How To Use Computer Keyboard As Midi Controller

Your complete quick guide to connecting your keyboard to: PC or Mac; Laptop or Desktop; Tablet or Smartphone.

If yous are just starting out with your dwelling recording studio set-up, the outset matter you may wish to practice is notice out how to connect a MIDI keyboard or digital piano up to your computer, tablet or phone. This will enable you to apply any interactive MIDI software and apps: quickly record virtual musical instrument tracks; write your ain songs and music; learn to play and more than.

Why Connect Your Keyboard?
MIDI Connection – Stride By Pace Video Tutorial
Do You Have Traditional MIDI Ports?
Connect Keyboard/Piano with MIDI Ports to whatever Mac or PC – Option ane: USB-MIDI interface
Option ii: Audio Interface + MIDI Leads
Does Your Keyboard Already Have a USB Port?
Bluetooth MIDI | A Brilliant Multi-Platform Solution
No MIDI Keyboard Nevertheless?
Want To Record MIDI and Audio?
Your MIDI FAQs
Still Dislocated? Or Want To Record Audio Tracks From Your Keyboard?
Related Links

Why Connect Your Keyboard?

The MIDI Keyboard or Digital Piano is often the heart of a small-scale home recording studio, and the easiest and fastest way to enter bass lines, edit drum tracks, and of course record keyboard tracks. The other benefit of making a MIDI connection is if you want to learn to play keyboard or piano. Once you accept a MIDI connection you tin benefit from interactive piano lesson software and online pianoforte courses. It is as well a nifty way to benefit from interactive music theory software and apps.

MIDI Connection – Step By Step Video Tutorial

In that location are THREE primary ways that you will be able to connect your digital piano or keyboard upwardly. Information technology will depend on your keyboard. You can connect your keyboard if it has any of: traditional MIDI ports; a USB (sometimes labelled as USB host); or maybe even bluetooth. Hither is a quick video which covers all the aspects of how to connect your MIDI keyboard to your iPad, Mac or PC, whether it has MIDI ports, USB or Bluetooth. Scroll down below if you want more detail, and links to the products mentioned.

MIDI Connectedness – Video Stride-past-Step Tutorial

Do You Have Traditional MIDI Ports?

Check the outputs on your keyboard. Does it have MIDI ports? MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) is the protocol for communication betwixt your keyboard and your computer. When you press a key the action is registered by the software yous are using through the MIDI link.

Well-nigh traditional keyboards and Digital Pianos have MIDI in and out every bit standard. Look for ports like the 1 in the image below. Information technology is possible your keyboard is merely a controller, and may merely take MIDI out. That's OK. The principal of MIDI connection is still the same.

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Connect Keyboard/Piano with MIDI Ports to any Mac or PC – Option i: USB-MIDI interface

Typical USB-MIDI Keyboard Set-Up — Typical USB-MIDI Keyboard Prepare-Up – Perfect for Mac or PC, Laptop or Desktop, you only need an available USB port (or a dock with USB if you take a newer Mac)

So if you accept a keyboard with MIDI ports, and then the simplest and cheapest solution is a USB-MIDI interface. The post-obit are all highly recommended USB-MIDI interfaces which volition exercise the job easily and price-effectively.

Bestseller No. i

Roland UM-ONE-MK2 One in Two Out Midi Cable

Roland UM-ONE-MK2 One in 2 Out Midi Cable

One-in/i-out MIDI interface with high-performance FPT processing
Compatible with Mac and Windows operating systems, and now with iOS on the iPad via the Apple tree iPad Camera Connection Kit
Information indicators for both MIDI input and output

Bestseller No. 3

FORE MIDI to USB Interface MIDI Cable Adapter with Input&Output Connecting with Keyboard/Synthesizer...

FORE 1 MIDI in / 1 MIDI out MIDI interface, 16 MIDI input & output channels. Connecting keyboard, MIDI keyboard, synthesizer, electrical pulsate and whatever device with...
Plug & Play, with a Congenital-in driver and Intelligent LED Indicator. No actress difficult driver installation. Like shooting fish in a barrel gear up, truly plug and play. MIDI converter...
No filibuster MIDI Input and Output. Loftier-performance FTP processing chip, stable and fast speed MIDI information transmission. FL studio12, FL studio20, DirectMusic,...

