External line out recording eq'ing advice

[yul]

Hello, when recording using the line outs, it seems my recordings are lacking bass. I tried to tweak EQ presets and custom user but can't get it right. 

 

The "bass+" and "loudness" EQ setting get me close but the manual user EQ starts to distort if I push it too hard.

Maybe I should look at negative EQ'ing instead of the highs as a workaround? 

 

I have searched around and it seems (as per Brad's post a few years back) that some of the Casio's internal circuits are mainly set to match the internal speakers. 

This is showing very clearly when I play back a recording using my line out. I am using mono out  (if that's relevant for phase cancellation..I am not sure)

 

Please let me know if there is a recommendation for this? 

 

Thanks

[Brad Saucier]

The system will automatically adjust the output for appropriate sound through the line outs whenever headphones are connected to the headphone jack or the speakers are disabled using the speaker settings in the function menu.

[IanB]

What are you using to record the line outs?

[yul]

Hello guys, thanks for your responses.

 

I have tried both lineout>mixer>soundcard as well as lineout>soundcard then to my monitors.

 

Also tried an external reverb which affects the sound in some cases as the CTX reverb may filter some low trails.

 

Following hours and recordings (including FFT analysis in my DAW), it seems this has to do with the synth tones of the CT-X.

 

In comparing with synth sounds from other keyboards, CTX sounds are probably made to sound balanced for most circumstances and there is less risk taking.

 

It could also be that my preference towards music is to more full, bassy with slight teasing highs (electronic music) where the CTX tends towards the mids and bright side leaving bass manageable. There are only a few tones that can actually reach the  deeper low end out of the box.

 

Brad I wish you could please help me out here I have seem many comments including yours and you know Casio well.

 

The master EQ has many options but might not allow to go beyond a certain range. Is external eq required here?

 

You mentioned in another thread that Casio's typically transpose well in live/PA situations.

Can you please elaborate? I only plan for recording and want to keep things as simple as possible.

 

P.S.: this seems to concern mainly the synth sounds as the acoustic sounds are spectacular.

 

 

Thanks

 

[Jokeyman123]

Why are you putting this through your soundcard? There may be limitations as far as "headroom" with your soundcard. what are you using-is it a high end soundcard, or just a built-in computer soundcard? I may be wrong, but I don't think internal computer soundcards are the best way to record with audiophile sound-max bass in particular-. Can do a "credible wav recording-but also depends on your hardware. When I monitor line-outs direct to my mixer, the bass can be phenominal-wall shaking live, but when I record using my computer-not so much. why I've kept my digital recording decks. There are limitations as to what a computer soundcard can do-especially with soemthing that requires max frequency response, and alot of headroom-a piano can easily "pin"  recording levels that other instruments would not touch-except for bass guitars, which usually need alot of compression to record without blowing out the recording and distorting. You might want to try a DSP that can apply some compression, either with the CTX if it has this, or if you have any external DSP effects-even your DAW may be able to do this depending on what you are using. After all my blah-blah post-I think you may be hearing the limitations of your soundcard, but as always i could be very wrong.

[yul]

Hey thanks yeah I have quality soundcard and have done this before. 

 

This seems to apply mainly to some of synth sounds I tried to achieve. Everything else is really great I am realizing.

It's like some sounds are coaxed to a certain palette, and it's hard to change that.

 

I think I just need to learn the sounds a little more. Every keyboard has its "sound".

 

The synth kick drums also probably need a bit of detuning and the external reverb did have a big impact.

 

I'd love to hear how others are doing their post-processing? You mentioned recording your in a digital recorder.

I can litteraly do anything on my computer and would want to keep any worthy CTX recordings for final cuts..

 

Thanks

 

 

[yul]

So my sound engineer friend just confirmed there is something going on with the bass tones frequencies. His term was "anemic" even though I had the bass + eq going.

 

I have however realized now, as pointed previously, that adding DSP would probably help for those deep tones I am looking for. I think this might just be the solution here as everything else is great.

[IanB]

Sound is subjective and what is "right" is what sounds good to you. You should certainly investigate using a good quality EQ on the output, whether a separate unit or in your DAW. It may be that Casio have avoided heavy bass frequencies in order to avoid overdriving the internal speakers.

[Jokeyman123]

And too much bass could obliterate any other track, both in audio and electronically-the Casios may only have so much headroom to allow for multiple tones to be driven. But the Privias have no problem pumping up bass,, I just wouldn"t drive the internal speakers too hard, there only so much air that can be driven through a small speaker. Privias sound fantastic through go8d phones or a big speaker sound system, not sure re the CTX don"t have that one. But my ctk was no slouch either, had real good frequency response. A little compressed sounding but still sounded reasonably full.

[yul]

Hey guys another update.

 

I am looking to have my sounds as close to "final production quality", it seems that negative eq'ing (user eq) of the mids and then slight boost at lows and highs get me close. The negative eq'ing of mids leaves headroom for the lows and top. 

 

I also increased mix levels for the bass patch and kick drum.

 

The CTX can get there it's not 100% but then some post processing will finish the job.

 

Leaving this here for other audiophile enthusiasts and hobbyist producers.