I’m having a couple of problems recording my Kawai MP8 Piano on my computer. I’m recording using Audacity (1.3.8 Beta, but it’s the same using stable) on a standard HP box (Windows XP sp2) thru the line-in input (with the microphone muted). The piano is in the next room from the HP so I had to use a (> 12’) long stereo RCA cable with 2 RCA to ¼” plugs going into the normal speaker outputs & a Y-adapter RCA to ⅛” stereo plug into the line-in jack at the other end. The piece was for solo piano, classical, stereo, using prog# 1 Concert Grand piano (with default reverb active).
Problems: 1) Even with the modulation turned off (eliminating vibrato) there’s a kind of slight tremolo or wobble in the rec’ed piano (as if a faint trem. effect was used). It’s slight, but certainly noticeable. 2) There seems to be a slight buzz sound or fuzz in the high end. I even did a noise reduction (NR) – which got rid of the very low hum that was there – but this ‘noise’ is present with or without doing a NR. It is as if it’s there in addition to the piano, not really part of the piano music – low, but audible.
I was thinking that the type and/or length of the cord I’m using might be the cause of the noise, but as to the tremolo – you can even see it on the Level Meter! Can anyone please help me? I think this is caused at the piano end; maybe Audacity is the cause or can fix this somehow. You can D/L an example mp3 of the music here http://www.megaupload.com/?d=V89XAPXF
<<<length of the cord I’m using might be the cause of the noise>>>
Not directly. It’s the distance. Broadcast and Commercial Sound people have techniques to send sound hundreds of feet over balanced, shielded cables without damage. Home systems rarely make it much over six feet without problems.
I bet all the problems go away if you move everything into the same room and plug all the power plugs into the same socket with a power strip. Home style sound cable like you’re using makes a nice antenna for radiation of all types. Radio stations, compact fluorescent lamps, aquarium heaters, etc. etc. They also don’t fare well when the two ends of the transmission are plugged into different wall power sockets. No wall outlet is perfect and this process turns very minor power errors into sound. Surprise!
It’s a safety hazard to use a three prong to two prong adapter to isolate the ground connection on your power cord, so don’t do that, even though that sometimes helps.
You can also get problems like this if the capture volume is turned down too far, but that doesn’t seem to be your problem because the level on the MP3 file is OK. Unless it started out very low and you amplified it. Did you?
Koz
You can also get problems like this if the capture volume is turned down too far, but that doesn’t seem to be your problem because the level on the MP3 file is OK. Unless it started out very low and you amplified it. Did you?
No actually, the piano was recorded directly, then I listened w/o doing anything and heard the above ‘problems’. An mp3 was made of that take which I deleted. Then I did a take which I did a noise reduction on, all that did was remove a slight hum noise that was there. Nothing else was done to it, I made the mp3 file at 160kbps - then made the example file at 192k to keep as much of the data in tact as I could.
I got an email from a guy over at Kawai (my elec piano’s co) and he had a few good suggestions, #1 was getting better cables, which I will try to get asap. I might even get a (usb) pre-amp too. As it would be a big problem to move my piano into the same room with my computer, I will try this first. Any suggestions as to what type (or make) of cable I should get?
Thanks - Brad
<<<Any suggestions as to what type (or make) of cable I should get?>>>
I doubt the type of cable is going to make any difference at all given you’re not going to change the underlying system or equipment layout. If the problem is ratty wall power, it may make it worse.
<<<I might even get a (usb) pre-amp too.>>>
That may trade problems. You may go from buzz and hum to crackling and snapping.
Here. Plug all the computer equipment into one big power strip and then plug that into the music room with a long extension cord. Don’t leave anything out. All the computer equipment, monitor, printer, desk lamp, everything. Keep the audio cables and power cables as far from each other as you can. Plug it into the exact same outlet as the keyboard.
Koz
I have similar problems between my “entertainment wall” and the computers. I got rid of the buzz and hum with one of these.
http://www.cs1.net/products/jensen_transformers/CI-2RR.htm
I didn’t actually buy that unit, I already owned the individual Jensen® transformers so I built my own box.
Koz
Hi,
Did you try any other devices to record on your computer? I know from experience that on-board sound cards are usually of poor quality, and often are sensitive to all kinds of outside influences.
If your piano can not be put in the same room as your computer, perhaps it’ possible to try it the other way around.
Another thing that could cause the problem is what they call a ground loop. If both your computer and the keyboard have an earthed contact (on the power outlet) all kinds of weird things can happen. If that is the case, you can try to have the computer earthed, and your keyboard un-earthed. You should be able to get a power cord for your keyboard that does not have earth.
But what I would try first is do a recording with the piano connected, play a few notes so you know there is sound coming from the piano, and then do not play for a minute or so. Then listen back to the recording. If there are weird sounds while there should be silence, you can bet it’s some kind of interference.
Drop me a note once you have tried that, with your findings, and I can help you troubleshoot further…
Regards,
Peter
<<>>
Or buy an earthed to unearthed adapter, but, of course, we would never suggest that because it’s a safety hazard.
<<<Drop me a note once you have tried that, with your findings, and I can help you troubleshoot further…>>>
Cherry picking our posters? We like to keep the solutions on the forum so the most number of people can benefit.
Koz
Hi Koz,
Using an un-earthed power supply (or cord) is not a hazard by definition. Unless you are talking about kitchen appliances, dish washers, washing machines or something like that. Or if you are using badly designed electrical devices that allow you to come into contact with conducting parts. I do not think a digital piano qualifies for that, so it will be perfectly save.
Koz, when I ask someone to drop me a note on the forum, I mean on the forum, saying “Hi Peter” or something. I did not ask him to send me an PM. Also, I am not a native English speaker (I’m Dutch), so I make mistakes language wise.
Do me a favor. Next time you feel you have something to say about my “behavior” on this forum, please send me a PM first so we can discuss matters.
Regards,
Peter
<<<when I ask someone to drop me a note on the forum, I mean on the forum>>>
Oh. Sorry. That wasn’t clear.
Koz