How do you record synths, keyboards and sound modules?

[Brent Hahn]

For stereo sources, my two options are... 1.) the DIs in my Avalon 2022 or 2.) a cheap little Rolls/Bellari tube DI, into either the Avalon, a Buzz MA2.2, or straight into the Digi 192 convertors.

The Avalon DI path is full-bandwidth and super clean -- good for tracks where most or all of the elements are electronic. The Rolls/Bellari is kind of the opposite -- no real bottom or air, and kind of gritty and grimy -- but in an organic, real-intruments sort of track, it helps synth sounds "sit" a lot better, and sampled instruments sound less fake.

[Phroggy]

Originally Posted by Brent Hahn

For stereo sources, my two options are... 1.) the DIs in my Avalon 2022 or 2.) a cheap little Rolls/Bellari tube DI, into either the Avalon, a Buzz MA2.2, or straight into the Digi 192 convertors.

The Avalon DI path is full-bandwidth and super clean -- good for tracks where most or all of the elements are electronic. The Rolls/Bellari is kind of the opposite -- no real bottom or air, and kind of gritty and grimy -- but in an organic, real-intruments sort of track, it helps synth sounds "sit" a lot better, and sampled instruments sound less fake.

How does the 2022 and MA2.2 compare when tracked this way? Do you prefer one over the other, or are they both equally good in their own respective ways?

[Brent Hahn]

Originally Posted by Phroggy

How does the 2022 and MA2.2 compare when tracked this way?

Dunno, because the MA2.2 doesn't have built-in DIs. Used with any of my standalone DIs (besides the Bellari, I also have a passive ho-made Jensen transformer DI and an active Buzz), the Avalon and Buzz preamps sound pretty much the same.

[fhames]

Direct out o synths into Great River Mp-2NV DI. Best sound I've ever recorded.

[gwailoh]

Originally Posted by Phroggy

I've been recording synths, keyboards and sound modules for a while now. The way I do it is I go directly from the output L-R of my keyboard/synth/module into the 002R's input 1-2 into PT.

How do you guys do it? Do you go from your source to an external high-end mic pre then into the interface? Do you go through a DI as well?

Is there any quality difference between the stock interface vs a high-end pre when recording keyboards/synths?

Thanks

If you've never tried it, you might (or might not) enjoy the sound of plugging your synth/keyboard/module output into a clean tube guitar amp and mic'ing that. Might (or might not) sound bigger, which you might (or might not) prefer. And you'll have the choice of including room ambience, or not, as you like.

[steelyfan]

I'll run my Triton through a clean guitar amp and one channel direct in. You can use the amp to put your sound in the mix nicer by moving your mic till your synth sound just drops in the mix where it belongs, no mixing later. The direct signal can then be balanced with the mic'd one, hard panned L @ R. The amp approach always make things sound better to me.

steelyfan

[d1rtynyc]

Originally Posted by Brent Hahn

a cheap little Rolls/Bellari tube DI,
The Rolls/Bellari is kind of the opposite -- no real bottom or air, and kind of gritty and grimy -- but in an organic, real-intruments sort of track, it helps synth sounds "sit" a lot better, and sampled instruments sound less fake.

I have read real cool stuff about that Bellari & would love to get one myself. Too bad they are discontinued.

[Brent Hahn]

Originally Posted by d1rtynyc

I have read real cool stuff about that Bellari & would love to get one myself. Too bad they are discontinued.

I got mine when my landlord evicted the tenant next door and let me pick through his trash. It looked so unslutty I probably had it for a year before I even tried it out. And even when I did, its virtues weren't immediately obvious.

[sctt_stone]

Hi. When I need to run stereo I use a Radial JDI Duplex it is a passive stereo di with Jenson transformers. It rocks.

Also I sometimes run mono sources through the DI on my API 7600.

[robmix]

I either go into a console (Daking) line inputs, then into the DAW via the direct outs. Or I go into the Great River MP2nv DI inputs, and then into the DAW. The pre's give you a chance to get the level up, match impedance if needed, and also play with the added color of various preamps.

[dan p]

Originally Posted by robmix

I either go into a console (Daking) line inputs, then into the DAW via the direct outs. Or I go into the Great River MP2nv DI inputs, and then into the DAW. The pre's give you a chance to get the level up, match impedance if needed, and also play with the added color of various preamps.

Great River here too!
Nice list of credits on your website Rob!


Dan P

[Popbott]

Originally Posted by Phroggy

I've been recording synths, keyboards and sound modules for a while now. The way I do it is I go directly from the output L-R of my keyboard/synth/module into the 002R's input 1-2 into PT.

How do you guys do it? Do you go from your source to an external high-end mic pre then into the interface? Do you go through a DI as well?

Is there any quality difference between the stock interface vs a high-end pre when recording keyboards/synths?

Thanks

I lived with the Digi 002 converters for a long time and grew to dislike the sound. I tried many different converters along the way including an Apogee Rosetta, Lavery Blue, UA2192, Lucid AD9624 until I accidentally stumbled on an Alesis M-20 Adat. $7K machine in it's day, has IMO, one of the cleanest punchiest converters out there. Used with Adat optical, it makes a huge, better sounding difference when recording audio to my Digi 002 without coloration. Plus it has 8 XLR outs that go to my mixer for summing to my mixer from the Digi 002. Got it for $300 on eBay. I do use hi end pre's when tracking to PT, but I would say the converter made the most difference.

[Stiff]

I often record both an amped signal (guitar amp for leads and bass amps for bass) and a DI'ed. I usually skip the whole MIDI bit and just record everything straight away as audio so I don't have a lot of options.

[space2012]

Originally Posted by Phroggy

How do you guys do it?

Is there any quality difference between the stock interface vs a high-end pre when recording keyboards/synths?

Thanks

the best wordclock possible + best digital cables possible + verry clean & stable AC power.

also the AD converter must have an analog circuit design i like.
48KHz 24Bits.

hear the geer shot outs:
http://www.gearslutz.com/board/gear-...s-audio-tests/
for stuff like this:
e-mu planet phat -->imp2-->john hardy m-1 vs. Original E-mu Phat Soundfont.sf2 "DRY"

[crufty]

great ideas in here. To add my experience:
synth->analog pre and/or analog eq->ad is better then straight synth to AD because of how analog pre's, even ic ones, tend to overdrive when compared to an AD.

An analog input-analog output driven hard can sound pleasant, while an AD driven hot can sound grating.

However, if you're not driving the AD not sure what kind of difference you'd hear. for me, cutoff / resonance adjustments can result in sudden volume spikes (as sound breaks free of the filter and then is evened out by the rest of the synth sound as the filter continues to open) that cause distortion on raw A/D alone. I'm not sure if that last sentence made any sense.

not saying its the right way or even best way, just personal observation for what its worth--maybe a data point to consider.

[Space Station]

I never record synths pads or lead DI. Always through an amp..I use a Roland JC-160 or a Peavey 212...sometimes using the stereo chorus..sounds so much better to me, much richer. For bass I mix the two usually.

[jude]

Buss 1-2 out of my console sraight into the interface. nice and simple thumbsup

[kbjazzman]

My synth go to Manley Tube DI Coz' I have only this DI or sometime I patch to Guitar amp.

[Just1mac]

What about spdif or optical (if available on synth or module) into the DAW?