Guys,

Not sure which forum this question should have gone under, but here goes:

I purchased an Yamaha ES7 about a year and a half ago and posted questions regarding how to record to a computer and ultimately get the sounds from the ES7 onto a CD. Well, if my memory serves me correctly, the fact that I had a non-Apple laptop would be kind of a hinderance to doing much in the way of recording.

I have recently got an upgraded laptop at work, a Dell Insprion 9400 with the fastest processor (2.17 ghz) and 2 gigs of the fastest ram (667 mhz). My question is if there has been any headway made for IBM-compatible laptops versus Apple's in the last few years? Will this new laptop serve me better in regards to integrating with the ES7?

Thanks.

The laptop will handle the midi fine. There are many options for sequencing software. The higher end software packages should do anything you want in regards to creating an audio CD.

Hey, thanks! After reading my post, I was afraid it didn't make any sense.

I think around 2 years ago, somebody had me install ASIO4ALL, to aid in the sound regards, but I never even attempted to run anything thru my current laptop.

I remember at one point somebody told me the Intel Springdale chipset had issues, so it was an arduous path to do what I wanted to do without a Mac.

I've got Sonar 4 producer's edition, but I think somebody also told me I might wanna use another application. Any suggestions???

Sonar 4 will do what you want just fine. I have always liked sequencing software from Cakewalk.

Midid and PCs play very well together. If you already have Sonar - learn it, use it, and you'll LOVE it !
There ar many options out there, like "Power Trax Pro" that are cheaper, but since you already have one - go with what you have! It's a great program, and it'll make majic for you.

Your specs on your laptop are fine..and will record audio and midi fine..

I think the biggest drawback for audio recording will be the speed of the hard drive..the current standards are 5400, and not to long ago, it was 4200..I have used both with good results, but if you had the upgraded 7200,it would be on parr with desktop performance..

I also think PC hold their own against the Mac..today.
Besides PC is supported by more software selections..
Mac still is know for graphics, but that has closed too..

Thanks guys - BTW, my hard drive is 7200.

However, I worry that the sound I eventually hear thru Sonar will not be the sound I would hear from the ES7 because I am assuming the laptop's soundcard would interpret the sounds and reproduce.

So, what do I need to do to get the exact sound from my ES7 onto a CD? Is this where the MLAN-16 device comes into play?

Thanks.

You simply need to record the audio out from your ES7 into the audio in on your laptop soundcard. You will probably just need to get an adapter to do this so you can take the 1/4 outputs from the ES7 to a 1/8 input stereo input on your laptop. Most electronic stores will have the adapters and cables you need.

Then you'll just have to start recording audio on your laptop and then start the MIDI sequencer to trigger the sounds on your ES7. When it finishes just stop recording the audio and you'll have a WAV file that you can then save and burn to a CD.

Not at all. It will sound *exactly* the same. Going to state the obvious here but it solely depends on what the outputs of your laptop are connected to. If they are connected to the same speakers that you're using to monitor your Motif ES it will sound the same. However, if you decide to play the recorded track through the built in speakers of your laptop it will obviously sound different. Not that important because it is what you record that matters. How you choose to monitor the track after it has been recorded is up to you. But what you record is what it will sound like. Don't make yourself worry about anything.



Sort of. It will definitely give you a better quality inputs and outputs then the ones on your laptop. Built-in audio cards on laptops can be a bit noisy. Although if the card is okay and you don't have any issues with ground and use good cables/converters it shouldn't be a problem.

-ED-


[This message has been edited by 3351 (edited 01-08-2007).]

Guys,

Wow, I was way off! Man, forgive me for being obtuse, but I'm having trouble figuring out how the sound could be the same? I was initially thinking the laptop's soundcard picks up the signal, and reproduces the sound based on the how the soundcard interprets each instrument? Unless, Sonar is actually doing all the work and the soundcard is just playing what Sonar is doing - that must be it.

Okay, but Nigel talked about using the microphone jack, but isn't the microphone jack actually an output and not an input? I guess I'll just get the necessary cables and find out for myself.

Thanks again.

No not the mic input, the stereo line in input. That is why you'll need to get a cable or adapter with a stereo 1/8 jack at one end with jacks that plug into your keyboard outputs at the other.

Well not quite. Audio recording is just that. Like a tape recorder but digital. LIke a higher quality tape recorder. What you record is what you get.

When recording audio Sonar will act as a tape recorder and simply record the sound that you plug into the input of the audio cardd. What you plug in is what you will record. THe only interpretation that's happenning during this process is called A/D conversion (analog to digital signal) and it is nothing more but interpretation of an audio signal into lots of 1s and 0s. The higher the bit and sample rates are the more 1s and 0s the signal is being converted to. If you are recording a stereo track as a result you get 2 tracks. Left and Right. Or an interleaved audio file that is L+R linked together.

I think it's too early for anything like a higher end Audio card since you first need to get your head around the basics.

Also, there's MIDI recording. Look that up. google it. It is another way to record and perhaps that is what you should really mangle with first. Sonar can speak this digital language to your Motif and make it play multiple parts at the same time if you like. Provided you record the MIDI tracks first. THen you can edit and move each and every individual note that you've recorded, do some basic mixing and even be able to change instruments for different parts while the track is playing. Look up MIDI. Right now.

You're not going to get very far asking one question at a time in forums. You have to do some homework.

-ED-

BTW the microphone jack on your laptop is an Audio input because it allows you to input the audio signal into software like Sonar. Anything that inputs the signal is refered to as an input. Where it outputs to after the recording or where it outputs to internally is different. It is an input to begin with.



[This message has been edited by 3351 (edited 01-09-2007).]

Depends on the manufacturer and how they choose to label audio inputs. On some laptop computers there is no input labeled as a stereo line-in. It's labeled as a mic input but in essence it is a line-in that can act as a mic input too. Pretty silly stuff since if something is a line-in it should be labeled so.

-ED-

Thanks, guys.

I picked up the cable today and will mess around with it this weekend and see what I can learn.

Interesting stuff, it is!