Most basic way to record songs ideas so I don't forget them?

[WebDev22]

Besides sticking my iPhone in front of my keyboard amp to capture song ideas, what's a good way to set up the ability to record directly from my keyboards and into my PC or iPhone? I have an Alesis QS8.1, Yamaha MOXF8 and Korg PS60 all plugged into a Behringer Mixer, but I'd be happy just being to record from just one keyboard. Thanks.

 

[happyrat1]

Aside from using a MIDI USB hookup to record the actual MIDI notes with software you could use one of these to record easily on the fly.

http://www.amazon.com/TASCAM-DR-05-Portable-Digital-Recorder/dp/B004OU2IQG

or one of these if you are looking for a more professional mixdown.

http://www.amazon.com/DP-008EX-Portastudio-Portable-Multi-Track-Recorder/dp/B00B9060X6

Otherwise it's probably more convenient to simply record into your phone than walk around with yet another electronic device as your digital notekeeper.

And if you are looking for a professional sounding recording you should invest in the appropriate cables and adapters to plug your recorder or phone directly into the Behringer Mixer's monitor line outputs.

Gary

 

[WebDev22]

Great suggestions. Thanks.

 

[SeaGtGruff]

I don't always have any of my keyboards handy whenever I get a melody running through my head, so what I like to do is use my computer (desktop, laptop, or tablet) to enter the notes into a music notation software program. My favorite program for ease of use is NCH Crescendo, which is free. And if I need to plonk on a few keys to figure out which notes I'm hearing in my head, I use the free VMPK (Virtual MIDI Piano Keyboard) program for that. The nice thing about this is that you can do it on a tablet PC while lying in bed (e.g., if you wake up in the middle of the night with a melody in your head), and you end up with actual sheet music. You don't necessarily need to enter in the entire song, just create a "lead sheet" containing the basic melody phrases-- i.e., enough so that when you do get to your keyboard(s) later you've got something to remind you what that catchy melody was that you couldn't get out of your head.

 

[Eddie]

I don't always have any of my keyboards handy whenever I get a melody running through my head, so what I like to do is use my computer (desktop, laptop, or tablet) to enter the notes into a music notation software program. My favorite program for ease of use is NCH Crescendo, which is free. And if I need to plonk on a few keys to figure out which notes I'm hearing in my head, I use the free VMPK (Virtual MIDI Piano Keyboard) program for that. The nice thing about this is that you can do it on a tablet PC while lying in bed (e.g., if you wake up in the middle of the night with a melody in your head), and you end up with actual sheet music. You don't necessarily need to enter in the entire song, just create a "lead sheet" containing the basic melody phrases-- i.e., enough so that when you do get to your keyboard(s) later you've got something to remind you what that catchy melody was that you couldn't get out of your head.

Nice one, Michael,

Sounds good, but let me tell ya, that wouldn't work for me. Soon as I plonk myself in front of a computer screen, my creative mojo logs off. :-(

I use one of these little old gems, long-since a discontinued model but still does for me: Olympus DS-330 digital dictation recorder.

Snapped up two of 'em for fifteen UK pounds some time back on a resale site: Still see a few of 'em up for sale, even now after twelve years or so.

Forget high-quality audio, (it's a dictaphone, see: cross between a bad telephone line and a wind-up gramophone. There's no memory card, just 16MB flash memory, and forget about a Windows 7 link-up. (Why whip yourself)? I just use it as a standalone scratch pad to keep any quick ideas logged.

But here's the thing about this little recorder, and to me, it was like finding buried treasure: It includes in its editing functions: overwrite, append and INSERT, can you believe!

If you're a songwriter, lyricist, poet, you'll love those functions. Of course, both Yamaha and Olympus have their current, equivalent models: bigger, fancier and priced to make you gulp.

Doctors, lawyers and other posh punters praised the DS-330 highly back in 2003:

http://www.amazon.com/Olympus-DS330-Digital-Voice-Recorder/product-reviews/B000068QIT

If you're wondering about the green duct tape, it's my finger hold modification. Makes it a true one-handed operation, whilst walking, lying in a hammock ...

cheers to all

 

[Becky]

If you're wondering about the green duct tape, it's my finger hold modification. Makes it a true one-handed operation, whilst walking, lying in a hammock ...

Nice, I like it!