The next step
01 Plug into the keyboard
Grab your cable and then hunt down the input on your keyboard – you’ll
probably find that it’s at the back or on the side. Depending on what cable your
keyboard supports, you’re either looking for a single USB B-type port (shown
above) or two MIDI ones.02 Plug into the computer
Once the cable is plugged into your keyboard, connect the other end into the
computer. You will need to find a spare USB port. Your computer may have
several. If you have a MIDI connection, you will have to connect both MIDI
cables into the USB adapter first.I
f you have a keyboard or digital piano –
basically any non-acoustic piano – you may
be able to hook your device up to a desktop
computer to record, edit and generally just
mess around. If your only option is an acoustic
piano, then you will still be able to record on your
computer, but you won’t have the same degree of
control over sound.
To hook your keyboard up to a computer you
either need a USB cable (one may have been
supplied when you bought your keyboard) or a USB
cable, two MIDI cables and a MIDI-to-USB adapter.
To find out which you need, check the back of your
keyboard or digital piano. If USB or MIDI inputs are
available they should be clearly labelled on your
device. If you have an older model, you’re probably
going to need the MIDI cables.
The good news is that none of these accessories
are particularly expensive – you can get USB and
MIDI cables for less than £5 and an adapter foraround £10. When you’re ready, plug either the MIDI
or USB cable into your keyboard, and the other end
into your computer.
To start playing piano through your computer,
you will need to use a digital audio workstation
(DAW). If you’re using a Mac, you’ll be pleased to
know that one comes free with it! GarageBand
is part of Apple’s iLife suite and is a surprisingly
sophisticated piece of software. Turn to page 106
for a more in-depth explanation and a tutorial on
its features. If you find GarageBand isn’t high-end
enough for you or you outgrow it, you could try
Logic Pro, which is also exclusive to Macs. It isn’tcheap, however. A digital copy from the Mac App
Store will set you back £139.99/$199.99.
You have more options if you own a PC, but none
that are built in to the operating system. Check the
internet to find the best DAWs around – you may
even find some fantastic options for free, but many
paid-for alternatives will still offer a free trial.
There are many advantages of playing your piano
through a computer. Although you are unlikely to
beat the sound of an acoustic piano, you can use
different samples to vary your sound. Also, you may
be able to export your compositions as sheet music,
saving a lot of time and effort.Play through a
computer
Hook up to a PC or Mac to access millions of new sounds
Connect to a computer Here’s how to hook up
“There are many advantages to playing your
piano through a computer; you can use samples
and also export compositions as sheet music”