Digital Pianos with Garageband

Question

Level 1

0 points

Digital Pianos with Garageband

OK - I guess I am a moron or something.

I have GB2, I went out and bought a digital piano (Yamaha P-140) for recording, I have the MIDI2USB adapter, a G4 titanium, running 10.3.4 or 5 (I am at work so I don't have all the specs).

Using a real instrument track - I can input and record a keyboard without a problem, but I am not able to record a DPiano. The sound comes out low-input, warbled, and keynotes stick, so it sounds like someone playing a block away underwater.

Now, I am new at this so I am not very technical, but what am I missing?

Thanks for any advice.

Posted on Aug 4, 2006 11:15 AM

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Answer 1

aaimac

Level 2

235 points

Aug 7, 2006 3:19 AM in response to Howling

I am a bit confused here:
If you are using a MIDI-only interface (and no Audio interface), you can only use your piano as a controller to record software instruments.
If you notice low-input, you could check the settings in the track info window (select 'get info' or Command-I) of the selected track (e.g. move the input slider to the right).
Note: GB can only recieve MIDI and cannot send MIDI data back to your piano to trigger its internal sounds (so to record the internal sounds of the P140, you need to record them as real instrument audio tracks)

iBook G4 Mac OS X (10.4.7)

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Answer 2

Howling Author

Level 1

0 points

Aug 7, 2006 8:01 AM in response to aaimac

For your first part, I am not sure what that means. For software instrument tracks, I use my keyboard. (I will assume that you know the difference between a keyboard and a Digital piano).

I can say that I have tinkered with the Track Info to no success.

All I am looking to do is record the DPiano into a real instrument track (not worried about feeding it back to the piano). The issue that is it is not jsut low input. There are other symptoms, for instance, like after holding three keys down, the input sounds like you are holding down the sustain pedal, and no other notes (regardless of how many keys you press) will input for about 6 seconds.

It really is messed up. But I will try the Track info parts again.

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Answer 3

isteveus

Level 5

4,340 points

Aug 7, 2006 3:49 PM in response to Howling

If your trying to recored a real instrument then all you need is to connect your audio out on the keyboard to the Mac's line in. You don't want to use Midi. Midi will not carry your Yamaha's sound to garageband it just sends instructions to trigger midi events. To use Midi you need to a record a software instrument. But you won't be recording the Yamaha's voices.

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Answer 4

Howling Author

Level 1

0 points

Aug 7, 2006 8:22 PM in response to isteveus

EUREKA! Now that makes sense! Never thought of that!

I will try it by next week (as I need to get the right jacks), and I will post if it works.

I sure hope so, so thank you very much!

Howling

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Answer 5

Kurt Weber

Level 6

13,969 points

Aug 11, 2006 8:34 PM in response to Howling

Just a note:

I love using my Yamaha PSR520 to record drum rhythms. Some of the rhythms are better than many of the loops included in GB and fills can be added on the fly at the exact moment I wish using the fill buttons. To do this I connect the audio out as was mentioned in the above post.

I also use software instruments. GB's piano sound is better than what my yamaha produces and the MIDi notes can be edited afterwards... look ma, no mistakes!

My advice:
* When the Yamaha's sound or effect is better use it via audio out.

* When the software instrument is better, use it and edit out your mistakes afterwards for a perfect recording. Remember Garagaband has many undos so if you make a bad edit press ⌘ +z and GB will go back one step.

Kurt

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Answer 6

Howling Author

Level 1

0 points

Aug 18, 2006 1:46 PM in response to Kurt Weber

Well - I can now record! WOOHOO! Now I have to practice.

Most of the info from Kurt sounds great, but still a bit over my head. I think the PSR520 is a synth? Totally different sounds.

But I need to get a synth soon too, for all that extra stuff...

Until then, thank you all for answering my question. I can at least get started.

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Answer 7

Kurt Weber

Level 6

13,969 points

Aug 18, 2006 2:35 PM in response to Howling

Explanation:

MIDI instruments included with Garageband are virtual instruments. Your keyboard sends MIDI data and the computer translates this into the sound. It doesn't matter what keyboard you have. You could play a clarinet sound on the keyboard and the sound in Garageband would come out as Steinway Grand... if that is the sound you selected for the software instrument track. Changing the sound on your synth would make no difference. The MIDI to USB interface that you have is what you would use to send MIDI data to a software instrument track.

Real Instrument tracks record the real sound you send into the mac from a mike or line out from your keyboard. The sound you select on your keyboard is recorded (clarinet, strings, etc.

I use both MIDI and the line out to record sounds. Midi for the great software instrument sounds like grand piano and strings, the line out for the neat real sounds on my synth like bagpipes and fiddle and some drum rhythms.

In other words, I connect both my MIDI interface and line out to my mac.

Kurt

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