Recording with a Keyboard

[Chris Harvey]

This is the second time I've had the problem of recording with a synth. Recording with pianos and other instruments are fine, but I was supposed to unison some keyboard chords. The problem is I have a tempered tuning (I know keyboards are supposed to as well) but these synths seem dead on A 440 and my little variances made it near to impossible for this beginner to keep every not dead on with out beats occurring (perhaps some phase canceling as well?). I tried tuning 440 but you know how lovely that sounds (this doesn't even count for the few cents of cabinet drop on occasion). This was worsened by the fact that the keyboard had a chorus thingy going, further oscillating things. I've done recordings with unison notes with guitar players no problem, playing WITH a piano player no problem but a few cents with synthesizers chords really seems to have made a mess (in the chord dept). Any advice? (other than more practice)

[Earnest Bovine]

What about tuning each string halfway from your current temperament toward equal temperament?

[Jason Hull]

I suspect the chorus effect is the real problem. A chorus effect not only doubles an instrument, but also de-tunes the doubled note. This can really make the intonation mushy and shift constantly. It sounds cool, but impossible to play "in tune" with.

[Chris Harvey]

The chorus was it. THANKS! I'll be wary of this next time.