Hi all,
 
I'm using a Yamaha DGX-650 synthesiser and i have been working on a project for 2 weeks. 
My Keyboard is plugged directly through USB port (not via soundcard). The issue is that since i'm not using my keyboard sounds as a VST midi bank, whenever i record myself the sound has really pour quality. I think is due to the fact that when i play keyboard, i dont send only midi data, but also audio data (for instance bass or piano) to computer, then the later send it back to my keyboard as an output device (midi + audio). 
Is there a way to only send midi data to my computer, use my keyboard sound bank as a midi VST in Sonar to optimize performance ?
 
Thanks

midi and audio devices are separately managed in Sonar.. so you can enable the piano as a midi device only. you then have two approaches, and its pretty obvious i favour the second. :)
 
a) enable input echo: the "generally accepted method"
i) find the setup for local control on your piano and disable it
ii) play the piano, send midi to sonar, record it, have it come back to the piano, hear the piano
ii) Playback midi through your piano, and edit midi track to suit
iii) play midi track and record piano audio through your interface, OR
iv) play midi track, record piano onto the usb recorder and then import (drag/drop) to sonar
 
a) disable input echo: the "lower latency and no mucking about method"
i) play the piano, hear the piano and record midi into sonar.
ii) Playback midi through your piano, and edit midi to suit
iii) play midi track and record piano audio through your interface, OR
iv) play midi track, record piano onto the piano's usb recorder and then import (drag/drop) to sonar
 
hope this helps

thanks Mystic38.
 
I figured out what was causing the issue. In fact say i want to play some piano part on the same track, well it was a mistake to play on the very same midi track. That was lowering the sound quality so much. To fix it i just have to create another piano midi track and then merge tracks.
 
Now, i'd like to export either midi files or audio files such as mp3. But since my Yamaha DGX650 midi sound bank is not installed in Sonar as a midi softsynth, i can't do that. How to do that please ?

guifer80
Now, i'd like to export either midi files or audio files such as mp3. But since my Yamaha DGX650 midi sound bank is not installed in Sonar as a midi softsynth, i can't do that. How to do that please ?

The USB port of the DGX650 is used to transfer data between the instrument and the computer via MIDI  (Page 19 User guide)

What I would do in connect the audio out (Page 15 & 17 User guide) of the DGX-650 to the line in of your computer's audio interface.  On the DGX650, make sure you set the the Output Gain Level to “Line Out” (Page 55 User guide)

Create an audio track in Sonar and arm the track.  Make sure input monitoring is on for that track.  Play the DGX650 to make sure the audio signal from the DGX650 is making it to Sonar and that the levels are right and not going in the red.

Now set the now marker to the beginning and hit record. Now I am not sure if sending MIDI data to the DGX650 results in any MIDI data being rerouted back to Sonar - I would turn off input monitoring on all of your MIDI tracks just in case.

I use this method to use Sonar to record a performance from an external SW1000XG.  Sonar sends MIDI to the SW1000XG and the audio from the SW1000XG gets rerouted back into Sonar allowing me to record it.  I usually Mute the created audio track so I all I am hearing is the SW1000XG performance while its being recorded. Once the recording is complete, I test it by soloing the created audio track and having a listen.  Once I am happy with that, I simply export that single audio track as a wave (or MP3 if required)

Hope this is of some help.

Two ways, looks like:
1 - put a flash drive in the "USB to Device" slot on your keyboard and follow your manual to record a file to the flash drive, as played back by MIDI from Sonar. Then you can move the flash drive to your computer.
2 - cable your "phones/output" connector to your computer's audio in. In Sonar, set up a stereo audio track for recording from your computer's audio in. Set that track into record mode and start recording from Sonar. Sonar will play the MIDI into your keyboard while capturing the sound from your keyboard into the new audio track.

promidi

guifer80
Now, i'd like to export either midi files or audio files such as mp3. But since my Yamaha DGX650 midi sound bank is not installed in Sonar as a midi softsynth, i can't do that. How to do that please ?

The USB port of the DGX650 is used to transfer data between the instrument and the computer via MIDI  (Page 19 User guide)

What I would do in connect the audio out (Page 15 & 17 User guide) of the DGX-650 to the line in of your computer's audio interface.  On the DGX650, make sure you set the the Output Gain Level to “Line Out” (Page 55 User guide)

Create an audio track in Sonar and arm the track.  Make sure input monitoring is on for that track.  Play the DGX650 to make sure the audio signal from the DGX650 is making it to Sonar and that the levels are right and not going in the red.

Now set the now marker to the beginning and hit record. Now I am not sure if sending MIDI data to the DGX650 results in any MIDI data being rerouted back to Sonar - I would turn off input monitoring on all of your MIDI tracks just in case.

I use this method to use Sonar to record a performance from an external SW1000XG.  Sonar sends MIDI to the SW1000XG and the audio from the SW1000XG gets rerouted back into Sonar allowing me to record it.  I usually Mute the created audio track so I all I am hearing is the SW1000XG performance while its being recorded. Once the recording is complete, I test it by soloing the created audio track and having a listen.  Once I am happy with that, I simply export that single audio track as a wave (or MP3 if required)

Hope this is of some help.

Hi promidi and thanks for your answer.
I get no signal when i try to record on an audio track. In Sonar preferences the only device i can put as an audio input is my sound card, but i can't connect my synthesizer to my sound card (midi wire) i only can connect them throught usb ports.

bvideo
Two ways, looks like:
1 - put a flash drive in the "USB to Device" slot on your keyboard and follow your manual to record a file to the flash drive, as played back by MIDI from Sonar. Then you can move the flash drive to your computer.
2 - cable your "phones/output" connector to your computer's audio in. In Sonar, set up a stereo audio track for recording from your computer's audio in. Set that track into record mode and start recording from Sonar. Sonar will play the MIDI into your keyboard while capturing the sound from your keyboard into the new audio track.

hi bvideo,
 
i tried your first advice but whenever my synthesizer is connected to my computer i can't record anything.
i'll try your second advice as soon as i buy a male-male headphone connector to plug my synthesizer output to my soundcard audio input :) Thanks a lot
 
 

guifer80
Hi promidi and thanks for your answer.
I get no signal when i try to record on an audio track. In Sonar preferences the only device i can put as an audio input is my sound card, but i can't connect my synthesizer to my sound card (midi wire) i only can connect them throught usb ports.

Does your sound card not have a line in ? That's where the line out of the keyboard connects to. 

What model audio interface (or sound card) do you have?

Hi, i can connect a midi wire on my sound card but it doesnt work, i have tried during two weeks and i failed.
 
My sound card : Edirol UA-25

Does the line in on the front of the UA-25 accept line in levels? Looking at the manual, looks like it's for guitar or mic. Not sure of the level of the DG-650 would be too high for it.... 

I have the SW1000XG from the second PC connected to the audio line in of my main PC card to record its performance from within Sonar.