USB Audio Interface - what to buy

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kako4918

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I am new to HomeRecording.com and have some questions regarding the use of an USB Audio Interface. I will be using a laptop which has an inter-grated sound card, so I am wondering if I purchase a usb audio interface will this help with recording decent sound from my psr-s910 keyboard. My second question is how to I connect the keyboard to the usb audio interface, via midi or 1/4 plug? Any help is greatly appreciated since I am new to this. Also since the yamaha psr-s910 is an arranger keyboard is it possible to use with a usb audio interface?

Thanks,:)
 
Hi Kako.
Most of your questions will be covered by the 'sticky' threads around here, so feel free to have a rummage. They are a great resource.

Also, keep an eye out for the forum titles. You've posted this in the free adds section! :p
(maybe a mod can move this??)

To answer you though, here's the difference between midi and audio.

Audio cables such as XLR, TS/TRS (1/4") carry analog audio. Ie the sound that your keyboard makes.

Midi, usually carried over 5 pin din or USB, is a data protocol that carries information to an instrument.
The data stream will contain info for every note such as duration, velocity, pitch etc.
That instrument fed by this stream may be hardware or software, but the point is this; A midi output doesn't output 'sound'.


So, if you want to record the sound that your keyboard makes, use the left and right line outputs.
I can't find a picture to confirm the connection, but this is usually a pair of 1/4" TRS sockets.

A usb audio interface with at least two line inputs will give you a substantial increase in quality over any built in sound card.

Hope that helps.
 
The Yamaha site says it has USB connectivity and so you should be able to plug in directly. Go to the support link for that keyboard at the Yamaha site (I can't post it yet, apparently) and see if your keyboard has a USB driver for the operating system on your laptop.

If your operating system is listed, then you don't *need* an interface, but you might want one to use the MIDI capability in some other software.
 
Thank you, I have tried that and the sound is horrible, that's why I was interested in purchasing a usb audio interface. I am using my laptop and the inter-grated sound card is not good at all for recording music. Thanks Sam
 
Apologies; It seems that you can record audio over usb on this unit.
Ordinarily usb on keyboards would be for midi capability.

kako4918 said:
Thank you, I have tried that and the sound is horrible, that's why I was interested in purchasing a usb audio interface. I am using my laptop and the inter-grated sound card is not good at all for recording music. Thanks Sam
Click to expand...

If you recorded via usb then your integrated sound card has no impact on the recording.
You might be unhappy purely because of the laptop playback quality though, which is a result of your integrated sound + laptop speakers.

Have you plugged some headphones into your laptop, or even decent speakers for a more accurate review?


I'd be surprised if the keyboard's record to usb function is any better or worse than using line out.
 
Thank you for the quick response, I'll give that a try with the headsets. Thanks again. Sam
 
Actually I am using the Yamaha PSR-S910 keyboard arranger, I want to be able to capture all the sounds, including the built in styles it uses. This is why I am trying to fine the best way to do it. Using the accompaniment styles adds to the song. Thanks again. Sam P.S. I've never tried this before this is why I have so many questions.
 
What software did you use to record with? I haven't downloaded the keyboard documentation (no point for me), but I assume there is instruction on how to record through USB? I would expect you can playback through the same connection and listen on the keyboard headphone or speakers (assuming it has some). That would be what I'd try to get working first. I suspect the entire keyboard should appear as both an input and output sound device on your computer, and you should configure the recording software to use it exclusively for audio I/O.
 
I've been working with Audacity, but can you recommend another one?
 
[Audacity] That should work. At least, it should be good enough to at least figure out how to get the drivers and levels all sorted out so you can record and play back, and have it sound Ok.

Once you have that part worked out, you can go spend some money on software that may give you a better interface for mixing, if you need it.

Maybe you could borrow an interface from someone to try and see if it gives you better results?
 
The only thing that I have to ask you KaKo is .....

Who the heck is Sam?
 
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