RE: Teaching Aids
2004/02/18 10:26:17
(permalink)
I would assume that you have to plug the clainova into an amp so it can be heard by all. I would also think that it has a headphone output. If it has a headphone output, I would use that to record through. If you don't have an interface, you will need one. I have a Sounblaster MP3 USB interface that I bought at Walmart for around $50.00. This one is for digital audio only. If you have outputs on the clavinova, I wouldn't even mess with midi, as it is more difficult to work with. Most of the Soundblasters I have seen on this forum get blasted (no pun intended) for being problematic. I haven't had any trouble with this one, but I am not looking for studio grade sound either. Most outputs are 1/4" so you will need to make your way to a local Radio Shack for the proper adapters to fit the 1/4" into the SB jack. The steps are pretty simple of digital audio. Click "new project". A box will open that will more than likely have "normal" highlighted. Use normal for digital audio. The program will open. There will be two (with HS2004XL at least) tracks available. One will have a round symbol (midi), the other will be like a red lightning bolt (digital audio). Maximize the red one. You will want to be sure things are set in order before you go any further. OPTIONS - AUDIO is the first place to go. On "General", there is a "Wave profiler" button on the bottom left. Click that to make sure things are set. Next, go to drivers (I think) to make sure your interface is showing up in the program. Be sure the interface is the top one, and not your computer's soundcard, Once this is set, you will see a level meter, but it will not show any activity until you arm the track by clicking the red "R", and the instrument is connected to the interface. If you want to use the metronome, you will have set it to the speeds you want, as well as giving it a countdown measure or two. Hit a few keys and watch the meter to make sure it doesn't go into the red at all. If it does, bring the volume of the instrument or the track volume down until it stays below the red. If it goes into the red at all at any time, it will make some nasty crackles. Hit the record button or hit "r" on the keyboard to begin recording. After you have completed your recording, hit the space bar to stop. If all went well, you see what you have recorded in the pane to the right. Click the transport to take it back to the beginning, then listen your final work. If all sounds good, you can add effects from there, or add a complimentary part, or vocal, or what ever you want by going to "insert - add audio track". This will bring up a second red lightning track that you can repeat the recording process with. Don't make the mistakes I have done in the past and forget to unclick the "R" button from the previous track, or it will simply record over the one you had recorded prior. The great thing about HS is that if you do make a mistake, you can go to edit, click undo, and everything will be back where it was. Homestudio is a great (and easy) program once you work your way through the preliminaries. It is very easy to use with digital audio. I am just starting to mess with midi. It has far more hoops to jump through to get anywhere, but I am sure I will like it just as well once I figure it out. If you decide you want to add effects, just left click the clip pane on the right side to highlight it. Go to "Process". Go to audio effects to experiment. If you don't like the effect, go to "Edit". The last effect you added will be there to undo.
Michael