Keyboard <--> DAW (direct, nothing else): why/why not

[joey2000]

Presuming the keyboard supports of course (today I would think the majority do): from what I gather, while connecting a keyboard this way is simpler and more direct, the trade-off is you're using your PC's sound card, which is likely well inferior to what you'd get if you connected an AI or mixer between the 2. T/F?

Of course an AI or mixer can provide other abilities for more instruments/etc but I'm focusing on just having a keyboard itself.

 

[BroKen_H]

Your question is phrased awkwardly, but if I get the gist of it, I'd say you should always DI through your AI, assuming you want the best possible sound. You can also use midi in to voice through VSTs, or you can use midi out to play the part through the keyboard to get the sounds direct or through VST...

But yes, certainly 1/4 out to 1/4 instrument in on my AI is my preferred. I would not want to run adapters to get my twin mono 1/4 outs into a 1/8 TRS stereo line in on an internal sound chip (with much cheaper AD/DA).

 

[joey2000]

Maybe I should have said "keyboard <-> PC" but obviously that would mandate connection to the software (DAW), which I figured y'all knew.

It sounds like you're agreeing with what I said, ie the desire for an AI is due to significantly better sound coming out?

 

[Chili]

A better reason to use your interface is latency. If you're using a VSTi through the computer's soundcard, the latency will be high.

Through my soundcard - 46ms delay (painful)
Through my interface - 3ms delay (undetectable)

 

[BroKen_H]

Si! and significantly better sound capture going in.

Chili, how come you don't have a thank button?

 

[Robus]

As others have said, stereo outs from your keyboard to line level inputs on your A/D. Like recording any other instrument. Why make it more complicated than it needs to be?

 

[easlern]

I think the question is just if you don't have an interface, could you record a keyboard? Sounds like the answer is yes, if your keyboard can hook directly to your computer and your sound card's latency is low enough. I've used that setup before actually- latency wasn't high enough to be a bother with the stock card and my MIDI controller was USB. Recorded/monitored right in GarageBand!

 

[BroKen_H]

I think the question is just if you don't have an interface, could you record a keyboard? Sounds like the answer is yes, if your keyboard can hook directly to your computer and your sound card's latency is low enough. I've used that setup before actually- latency wasn't high enough to be a bother with the stock card and my MIDI controller was USB. Recorded/monitored right in GarageBand!

Mac vs PC latency. One more win for the Mac crowd, I guess. I had a Yamaha sound card years ago that I could play through with minimal latency, but it cost a lot more than a lot of modern AIs.

 

[Chili]

Chili, how come you don't have a thank button?

IDK.

For some reason, I got it in my head OP was asking about midi controller keyboards. I didn't think he meant audio. In which case, latency is not much of an issue if you can monitor the keyboard in real time.

 

[SeaGtGruff]

Joey, I record my Yamaha keyboards' audio output by connecting them directly to my computer, and I can tell you from personal experience that, yes, you can definitely do it that way.

But as I understand it, the sound isn't going to be as clean as if you'd gone through an audio interface using balanced connections. I can't say whether that's true or not, since I don't have an audio interface and thus have no way to compare the two methods myself.

However, I definitely get low-level noise in the recordings that must be filtered out in the DAW-- and if you're filtering out unwanted sound, you could also be filtering out some of the wanted sound at the same time.

If you can get a cleaner recording from the get-go, you'll have a better sound to work with in the DAW.

I know I need to invest in an audio interface, but recording is strictly a hobby for me, and I've got more important priorities to worry about first. Also, I can't decide what to get, because I don't want to get something that's more than I need, but neither do I want to waste my money on something that's less than I need!

Anyway, you can record your keyboard by connecting its audio-out line to the computer's audio-in line, but it isn't recommended unless it's your only option.

 

[joey2000]

As others have said, stereo outs from your keyboard to line level inputs on your A/D. Like recording any other instrument. Why make it more complicated than it needs to be?

Lost me. "A/D?" English please.

I think the question is just if you don't have an interface, could you record a keyboard?

Not could you, but assuming you can, why would/wouldn't you?

Thanks for the replies. It sounds like my understanding is pretty much the case.

SG, this is a hobby for me too, but I want as reasonably high of a quality sound as I can get without breaking the bank...as for your audio interface question, you can get a good one that will more than suit your needs for about $100 tops (for me that $100 is nothing to sneeze at but well worth it I think, given the situation and how much I'm in for anyway). I can't recall brand names or models offhand (I think FocusRite was one) that were recommended on this and/or other boards, but if you browse around, I'm sure you can find.

 

[ShanPeyton]

I'll comment on the why/why wouldn't you.

I use to do this, with a bass and a guitar. i connected it right to my computer. Pedalboard and all! Why? Becasue i could and it got the job done. Audio was in fact captured. So that's why.

"Why wouldn't i"

Knowing what i know now, i wouldn't ever do that again. Ever. That is why i wouldn't. Too much time wasted fiddling with settings latency, the audio quality was the shits and in turn from that i spent way to much time trying to make a crappy audio file sound good. As a newb that was like double bad.

Don't get me wrong, i remember my days a newb and if i didn't have to part with 100 bucks then i didn't. I am sort of a tight wad to begin with, but save yourself the agony and future headaches and spring for a decent card built for the purpose.

The audio device i'll recommend to anyone Newbie or otherwise is the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2. For what it does and how it does it, versus price it can't be beat in that department.

 

[joey2000]

I'll comment on the why/why wouldn't you.

I use to do this, with a bass and a guitar. i connected it right to my computer. Pedalboard and all! Why? Becasue i could and it got the job done. Audio was in fact captured. So that's why.

"Why wouldn't i"

Knowing what i know now, i wouldn't ever do that again. Ever. That is why i wouldn't. Too much time wasted fiddling with settings latency, the audio quality was the shits and in turn from that i spent way to much time trying to make a crappy audio file sound good. As a newb that was like double bad.

Don't get me wrong, i remember my days a newb and if i didn't have to part with 100 bucks then i didn't. I am sort of a tight wad to begin with, but save yourself the agony and future headaches and spring for a decent card built for the purpose.

The audio device i'll recommend to anyone Newbie or otherwise is the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2. For what it does and how it does it, versus price it can't be beat in that department.

Thanks yeah, pretty much where I'm coming from (although somewhat diff being a keyboard). When you say "card" I assume you mean Audio Interface, btw - sigh - I was hoping to avoid that too but the improved sound appears to be worth it.

A/D = Analog to Digital conversion. D/A is going the other way out the computer, through the interface, to your analog monitors/headphones for example.

? Thx but that sentence still doesn't make sense. I was guessing it was something like "Audio Device."