Using sounds from a hardware synth?

[SticktheFigure]

Hello, all.
Today (being Christmas and all) my father gifted me one of his older synth keyboards. It is a Yamaha SY22. I was wondering if there is any way to use it so that the onboard sounds could be used in FLStudio.
(I have no problem using it as a generic midi controller. Do not misunderstand that.)

[itroitnyah]

Hey 4th? This sounds like your area right here, lol

[the4thImpulse]

I do this all the time, I own two hardware synths and use them in every production. There are two common ways to use a hardware synth with a DAW:

1. Record yourself playing the synth by plugging the synths audio outputs to a soundcard connected to your computer (DAW).
2. Letting the computer (more specifically DAW (FL in your case)) play the synth and record its audio output into the computer (DAW). You need to send midi information to the synth from the DAW.

Both require a soundcard to record the synth into FL, the latter requires a soundcard with midi I/Os to send/receive midi cc's.

If you want me to be more specific I can.

[SticktheFigure]

If you want me to be more specific I can.

To avoid any possible goofs, I'd love it you would be more specific.
Thank you very much.

[the4thImpulse]

I don't remember how to do it in FL, I moved to ableton years ago, so I can only give you a generalized idea of what you need. But first can you be more specific as to what you hope to do with the keyboard? You want to record the sounds into FL I know but do you want FL to 'play' the synth for you or will you play it yourself? What other gear do you have (specifically soundcards or recording devices)?

[Lavender_Harmony]

Have people really abandoned the hardware so much that it's not made obvious in-DAW how to use something external? Oh dear xD 4th seems to have this covered, but from what I've heard of FLs subpar audio management I'm not confident.

[Rainbow_Rage]

in FL, there should be a "MIDI out" instrument you can put on your midi channel. I haven used actual hardware yet so I dont know the specifics of how it works, but that would be how you do it. Also make sure to go to your midi settings to connect the synth to FL

Recording audio is easy, I don't know your set up, but you will need to connect the synth's output to you soundcard's input. Then in the FL mixer, on the channel you want to record on, select the appropriate input (at the top of the FX insert slots) and hit "arm recording", the button on the bottom of the mixer channel, then you should be good to go when you hit record in FL.

[SticktheFigure]

You want to record the sounds into FL I know but do you want FL to 'play' the synth for you or will you play it yourself?

I'm not exactly sure I understand your question. If you are asking if plan more or less live recording vs. recreating the synth on FLStudio, I plan on recreating it. I'm sorry if that is nowhere near what you were asking.

What other gear do you have (specifically soundcards or recording devices)?

My sound card (which came with my generously gifted laptop) is a Conexant HD Audio card. As for (external) recording devices I have a Zoom H4n mic that I use for filming.


Sorry that I took so long to respond. Holidays are when I have the least time for my computer. I also apologize if I misunderstood anything.

[the4thImpulse]

You want to record the sounds into FL I know but do you want FL to 'play' the synth for you or will you play it yourself?

I'm not exactly sure I understand your question. If you are asking if plan more or less live recording vs. recreating the synth on FLStudio, I plan on recreating it. I'm sorry if that is nowhere near what you were asking.

What other gear do you have (specifically soundcards or recording devices)?

My sound card (which came with my generously gifted laptop) is a Conexant HD Audio card. As for (external) recording devices I have a Zoom H4n mic that I use for filming.

Recreacting the synth if FL Studio tells me you want to make the same sounds of your synth in FL, which I understand as 'you want a software synth playing the same patches as your hardware'. That's somewhat possible but not easily done by any means.

What I think you mean is for your hardware synth's sounds to be recorded into FL. Now this means FL will play the synth by sending midi data to it and then the synth's audio will run back into FL to be recorded. You need a proper studio soundcard (one that sits outside your computer and connects through firewire or usb) to do this, your computers soundcard in no way could handle this kinda thing.

[SticktheFigure]

You want to record the sounds into FL I know but do you want FL to 'play' the synth for you or will you play it yourself?

I'm not exactly sure I understand your question. If you are asking if plan more or less live recording vs. recreating the synth on FLStudio, I plan on recreating it. I'm sorry if that is nowhere near what you were asking.

What other gear do you have (specifically soundcards or recording devices)?

My sound card (which came with my generously gifted laptop) is a Conexant HD Audio card. As for (external) recording devices I have a Zoom H4n mic that I use for filming.

Recreacting the synth if FL Studio tells me you want to make the same sounds of your synth in FL, which I understand as 'you want a software synth playing the same patches as your hardware'. That's somewhat possible but not easily done by any means.

What I think you mean is for your hardware synth's sounds to be recorded into FL. Now this means FL will play the synth by sending midi data to it and then the synth's audio will run back into FL to be recorded. You need a proper studio soundcard (one that sits outside your computer and connects through firewire or usb) to do this, your computers soundcard in no way could handle this kinda thing.

All righty. I suppose I should save for a proper soundcard anyway. I may revive this someday, assuming I get ahold of one and still have a question on this topic.
Thanks.

[JayB]

What might be important here: If your DAW supports real-time audio export you don't need to record your synth's output beforehand. AFAIK in FL it's necessary to do so.