Keyboard recording sounds garbled

[gfswolf]

Hi. I am trying to record a song with my Yamaha piaggera keyboard on my HP Desktop computer using windows. I'm using the logitech mic. I've tried two programs, AUDACITY and ANVIL STUDIOS. The same thing happens. When I play back my recording, it sounds garbled. It's like I played it in an echo chamber. And the notes are cut off (not sustained as I did it when I played the song, using the sustain peddle.) This happens when I record it with either program. I also bought a new sound card, a PCI express sound blaster. Still no luck. Anybody know what is happening?

 

[mjbphotos]

Yeah, you are using a soundcard made for video games and a microphone made for voice-overs which has a gate built in - when the osund level drops below a certain level it cuts off the input. You need a soundcard/audio interface made for audio recording and then you plug the audio outputs of the keyboard directly into the interface for recording. You could probably plug the audio out of the keyboard into the soundblaster card if it has audio input jacks.

Read the sticky posts at the top of the 'newbies' section of these forums.

 

[gfswolf]

Thanks mibphotos for the response. The thing is that I was having this problem before I inserted the PCIe soundblaster card. I was having the problem when I used the sound card that came with the hp computer. I have the same kind of hp computer at my office and I have recorded stuff there, using the logitech mic, without any problems. I played a guitar and sang and it was fine. I had to adjust the sound level a bit and then it was all right. But I am taking your suggestion and trying to record by plugging my keyboard audio output directly to the soundblaster card. But if I do that, will I hear the sound of the keyboard while I'm recording?

 

[Bobbsy]

The sound card that came built into an HP computer is even worse than a Soundblaster--and Creative Soundblaster stuff is pretty much useless for recording music. The card in the HP is designed for Skype phone calls and watching Youtube; the soundblaster is for gamers or watching DVDs.

What you should have invested in is a proper USB external card designed for recording. There are hundreds out there and lots mentioned here on HR.

Now, the other thing...with an electronic keyboard, it's fairly unusual to use a microphone. Most often, you'd plug the Line Out or Headphone out of your keyboard directly into your sound interface. Does your Soundblaster card have a Line In? If so, get the appropriate adaptor cable and give that a try.

 

[grimtraveller]

Now, the other thing...with an electronic keyboard, it's fairly unusual to use a microphone.

Unless you like the colouring of the amp on the sound of the keyboard as you're recording. I sometimes do that because my bass amp brings out a certain sound that I quite like. And the mics I use mash it up for a further colouring that I like !

 

[Bobbsy]

Unless you like the colouring of the amp on the sound of the keyboard as you're recording. I sometimes do that because my bass amp brings out a certain sound that I quite like. And the mics I use mash it up for a further colouring that I like !

True...if you have a decent amp.

I'm afraid that, with mention of a Logitech mic and a choice of a built in or Soundblaster sound card, I jumped to the conclusion that he's probably using the little rinky tink speakers built into the keyboard. I could be wrong, but...