Getting keyboard sounds through Garageband

Question

Getting keyboard sounds through Garageband

I just bought a Roland RD-700sx and have connected it up to my iMac 1.8GHz PowerPC G5.

I've got the USB connection up and running and am able to use it as a master keyboard controlling Garageband sounds. But how do I get the sounds on the Roland to play through Garageband?

Any suggestion appreciated!

iMac G5 Mac OS X (10.4.2)

iMac G5, Mac OS X (10.4.2)

Posted on Jan 29, 2006 6:56 AM

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Answer 1

Jan 29, 2006 7:08 AM in response to philmillhaven

You have to understand the difference between audio and midi. Right now, you're only transmitting midi events like "key up", "key down" and velocity to trigger GB's internal ("software") instruments.

If you want to record the sound of your keyboard, that's a totally different thing. You have to connect the audio out of your keyboard to your Mac's input (either to the line in or through an audio interface) and record it to an audio ("real instrument") track.

The difference is:
- The amount of data is a lot bigger,
- You record it like you record an acoustic instrument or a voice and won't be able to make changes afterwards like changing a note's pitch, position and length or assigning a different instrument.

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Answer 2

Feb 1, 2006 9:31 AM in response to Christoph Drösser

Hi Christoph

Many thanks for that. I've got it going through my Edirol FireWire unit so I can now play the Roland through the Mac. However, I'm getting a buzzing noise which is especially bad when I turn the monitor volume up. One time I recorded and the notes were barely audible. Any idea why that would be?

Phil

iMac G5 Mac OS X (10.4.2)

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