Why make it harder on yourself than you have to?
I have a Kurzweil SP88X and I wouldn't think of micing it to record it.
Try it both ways and see which YOU think is better. I think you will agree that direct will result in better sound.
If you decide to amp it and mic the amp anyway, don't forget to insert a dummy plug in the HP jack to turn off the internal speakers.
You could use a gate on the mic for the amp, but it's just not worth the hassle when you can get the exact sound the board was programmed with by going direct. Why make it harder on yourself than you have to?
I have a Kurzweil SP88X and I wouldn't think of micing it to record it.
Try it both ways and see which YOU think is better. I think you will agree that direct will result in better sound.
If you decide to amp it and mic the amp anyway, don't forget to insert a dummy plug in the HP jack to turn off the internal speakers.
D
dassy
New member
if i go direct will i need a preamp, i have a bass DI preamp, will this work for my keyboard? also how do i set it up
Sennheiser
New member
Dassy, you don't say what you are recording to.
HD, ADAT, analog tape?
If you are using a cassette based multitrack use one of the line in's and adjust your trim accordingly for the source.
I still have a Casio CTK1000 that I use as a MIDI module hooked to the Kurzweil as the controller.
The Casio is putting out a line-level signal and needs no further pre-amplification to get a good signal level. Your board might be different. I had a Roland JX-3P that had a switchable output depending on the input. I miss that board. It's practically an antique now.
Anyway, I would think that any Casio is going to put out a line-level signal. Turn your trim control on your mixer to the line position, turn the volume up about half way on your Casio and then refine the signal level on the recorder using the trim and volume control and channel fader to get the best S/N ratio to tape without clipping or distortion.
If your are recording to HD or into a DAW, I don't think you will need a preamp because of the line level output of the board. Someone else will know more about the digital realm than me.
Good luck. Let us know how it turns out. I think you will be surprised at the results.
HD, ADAT, analog tape?
If you are using a cassette based multitrack use one of the line in's and adjust your trim accordingly for the source.
I still have a Casio CTK1000 that I use as a MIDI module hooked to the Kurzweil as the controller.
The Casio is putting out a line-level signal and needs no further pre-amplification to get a good signal level. Your board might be different. I had a Roland JX-3P that had a switchable output depending on the input. I miss that board. It's practically an antique now.
Anyway, I would think that any Casio is going to put out a line-level signal. Turn your trim control on your mixer to the line position, turn the volume up about half way on your Casio and then refine the signal level on the recorder using the trim and volume control and channel fader to get the best S/N ratio to tape without clipping or distortion.
If your are recording to HD or into a DAW, I don't think you will need a preamp because of the line level output of the board. Someone else will know more about the digital realm than me.
Good luck. Let us know how it turns out. I think you will be surprised at the results.