Bestseller No. 4

MOTU MIDI Express 128

MIDI connectivity - 8 independent MIDI inputs and outputs (128 MIDI channels)
Expansion - add additional MIDI ports by plugging in another MOTU MIDI interface
Works with your favorite software (includes drivers for Mac OS X and Windows)

Bestseller No. 5

iConnectivity Interface with 8 in x 12 Out 5-pin DIN-MIDI Ports (mioXL)

iConnectivity Interface with eight in x 12 Out v-pin DIN-MIDI Ports (mioXL)

eight in x 12 out 5-pin DIN-MIDI ports
10x USB-MIDI host ports back up multiple USB-MIDI Form COMPLIANT MIDI peripherals
Ethernet RTP-MIDI Network port - 22 virtual network ports can easily be assigned to onboard DIN and USB ports likewise equally whatever other connected computing devices....

Last updated on 2022-05-thirteen / Affiliate links / Images via Amazon Product Ad API

We suggest that y'all always stick with a well-known brand which is why we recommend whatsoever of the above. They all have good manufacturer support, upwardly-to-date drivers and adept guarantees in the event of whatsoever issues. If you want fifty-fifty more choice, so you can read our guide to the best USB MIDI interfaces.

Choice 2: Audio Interface + MIDI Leads

Rather than merely sticking with solving the MIDI connexion, if you desire to brand high quality sound recordings also, and then you could buy an Audio Interface with MIDI i/o and a pair of MIDI leads. Hither are two really reasonably priced, and high quality options:

The iTwo AudioBox Interface is a bright choice for MIDI Musicians. Not only does it have two line inputs on the front so you can record the sound of your keyboard – or connect a couple of microphones or guitars – it as well has MIDI in and out on the back. Information technology comes with recording software, an app which tin can exist used on iPad, and is multi-platform (PC/Mac/iPad) out of the box.

Does Your Keyboard Already Take a USB Port?

If you take digital pianoforte or keyboard have a USB output? It is sometimes labelled USB-Host or similar. If so, then you lot should be able to connect very easily to your Mac or PC with a standard USB Printer cable. Simply refer to the transmission for your detail keyboard to find out how to set it up. Piece of cake.
Got an iPad? Then you should exist able to connect with a standard USB cable and a lightning to USB adapter (every bit mentioned above).
OR, to connect to iPad you lot could buy the Voker Midi Cablevision to Lightning Connector. This is an interface especially designed to connect from the USB output of a digital piano to ipad, via lightning.

Bluetooth MIDI | A Brilliant Multi-Platform Solution

Some manufacturers are now including Bluetooth audio/MIDI support for connecting your keyboard with your smartphone or tablet. For case, the Roland Get:Piano and Roland Get:Keys both have bluetooth – use them with any compatible apps on your iPad or smartphone.

No MIDI Keyboard Still?

Although you can get other kinds of MIDI controller, the keyboard is the well-nigh pop, widely available, and reasonably priced. If you have not even so got any kind of keyboard, then wait commencement at Getting started – choosing the correct keyboard. It volition help you decide the best MIDI keyboard for you. You will find almost all modernistic keyboards and pianos characteristic USB MIDI connections.

Want To Record MIDI and Audio?

If you not only want to utilize your keyboard or digital piano as a MIDI controller, but likewise want to tape the sound of it, then do look read our mail on how to record your keyboard. Or refer to our consummate footstep-by-step guide on how to record audio and MIDI tracks simultaneously.

There are lots of recommendations in there for kit that will let yous do BOTH. And put your keyboard right at the centre of your home recording studio. Or … see the Focusrite 2i4 and the Audiobox iTwo USB Audio/MIDI interfaces mentioned higher up.

Your MIDI FAQs

Why exercise MIDI IN jacks connect to MIDI OUT jacks? Surely it makes more sense to connect a MIDI IN jack to a MIDI IN jack. After all, they're both labeled IN. Same goes for MIDI OUT to MIDI OUT"

The accepted way actually makes a lot of sense. Think about it. Y'all want MIDI data to go out of your controller and in to your sound module. Later all, you wouldn't connect the sound out jack of your sound module to the outputs of your mixer, would y'all? No, yous connect the audio output to an audio (mixer) input. And and so y'all connect the mixer outputs to the inputs of your amplifier. And then you connect the amp's speaker outputs to the speaker inputs. Aforementioned thing with MIDI. Remember of MIDI information as "flowing" in the aforementioned fashion that audio signals "flow" through your sound system.

However Confused? Or Desire To Record Sound Tracks From Your Keyboard?

This is but a quick guide if you lot just want to claw upwards your keyboard to start using MIDI software. If you want a more than in-depth set of tutorials, or you want to record the sound of your keyboard and then you can either refer to our quick guide on how to record your pianoforte, or run across our full length free video course which explains the difference between MIDI and Sound in detail and shows you step-by-footstep exactly what you need to either record your keyboard or use it every bit a MIDI controller.