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How to Record Lowrey A300 Performance to CD

Lowrey is a manufacturer of recreational musical instruments for home musicians. The A300 organ is part of Lowrey’s intermediate range of musical instruments. It has two 49-note keyboards and a 13-note pedal board. Although it looks and sounds like a traditional pedal organ, the A300 has sophisticated outboard connectivity, including “stereo out” and MIDI. Recording vintage organs is challenging because it calls for carefully considered microphone placement. The Lowrey A300 lets you record directly to a mixer, computer or audio interface.

Things You'll Need

  • 2 instrument cables
  • USB or Firewire cable
  • Audio interface or mixing console
  • Music production software
  • Music player software
  • Blank CD-R
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Instructions

    • 1

      Connect a 1/4-in. jack instrument cable to each of the two stereo outputs on the rear of the Lowrey A300 organ. Push the metal end of the cable jack into the circular output sockets.

    • 2

      Connect the instrument cables to the inputs on your mixing console or audio interface. Push the metal end of the cable jack into the circular input sockets.

    • 3

      Connect the audio interface or mixer to your computer. Typically this calls for either a USB or Firewire cable, depending on the make and model of your computer. The audio interface and mixer perform the same job, namely converting the audio signal from the organ into a digital signal for the computer.

    • 4

      Open your preferred music production program, i.e. Logic, Cubase or Pro Tools. Either double-click the program icon on the desktop or click “Start,” “Programs” and select your program. Or, if using a Mac, double-click the “Applications” folder and select the program.

    • 5

      Click “Open” and select “New Channel.” When prompted, select “Audio Channel." Do this twice to open two channels. Because you selected audio, the production software automatically routes the signal from the audio interface into the channels selected.

    • 6

      Test the levels. Play a note on the A300 and monitor the gain meter on your audio interface or mixing desk. If the meter goes red, it is peaking. This happens when the signal is too strong. Turn the gain dial down and test again.

    • 7

      Click on “Record.” Play the organ as you would normally. While you play, the audio interface routes the signal to the computer, which records the sounds. Click "Stop" when finished.

    • 8

      Click “File” and select “Save As.” Type the name of the song into the dialog box and select “Desktop” as the file location. Click “Export As” and select “MP3.” This compresses the file so it is small enough for your music player software.

    • 9

      Open the MP3 in your preferred music player software, i.e. iTunes or Windows Media Player. Click “File” and select “Import.” Select the MP3 file from your desktop.

    • 10

      Put a blank CD-R into the CD tray. Once the song is loaded into the music player, select “Burn to Disc.”

Recording Music

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