Setting up electro-piano!

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Member Since: Jan 12, 2008

Hello everyone! I am Newbie here with suitably naive question!

I want to output my electro-piano to our computer. So, I would press a key on it and it would sound out of the computer.

I have a MIDI-USB interface and soundcard.

Is that enough? Or do I need some kinda special music-software?

Thank you for helping.

JTX

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Prince CZAR-ming
Member
Since: Apr 08, 2004


Jan 12, 2008 08:56 pm

Hello JTX, welcome to HRC.

Quote:
I want to output my electro-piano to our computer. So, I would press a key on it and it would sound out of the computer.


I'm not sure of what you're trying to do.

If you want to send the sounds from your keyboard to be recorded onto the computer, then you don't need the MIDI-USB device, just a soundcard (audio interface) to convert the audio signals over to digital stream and recorded by some software.

The other way, it sounds like you mean, is to send the MIDI data from the keyboard (note information) over to the computer and have the computer create the sounds, based on the note information. This will require a midi interface, like you mentioned.

I'm going to assume the second, as that sounds closest to what you posted.

Plugging the midi-usb device between the keyboard and computer will send the midi data to your computer, and yes, you will need some sort of software to accept the data, and write it to a track. Often this software will be called a 'host' as it will host other software, that makes the sounds. These programs include softsynths, and soundfonts, and samples.

Now after you play, and send (and record) the data to the host software, you can then attach whatever sound you want to the track. Also, you can play live, meaning the sound gets created and output as you are playing it, in realtime.

There are free hosts out there, but I can't think of anything at the moment. There are a ton of programs, or plug-ins (for instance: VSTi) that will create the sounds for you. Also, there's tons of soundfonts and samples out there for free. Sounds fonts will need to have a soundfont player (SFZ comes to mind for free), then add an actual soundfont of sounds, to be played.

I use FL Studio as a host, this can play soundfonts, softsynths, and other instruments added into FL Studio.

Samples are similar, needing a type of host program to play the samples, when you press the keyboard keys.

Member
Since: Jan 12, 2008


Jan 13, 2008 05:26 pm

Oh thanks for taking the time for that helpful reply, pjk!

Aha, so I need a host as you say. Yes, it is your second way that I would like - to play live.

Thank you again, & I shall install one soon!

JTX

Frisco's Most Underrated
Member
Since: Jan 28, 2003


Jan 14, 2008 01:27 am

Let me clarify your original question one step further...

Do you want the sounds of your piano to come out of your computer speakers? Meaning, do you want the same sounds that your piano makes when you play it to emit from your computer speakers?

Or, do you want to press a key on your electric piano and have a different type of sound come out of your computer speakers (for instance: a synth, or violin, or something else)?

Member
Since: Jan 12, 2008


Jan 14, 2008 05:08 pm

"Do you want the sounds of your piano to come out of your computer speakers? Meaning, do you want the same sounds that your piano makes when you play it to emit from your computer speakers?"

coolo, you have hit the nail on the head! (My favourite phrase to say this is "rem acu tetigisti").

That is _exactly_ what I would like to do. By the way, I installed Audacity host software last night but have not yet tried to set anything up.

So now I have MIDI piano, MIDI-USB interface, host software, soundcard, and speakers...

This is becoming exciting!!!

JTX




Frisco's Most Underrated
Member
Since: Jan 28, 2003


Jan 14, 2008 07:36 pm

So, now that we understand what you want to do, I have a whole different answer than what pjk gave you. However, what pjk said is accurate, it's just for a different process.

What you need to do, is connect the audio out of your piano, it might be RCA plugs or it might be 1/4" plugs, or even a 1/8" stereo heaphone jack would work. Plug this into the line in jack on the sound card of your computer (I'm not sure what color ring around the jack...maybe someone can chime in). Then all you need to do is select that you want your line in to be played through your speakers, and you're good to go. If you need help with this last step, let us know, and someone (maybe me), will give you the step by step. Oh, and it would help if you let us know what kind of soundcard you have on your computer.

Member
Since: Jan 12, 2008


Jan 14, 2008 08:14 pm

Hi coolo & everyone else!

Oh dear, I don't know the terminology. My audio connections out of my electro-piano have 5 pins, in a semicircular configuration, within a half-inch circular rim (excuse my description - I am a maths-person & also English is not my native language!).

The soundcard (it is our Boss's computer, but he'll be away for ages!!!) is: Creative SB Live Value. It does _not_ have matching connections to the piano.

All comments are welcome.

JTX






Frisco's Most Underrated
Member
Since: Jan 28, 2003


Jan 14, 2008 08:18 pm

I don't know this connection, but it sounds like midi????

Man, a headphone jack would have been too easy.

Do you know the brand/type of piano. Maybe we can find it and see what the specs are, online.

