Computer recording noise

[sprogdw]

Hello -

I'm enrolled in an online keyboard class. For this course I need to record myself playing the keyboard.

I have a Sony Vaio laptop. I have a keyboard with external speakers so I thought the simplest and cheapest way would be to plug a basic microphone into the soundcard and record the keyboard. The sound quality doesn't have to be perfect.

The problem is that there is so much noise in the recording that I almost can't hear the keyboard (or speaking voice) at all. The noise is humming / buzzing. I tried two different microphones (one of them is a new Logitech desktop microphone) and different recording software. If I unplug the microphone and hit record the sound file has no noise. This makes me believe the noise is coming from some kind of electrical interference that maybe the microphone cord is picking up. I've tried moving things and turning things off in the room (TV, lights, etc.) but nothing fixes it. There is no noise like that when I play back MP3s or whatever.

Do you have any suggestions? I was thinking I could try these things:
1) Get a USB microphone (would it still pick up noise / interference?)
2) Get a USB interface something like this one: http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Guitar/Recording/Gear?sku=249701

This seems like a simple issue but I'm not having luck correcting it. I'd appreciate any suggestions you have.

Thanks
Dano

 

[TimOBrien]

Built-in soundcards are made with 20cents worth of chips; they are NOT made for quality recording.

Number 1 Rule of Recording: ALWAYS replace the built-in soundcard!

--------------------------------------------------------------

Resources for you:

Immediately get a good beginner recording book (spend $20 before spending hundred$/thousand$) that shows you what you need to get started and how to hook everything up in your studio:
Home Recording for Musicians by Jeff Strong - $15
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/07...ce&n=283155&n=507846&s=books&v=glance
(Wish I'd had that when I started; would have saved me lots of money and time and grief)

Good Newbie guide that also explains all the basics:
http://www.tweakheadz.com/guide.htm

21 Ways To Assemble a Recording Rig:
http://www.tweakheadz.com/rigs.htm

 

[sprogdw]

Thanks very much!

 

[Minion]

Also if your KeyBoard has a Midi Output you can connect it to your PC Via a Midi Cable and that way you get a Pure an Clean Digital Recording and you don"t need much to get Midi into your PC cuz if you have a Joystick Port on your PC you can get an adapter to hook up your KeyBoard to your Joystick Port....

Your Keyboard should also have an analogue output that you should be able to connect to your "Line-In" on your Sound Card with a Patch Cord and an 1/8in adapter and record without picking up the Room Noise but it will still be a Bit noisy because if the Crappy A/D Converters in Integrated sound Cards so a recording Sound Card would help a Lot....

Cheers