Recording a digital piano on a laptop

[Jsboutin]

Hello!

Since I'm now living in an appartment, I've made the switch to a digital piano. I thought it'd be nice to use this opportunity to start recording some of my playing.

Only problem, though, is that I most often only have access to a laptop, which only has USB and a Mic In. input available.

The digital piano in question is a Yamaha P95, which has 2 headphones out, a MIDI in, a MIDI out, and that's pretty much it as far as audio plugs are concerned.

Now, the simplest option seems to get a mic in mini jack in the computer mic in, and a big jack in the headphone out, which should be ok if I do some noise sampling.

However, I've never seen any cable that had a jack plug on both ends. Does it even exist?

And if it doesn't, what would my other options be?

Thank you!

[daver2]

Hi,

First of all - welcome to CMN.

Audio recording as you propose sounds initially the best option. You should be able to get a mini jack to mini jack and then an adapter to go from mini jack to 1/4" for the headphone output. You may find, though, that the headphone output is too 'hot' for the microphone input of the PC - although (depending upon the make and model) you may be able to wind the gain down or select a line input. You may find that a DI box in the path may provide a better solution in matching the headphone output of the digital piano to the PC input.

As you say that the digital piano has a MIDI out - the other option would be to buy a USB/MIDI cable for the PC. I bought one for my son a year ago from Amazon.com - can't quite remember how much it was - but we are only talking about a few pounds. You would then need some MIDI recording software for the PC.

My son uses his 'dumb' keyboard to operate synthesizers and drum machines on the PC using a free VSTHost (http://www.hermannseib.com/english/vsthost.htm) and downloadable free plugins. This probably doesn't help you much(!) but I have had a quick look around the web and found a few companies offering a free (Lite) version of their products. One I found (http://www.cantabilesoftware.com/) appears to do all sorts of interesting (!) things via the MIDI port - including both audio and MIDI recording.

Just a thought.

Dave

[Jsboutin]

Yes, after plugging a random jack plug in my computer, it displayed the option to consider it a line in.

Si it'd be out of headphones, in the "line" input on the PC?

And after that I can play with the volume in order not to get too much distortion, then.

And if that fails, I'll have a go at MIDI, though it does seem quite a bit more complicated.

Thanks a lot for the fast answer!

[daver2]

No problem,

Yep, you've got the gist of it.

Out of the headphones and into the line in on the PC. Is your keyboard stereo or mono? What about the input of the PC?

Dave

[Jsboutin]

I think the keyboard is stereo and the line in mono. At least it records in mono in audacity.