Recording from digital onto computer?

[Shagdac]

How do you record a piece played on a Yamaha Digital CLP-120 onto your computer so that one may send it to someone else and they can hear it? Does anyone have easy instructions for this process. I have a book which explains, however I have to admit, am somewhat confused.

Thank you
S

[xvimbi]

If it's anything like other Yamaha's, you will probably have to connect MIDI cables to your computer. This will require either a soundcard with MIDI inputs or a MIDI-to-USB adapter that you then connect to the computer. In this case, the computer will have to generate the sound.
Alternatively, most instruments give you the sound through AUX OUT, which you can connect directly to a microphone jack on your computer (potentially with an amplifier in between). The next step is to detect that there is actually something coming into the computer. Any operating system has several programs that monitor MIDI and microphone channels. Finally, you will need a program that can record MIDI or sound.

What computer/OS do you have? I have only Apple computers, therefore I can't help with Windows.

[jr11]

The USB-MIDI adapter works well for me. I have one made by UNO I got for about $50. Some of the recording programs out there are Cubase, Pro Tools, or Cakewalk. They are expensive and do way more than you need. If you do some web research and looking in the discount software bins at stores, you should find something that will suffice for recording a simple single MIDI track. Now that I think of it, the software that came with my USB-MIDI interface included an "Express" version of Cakewalk that does all I need.

When you record a MIDI (musical instrument digital interface) track you are merely creating a code that tells a computer how to arrange it's own built-in sounds to fit the notes, rests, timing and dynamics of what you have played into it. So when you send the file to someone else, it will only sound as good as the piano sound on their sound card. The advantage of MIDI is it is compact and easy to email or use in a web page, but it is not terribly expressive. You can record as an audio track (wav, etc) as xvimbi describes, which will give you more control of dynamics, but will be much larger in file size.

Hope this helps.

[Shagdac]

Thanks very much Xvimbi and Jr11. I appreciate your help. I know someone mentioned to me they thought I needed a "sequencing program"? I have a Digital Yamaha Clavinova which does have the AUX out connections in the back. Hopefully with your information and going back thru the manual I will eventually figure it out!

Thanks again,
S

[Chiyo]

I have Yamaha P120, and I record pieces for my students. The process is actually quite simple.

I connect P120 and computer with a regular audio cable. One end from Aux Out on P120, the other into "line in." I use "Windoes Media Encoder," which is free. I hit record button on the program and start playing, and the program saves it as wmv or wav. I can burn that onto CD and give it to my students.

The sound quality is about B-, of course I don't expect studio recording quality, but it is useful.

[bttay]

Hi Shagdac,

If you record your performance from the Aux Out to your computer, you will end up having a sound file that is too big to be sent via internet (esp. if it is a long piano piece).

Alternately you can record it through the MIDI OUT of your digital piano. The connection goes like this:

Piano MIDI OUT > USB MIDI Cable IN > Computer USB Port> Sequencer Software.

In this way you will create a MIDI File that is very small that you can email it to your friend. This method might be a bit challenging if you are not familiar with MIDI and sequencing software.

[Shagdac]

Thanks much Bttay! I can do that. Also, I had gone to Best Buy last weekend..(after going to a different music store and almost being sold $1000.00 recoring device that allows you to make CD's). At Best Buy they have  CD recording which can be hooked directly up to CLP-120. You record on a CD, which can be downloaded in the computer. Also, if I want to play the accoustic piano I can use a microphone. Still working on it. I appreciate your help. Thanks!

By the way...the CD recording is only 299.00, so I thought that was pretty cheap..it's a Sony. What do you think? Do they come cheaper?

S