Baffling recording problem with my DGX-650

[dr4sight]

I posted this a while back in the section that included the DGX-650.  There were 200+ views and not one reply.
I am hoping that readers in this section may have some thoughts on it.

This is a real shot in the dark.  My DGX-650 has slipped into an annoying habit that I can't explain or figure out at all.  I wonder whether anyone recognizes this issue and whether it's fixable by any means other than finding a repair person.

Some background.  Since early in the pandemic I've recorded usually two songs a day on my DGX-650 and while the learning curve was steep I mastered the steps involved in recording songs (the instruction manual was of little help.  Trial and error and tips from forum members got me there)

For I'd say the past month after I've rehearsed a song I want to record I go through all my normal steps to record and then start playing.  About 30 to 60 seconds into the song the panel reacts and stops the recording almost as if I'd pressed the button that I normally do  when I finish recording.  I then need to repeat all the setup steps and usually the second or third time I  do so I get a complete recording.  If I choose at that time to record a second song at that time it usually works without a hitch.

So my question is whether this behavior sounds at all familiar to anyone and -more importantly of course- is whether there is a fix so the first recording of each day isn't prematurely stopped.

Thanks for any feedback on this.

Larry
Saugerties, NY, USA

[Toril S]

Hello Larry! It seems that the USB stick that you are recording to is not keeping up with the speed of the data coming from the keyboard. So the recording stops. If your USB stick has many songs on it, that will make it slower. Remove old songs from the stick. If the problem is still there, try a fresh USB stick. Hope this helps😀

[dr4sight]

Hello Larry! It seems that the USB stick that you are recording to is not keeping up with the speed of the data coming from the keyboard. So the recording stops. If your USB stick has many songs on it, that will make it slower. Remove old songs from the stick. If the problem is still there, try a fresh USB stick. Hope this helps😀

I suspected that was a problem so I tried a different stick.  The first time I did that it worked fine but after that even that USB stick returned the same problem.  I just ordered a bunch of new USB jump drives and will give them a try when they arrive.
thanks.
Larry

[Rick D.]

Try formatting the USB sticks before using them, that may help.

Rick D.

[mikf]

Are you recording midi or audio?
Mike

[dr4sight]

Interesting kicker to the story.
I took the jump drive that  I usually record on and transferred 300 + styles off of it leaving it with just the User Files folder (with about 40 styles in that folder).
I recorded two songs with no unwanted stoppage but then when I went to  record a third song it did stop about a minute in.

I'd conclude that the problem is jump drive related but it still surprised me that just 2+ songs in the recording process stopped again.
thanks for all the good feedback,

Larry

[mikf]

You didn't answer whether they are midi or audio recordings. If they are audio then these can be big files and I frequently find they will not record to usb because there is insufficient free space.
If they are midi, why not record on the keyboard to user memory and then copy the file to usb. This will avoid any interruption in recording.
And as a matter of routine even if you ultimately want audio, and there is no vocal, most people would record midi first then convert the midi to audio. Much easier to edit.
Mike

[dr4sight]

I record the songs and they are written to the jump drive as wav files. I don't think I do anything with midi files at all.
Then I use Audacity software to add in effects and eliminate down time before the intro starts.  Then I save them to my cloud storage (pCloud) as mp3 files.

The usual jump drive I record to shows 3.32 GB free so I don't think the files I am using should be that much of an issue.

Larry

[mikf]

Like I said, wav files are very big, and this can cause problems.
Unless you have vocals or use a third party live instrument, there really is no reason to go straight to audio. Record midi first on the keyboard, then convert to audio on a usb. Quality stays the same, but you will not get these annoying interruptions while playing and recording. If there are issues it will then just be a simple issue to resolve and you will not have lost the recording, and editing midi is pretty simple if that is required due to small errors while playing. And you can still do your normal post recording adjustments on Audacity.
I would never do it any other way. In fact, even if You wish to record vocal do it along with the pre-recorded midi track. Saves a lot of potential errors that might require full re-recording.
Mike

[Toril S]

Agree with Mike. I also do it this way.

[dr4sight]

I don't think I understand how to do the recording as a midi.   I don't set anything up special for my normal recordings and they end up as wave files on the usb stick.

How does one record so that it comes out as a mid file?  Remember I am using a DGX-650 which may do things different than your PSRs or Genos.

Larry

[mikf]

There are two ways to select midi recording.
1. When you record look at the top of the screen and you will see Song/ /audio. Select song. In Yamaha land Song typically means midi file.
2. Take out your usb.  Then when you press record it will automatically only allow midi (song) recording because audio files cannot be recorded to the internal memory on your keyboard. This is done because the files are so big and would overload the memory.
To convert to an audio file on the keyboard, consult page 75 of your manual. Plug in the usb at this point. This will play the midi file on your keyboard while it records audio to the usb. DO NOT try to convert the midi to audio on a computer no matter what program you use because you need the sound processors on the keyboard to get quality voices. 
In case you don't understand what a midi is - in simple terms it is a set of digital instructions that comprehensively instruct you keyboard what to play, just as if you were playing it. There is no recorded sound on a midi, which is why you cannot record voice or external instruments.
BTW, in case you are not aware, you can convert your final wav audio file to MP3 or MP4 files. These are good quality but compressed and a fraction of the size of a wav file so they can be easily transferred even by email. However, you would need wav if you need to edit the file on software. But after doing that most of us would transfer to MP3.
You might hear some flak from purists that you lose quality in this compression, and while that might matter if you are operating at the highest studio level, the difference is pretty much undetectable to ordinary people using ordinary sound equipment. And let's face it, you are not starting with world class studio level sound production or performance anyway.
Mike
I just noticed that your recent post of Spanish Harlem is compressed to MP3, so you obviously are already aware of how to compress your wav file, so ignore the last 2 paragraphs.

[travlin-easy]

I ran into the same problem when I first got my S-950. Turned out to be a setting on the USB Recorder. I had to reset the Recordable Time to 80:00 minutes and set the recording volume level to 70. I don't remember exactly how I reset the recording time, though. Guess my mind has gone to Hell, along with a lot of other body parts.

Good luck,

Gary