Member
Since: Jan 12, 2008


Jan 14, 2008 08:54 pm

coolo & everyone - output from my electro-piano _is_ indeed MIDI! (I have checked)

The piano accepts headphones, yet - as suspected - a headphone jack is not an option, because I would like to output elsewhere.

The piano's a Yamaha.

Just let me know if you need more info.

JTX


Prince CZAR-ming
Member
Since: Apr 08, 2004


Jan 14, 2008 09:20 pm

What's the model number? We can look at it online, and tell you what to connect where, etc.

The soundblaster live will have 1/8" jacks, which I believe are also known as 3.5mm jacks. The line in jack is stereo, or TRS.


http://www.kids-online.net/learn/click/details/sblvalpci.jpg



You'd want to be plugging the output of the piano, to the blue one on top of the card.

Just need to know what model of keyboard you have, and we can go from there.

You won't need the midi-usb device, if you're just going to be making the sounds of the keyboard come out from the computer.

And, yep, i'm betting that connection is MIDI. Quite common on keyboards. This isn't the output you'd want to send your sounds to the computer.

Probably looks something like this:


http://i12.tinypic.com/6bbi689.jpg



Hopefully you'll have some 1/4" (6.3mm) jack outputs on there. Most will have them.

Frisco's Most Underrated
Member
Since: Jan 28, 2003


Jan 15, 2008 01:48 pm

yeah, what pjk said.

Member
Since: Jan 12, 2008


Jan 15, 2008 06:26 pm

Good evening.

The model is a Yamaha P-70. And that picture of the soundcard ^^ looks _exactly_ the same as our one!

The piano has MIDI connections but, as you hoped, it also has jack outputs - on its front! They are the same size as the soundcard jacks, so 1/8" / 3.5mm I suppose.

I think we are getting close. :)

JTX


Frisco's Most Underrated
Member
Since: Jan 28, 2003


Jan 15, 2008 07:44 pm

Are the jacks all the way on the left side in the front? Looks like you can barely see them in this picture...

www.yamaha.com/yamahavgn/...%25253D,00.html

Do they say anything?

Basically what you want to do, is what I said in a previous post, and that is, connect the audio out of your piano to the line in on your soundcard. If you're using your headphone jack, you just need a cable with 1/8" stereo connections on both sides.

The connections that (I think) I see on the picture look 1/4" and then you will need a cable that takes two 1/4" mono plugs and combines them to one 1/8" stereo plug on the other side. Or some combination of cable and adapters that get this.

Then you just need to double click the little speaker icon in your system tray and make sure line in is not muted, and you're good to go.

www.TheLondonProject.ca
Member
Since: Feb 07, 2005


Jan 15, 2008 07:59 pm

Looks like it just has a headphones and MIDI in/out. Just run the 1/8" on the front of the piano to your 1/8" "line in" on your soundcard. You will need a male/male 1/8" cable. I'm pretty sure that this will introduce some noise of sorts but it will allow you to get your music recorded for your own review.

[quote]P-70 / P-70S Specifications
Keyboard GHS (Graded Hammer Standard) Piano Action, 88 Keys, A1-C7
Tone Generator AWM, Stereo Sampling
Polyphony Max. 32 notes
Voices 10 voices
Effects Reverb
Performance Modes Dual
Pedal Sustain Pedal•When an optional FC3 Foot Pedal is connected, the
half-damper pedal effect can be used.
Display –
Recorder –
Demo Songs 10 voice demo songs, 50 preset songs
Metronome –
Connectors Headphones, MIDI-IN/OUT
Amplifiers 6W x 2
Speakers 12 x 6 cm x 2
Dimensions (W x D x H) 1,330 x 355 x 133 mm (52-3/8" x 14" x 5-1/4")
Weight 13.0 kg (28 lbs. 11 oz.)
Included Accessories Music Rest, FC5 Foot Pedal, AC Power Adapter *
Optional Accessory Keyboard Stand (L-70 / L-70S) [/quote]

Member
Since: Jan 12, 2008


Jan 16, 2008 06:11 pm

Thanks once again everyone - nearly there.

"You will need a male/male 1/8" cable"

Yes, I'll buy one this weekend & shall report back! I reckon it's going to work!

Though I am still interested in comments about the MIDI-USB solution - mainly cos that interface was from Santa and I want to use it!

(Also the blue Line-In jack on the soundcard is already occupied for TV sound)

JTX




Member
Since: Jan 12, 2008


Jan 19, 2008 05:37 pm

Well, everyone...




It worked!

Thank you so much to all who helped me. Also, my friend Emilia already had a "double audio jack" so we can hear both the electro-keyboard and the TV card output.

I shall still experiment with the MIDI-USB interface, though, so feel free to suggest!

Bye for now!

JTX

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