How to set levels in line recording

[Music in my mind 13]

Hello musicians. I think some of you have seen that I was having trouble getting a cable. But I bought it today and it's fine. The question here is, how can I set up the levels on my interface? I don't know what to do with all these nobs-swiches-etc. How can I ajust the volumes so the signal won't be nor too low nor too hot so it could produce clipping? It's just so confusing at the beginning. Thank you!

[alexis]

Hello musicians. I think some of you have seen that I was having trouble getting a cable. But I bought it today and it's fine. The question here is, how can I set up the levels on my interface? I don't know what to do with all these nobs-swiches-etc. How can I ajust the volumes so the signal won't be nor too low nor too hot so it could produce clipping? It's just so confusing at the beginning. Thank you!

Hola Michelle!

I think it's great that you are wanting to do all this, it is so much fun! I liked your youtube channel too, the way you play and sing at the same time is not easy, and I think you are starting out just great!

Here is one website that might be of help to you as you are starting out: http://tweakheadz.com/the-noobs-and-beginners-guide-to-the-home-and-project-music-studio/ , There are many others, this is just one of many, it's important to find one that makes you feel comfortable, and doesn't start out too complicated!

But really, maybe the best place to start might be at your theater tech club in school, or the people who are in the music department who wire up the sound and maybe even record it. It's sometimes much easier to learn hands-on with someone in front of you than depend on a website, especially at the beginning. Also maybe, for example, the very people that recorded your youtubes of your singing Taylor Swift can be some of the people that help you!

And of course we'll try to help you here as much as we're able to. It can sometimes get pretty hard and complicated the further along you go in "making music" so the more people you play and sing for, and who you can get to know who can help you, the better ... and you may find that one day you may be able to return the favor and help them or someone else coming up behind you!

Good luck ... keep it up!

[The Elf]

See? Told you that was the correct cable!

As a quick start, set the volume knobs on your audio interface as low as they will go and set the volume on the keyboard as high as it will go. Gradually turn up the interface controls until you get a reasonable signal coming through. If the sound is distorted turn down the keyboard until it sounds clear.

Now you will do a balancing act between the two until you have a clear, undistorted sound at a healthy volume.

if your interface has overload lights, then make sure these do not light when you play loudly on the keyboard.

[Music in my mind 13]

Thank you for your replies! To alexis thank you for praising my youtube channel and the way I play and sing. I have checked that website before, but I think I haven't read articles about recording from keyboard to pc etc. If I have I don't remember so I have to do some reading there. Hahhaha. To the elf thank you so much for your tips! I'm gonna try to do what you suggest I think it will be very useful. I've learned that when you have to try with different volumes-settings you get anxious but it's the best way of doing it. Haha. Thank you all!

[alexis]

You're welcome! Here another link, aimed at keyboard players, scroll on down to "getting Started ... 101".

http://www.keyboardmag.com

[Music in my mind 13]

Thank you so much for the link!