My Tascam Neo 2488 recordings sound like demos

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stewartgable

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I use a Tascam Neo 2488 digital recorder along with an inexpensive Yamaha keyboard. I run the keyboard through a preamp. I make instrumental music with about 8-10 keyboard tracks. Then I export it to my laptop through USB and do some basic mixing using Adobe Audition. I've been doing this for years. I don't do anything with the music other than try to perfect my song-writing. But lately I have been wanting to show it to other people and possibly try marketing it commercially. The problem is that the sound quality of the songs is pretty low.

I so desperately just want sound quality that is professional sounding, not demo-quality. What should I do? Is there any way to produce professional quality songs? It seems like there is some crucial step I am missing, or some important piece of equipment.

I want to keep using the Neo and the keyboard I already have, if possible.
 
inexpensive Yamaha keyboard :facepalm:

What goes in comes out.

Alan.
 
Thanks. What are the most important specifications I should look for in a keyboard that determine sound quality?
 
stewartgable said:
Thanks. What are the most important specifications I should look for in a keyboard that determine sound quality?
Click to expand...

Have a read of this.

The dead giveaway for me that a keyboard is cheap is that the only output is a headphone jack. A good keyboard will have stereo line outs, and the really good ones sometimes have balanced XLR line outs but this is rare.

The point I am trying to make is that the Tascam NEO is capable of good quality recordings so that if you put good sound in good sound should come out.

Alan.
 
witzendoz said:
Have a read of this.

The dead giveaway for me that a keyboard is cheap is that the only output is a headphone jack. A good keyboard will have stereo line outs, and the really good ones sometimes have balanced XLR line outs but this is rare.
Click to expand...
And MIDI so that you can use it as a controller and access a world of sounds.

I had a 2488 for years. I also only ended up making "demo quality" recordings on it. But it's not the machine's fault, I had little recording experience and knowledge. Making good recordings is more about the user than the machine. The 2488 is a 24 bit machine with decent pre-amps. Nothing stopping it from making good recordings but the user and the equipment being used with it.
 
Thank you for the input (no pun intended.) Aside from stereo line outs, XLR line outs, and MIDI, what else determines sound quality in a keyboard?
 
I don't find mention was made of which inexpensive Yamaha keyboard you have. There may be some other things that factor into the lack of a professional sounding quality. Perhaps the way the tracks are mixed or EQ'd or effects or other. Post a sample of something you've done.

I run the keyboard through a preamp.
Click to expand...
If the keyboard is stereo out (from headphones or otherwise), is this preamp dual channel to maintain stereo? What preamp brand and model number?
 
The Yamaha keyboard and preamp are at home and I don't know the models, so I will respond later with that information.
I only run one 1/4'' cable out of the keyboard into the preamp, so stereo isn't happening, but that's a good suggestion, thank you.
 
Yeah, get those model numbers up. If you are using the headphone outs there is a very good chance you dont need a preamp in the circuit. Get the headphone out of the yamaha to two channels of the neo line inputs.
Start with the neo input trims set to about 12 o'clock (assuming the trims control the line in on a neo (I dont have one)). Arm the two tracks and while playing the yamaha bring up the headphone output until the neos meters for those two tracks is about -12db, faders set to 0db. Then record some real playing and see if that doesnt help the situation.
 
Keyboard: Yamaha PSR 290
PreAmp: PreSonus Tube PreV2

Those are the models. The solution might be MIDI. New questions arise, if anyone still cares to help me:

1. Can the Neo 2488 be used to record MIDI?
2. Or forget the Neo 2488. How do I connect the keyboard to a laptop without a MIDI input?
3. How do I record MIDI using software, specifically Adobe Audition?
 
stewartgable said:
1. Can the Neo 2488 be used to record MIDI?
Click to expand...

Actually, I'm almost sure it can't, and I apologize for mentioning MIDI before. Even though I knew we were talking about the NEO, I had a brain fart and thought we were talking about computer recording when I mentioned MIDI from the keyboard. Didn't mean to steer you wrong.
 
stewartgable said:
Keyboard: Yamaha PSR 290
PreAmp: PreSonus Tube PreV2

Those are the models. The solution might be MIDI. New questions arise, if anyone still cares to help me:

1. Can the Neo 2488 be used to record MIDI? No
2. Or forget the Neo 2488. How do I connect the keyboard to a laptop without a MIDI input? You would need a USB audio/MIDI interface
3. How do I record MIDI using software, specifically Adobe Audition? Same as #2 to get the MIDI data into Adobe Audition
Click to expand...

Using MIDI you could record your playing as MIDI data which could be edited in Audition (I think). This MIDI data could play a virtual instrument in the computers software or be sent back to the keyboard for it to play. This might be something to consider later after the following.

Here's something to try.....
- The PSR-290 has 100 demo songs ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGTAOmBQZLA ) which appear fairly well done.
- Get one of these cables Amazon.com: Hosa STP-201 1/4 inch TRS to Dual 1/4 inch TS Insert Cable, 3.3 feet: Musical Instruments that is a good length to connect keyboard to the 2488
- On the 2488NEO setup a pair of stereo linked channels and connect up the above cable from the headphone out to the two channels into the 2488.
- Don't use effects or any EQ'ing in the 2488.
- Move the PreSonus Tube Pre V2 to a closet or shelf for now :)
- Set levels as mdainsd had noted in the previous post.
- Make some recordings of the demo songs similar to the style you play and do what you normally do to export to Adobe Audition
- Take a listen to the demos and see how those sound
- Now do some of your own recordings with the keyboard and 2488 connected the same way and do the same to export to Adobe Audition
- How do your recordings sound compared to the Yamaha demos?
 
Thanks for the reply, I am mulling these suggestions over...
 
Since the sound coming from your keyboard is sub-standard, getting a midi interface (mine cost $25) would be the best way. Record the midi data on the computer, then apply a decent sounding vst instrument to create the sound. There are tons of these instruments online, some for free. A lot of them will simply sound much better than the stock sounds in a cheap keyboard...especially in mono, like you've been recording them.
 
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