How would you connect keyboard to preamp to powerbook?

[tom888]

Hi guys,
Here's what I own:
1. Yamaha S80 Keyboard
2. M Audio Mobile Pre USB
3. Powerbook 12" 1.5ghz PowerPC G4 with 768 MB DDR SDRam
4. Microphone with XLR plug

Here's what I want to do:
Record on garageband--I want to record piano sounds from the keyboard, and then add in acoustic guitar via microphone, and then maybe add vocals later.

What's the best way to go about this? The keyboard doesn't sound good when I've got it routed through the mobilepre and into the laptop. Please let me know how you'd set this up.

Thanks.

 

[zimv20]

The keyboard doesn't sound good when I've got it routed through the mobilepre and into the laptop.

doesn't sound good how?

make sure the synth is coming in at line level, not mic or inst. if it is line, and it still sounds bad, it may be a reference level issue. i.e. if the synth has a +4/-10 switch on it, try the other setting.