Connecting NS2 to computer

[juton la hyene]

Hey guys,

This is my first topic and i am glad to be here !

I am a classical piano player, meaning i have played all my life only on standard wooden made pianos. So i am the biggest n@@b you'll ever come accross when it comes to everything that's electronic music related.

Having said that, i bought a NS2 because it was the closest to a classic piano i found. (greatest electronic device ever, by the way).
But now, here i am, wanting to plug my piano to my computer and to plug a mic to the same computer to record my voice and my playing at the same time. I have no idea where to begin.

So i will take every advices you'll be kind enough to give me.

Somebody told me about MIDI and a USB cable but i think MIDI is really bad quality for music.

Thanks !

[juton la hyene]

Hi Juton,

Nice presentation ! Welcome on the forum.

"plug my piano to my computer and to plug a mic to the same computer to record my voice and my playing at the same time".

This can be done this way :
- connect the Nord audio outputs CH1 and CH2 to a mixer, let's say a Mackie VLZ4402 @ 118 € for instance, using 2 Jack-Jack 6.5 cables.
- connect you mic to the mixer ( using a XLR M-F cable. Activate "phantom" on the mixer if you have a condenser mic)
- connect the mixer output to the computer audio input ...

At this point the computer's sound card is involved. Coz' you need an audio input You can :
- get a USB sound card, let's say a MOTU Microbook for instance (~200 €)
- connect the Nord audio outputs CH1 and CH2 to the MOTU Line In using 2 Jack-Jack 6.35 cables.
- connect the Mic to the MOTU Mic in, using a XLR M-F cable (An adapter is provided for the old MOTU MkI. Same remark for phantom power).

At this point, you have chosen to go with a mixer and/or a sound card, you need a software to record.
A recorder like "Audacity" can do the job, but I'd recommend to go for a DAW (Reaper entry level 50 €) so you can have some comfort.

To feel comfortable wile recording, I use the above setup, configured with 0 latency (direct) monitoring and some very little reverb (valhalla) on the voice, sent back into the headphone.

Cheers,
F.

[juton la hyene]

Your answer is gold ! :p thanks a lot.

You made me think of a few more questions, though :

- when you say "a mixer", is it one of those tables full of buttons that is used to be the interface between your sound creation devices (instrument & mic) and your computer right ? So i guess its pretty much necessary for whatever action you want to perform regarding anything sound related on computer ?

- I believe you gave me the settings for a standard, normal rendering, recording of a voice and the instrument behind it, but with all this equipment, will i be able to work on the sound and transform it on a kind of post-production phase ?

- i have a very powerful computer ( i am a video game player) but its a laptop. The sound card reference you gave me, will i be able to use it on such a computer ? Or should i get some external device instead ? On a general note, what does it look like, how to handle it ?

- last one : you told me about a piece of software to use on computer to record and all. Is it noob friendly, and is it an all in one soft or is it only used for recording ?

Many thanks again, for your time and attention !

[juton la hyene]

- when you say "a mixer", is it one of those tables full of buttons that is used to be the interface between your sound creation devices (instrument & mic) and your computer right ? So i guess its pretty much necessary for whatever action you want to perform regarding anything sound related on computer ?

I know that some mixers have USB or even Firewire ports that connect straight to a computer. In that case, the answer is Yes.
I haven't gone that way because I do not have the budget for that kind of mixer, and I have read bad reviews about entry level ones.
When I wanted to simply record my vocals and the Nord, I first bought a sound card, and only that.
The mixer is not mandatory. It came after and is comfortable for practice coz' I do not have to switch on the computer.
=> It's "pretty much necessary" to have an interface between your instruments and your computer.
You'll have to find the configuration that suits your needs best.

- I believe you gave me the settings for a standard, normal rendering, recording of a voice and the instrument behind it, but with all this equipment, will i be able to work on the sound and transform it on a kind of post-production phase ?

Standard recording, yes. Work on the sound, yes. Transform it, yes. With a sound card like mentioned earlier, you'll be able to record your 2 tracks of audio, one in stereo for the Nord, one in mono for your mic, and, with the right software, you'll be able to edit your work.

- i have a very powerful computer ( i am a video game player) but its a laptop. The sound card reference you gave me, will i be able to use it on such a computer ? Or should i get some external device instead ? On a general note, what does it look like, how to handle it ?

You have to check the compatibility with your system. External device ? For what ? -> no.
Have a look here : http://www.motu.com/products/motuaudio/microbook
I have an old / first generation.

- last one : you told me about a piece of software to use on computer to record and all. Is it noob friendly, and is it an all in one soft or is it only used for recording ?

"noob" friendly ? we all started one day. There are trials, maybe Ableton Live (Lite) is the easiest, but that depends on "how we are cabled" ! => Try them !
Prepare to spend some time if you want a good setup and a good result.

Hope it helped !!
F.

[Frantz]

I forgot : enjoy your Nord Keyboard
Please post back other questions and what configuration you finally chose.
Cheers,
F.

[juton la hyene]

I will !

The hardest part is the playing and the singing, and i already have that so how hard the rest could be

In the meantime, thanks again for your kind advices, that was helpfull.

[analogika]

Somebody told me about MIDI and a USB cable but i think MIDI is really bad quality for music.

This is a profound misunderstanding.

MIDI is a CONTROL protocol. It has nothing to do with sound. It merely says "this instrument plays these notes at these times".

MIDI is to sound as sheet music is to a recorded CD. The sheet music does not contain any sound whatsoever — it merely says which instruments play which notes, when.