Playing piano on a computer can be an effective way of developing music theory and keyboard techniques. Along with learning classic piano songs, this practice session allows you to hone scales and chords.
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MIDI Keyboards
The MIDI keyboard is one of the cornerstones of music production. It connects your keyboarding abilities to a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW), enabling you to shape the sound of your music instantly. However, unlike its counterpart, conventional piano keys don’t produce their own sounds; rather they transmit digital signals which are then processed by software into sound waves by which software creates sounds from within itself.
Musical Instrument Digital Interface, more commonly known by its acronym MIDI, is an electronic protocol and system for connecting electronic devices together. MIDI keyboards often connect to external gear using standard wired 5-pin connections or more portable USB ports that transmit triggered data when each key is pressed; that data then gets passed along to compatible hardware/software instruments that actually produce sound when this trigger data arrives.
Many MIDI keyboards feature traditional piano-style keys, although models like Korg’s nanoKEY2 use rubber pads instead. Others, such as the Roli Seaboard, provide touch-sensitive keybeds that respond to pressure for expressive playing. No matter their design, all MIDI keyboards provide controls to customize sound and functionality of music played back.
MIDI controllers offer more than just traditional keys; they often include drum pads, sliders and encoders that can be programmed to control different functions within your DAW. Furthermore, these controllers support an expansive sound palette through plugins that add new sounds into the mix – further expanding creative potential and expanding sound palette.
Regular practice on your MIDI keyboard will enable you to confidently construct chords and melodies, but it is equally important to explore all of its features. Experiment with octave shift buttons, touch sensitive keybeds, mod wheels and expressive keybeds so as to add expressiveness into your music.
Once you’ve established your keyboarding abilities, it is also recommended to purchase a MIDI keyboard equipped with sustain pedal input for optimal piano playing experience. Once you’ve become proficient at keyboarding, explore all of your DAW sounds and virtual piano plugins for an engaging musical experience.
MIDI Controllers
MIDI controllers can be an invaluable asset to pianists looking to make music, from entering notes into Ableton Live production software like Ableton Live to creating melodies in Ableton Live itself. There are various sizes of MIDI controllers, from an 88 key keyboard down to compact 25 key options; as well as different shapes and styles – some no longer feature traditional piano keys like Korg nanoKEY2 or Roli Seaboard controllers which utilize pads instead of keys – that you may use when looking to explore music production for Ableton Live music production software production software.
MIDI stands for Musical Instrument Digital Interface and serves as a common protocol among all forms of music hardware. Although you could make music using just a computer and QWERTY keyboard, creating music using a MIDI controller makes the experience far simpler; not only do these controllers make use more tactilely but many also come equipped with features such as faders for controlling parameters or velocity sensitivity that greatly enhance it.
While your piano or regular keyboard may not appear to be capable, they can actually function as MIDI controllers if they contain a MIDI output port. Simply connect it to your computer and send commands that control software instruments you are playing – providing immense flexibility if playing virtual pianos that use various sounds for each note.
Other MIDI controllers designed specifically to work with certain music production software, like Ableton Push 2, are often purpose-built controllers which offer complete controls for whatever program you’re working in. This type of MIDI controller can be an invaluable asset to your workflow if you rely heavily on using one production program over another.
MIDI can also be utilized during live performances to control devices such as electronic drum pads, rackmount synths or sampled percussion instruments. Furthermore, its flexibility enables it to control lighting effects at theaters and music venues as well. Overall MIDI’s versatility demonstrates just what can be accomplished when combined with appropriate equipment.
MIDI Speakers
A MIDI piano features an onboard speaker system which plays the sound of its piano notes, while keyboards may be connected via USB to a computer and used as output speakers for MIDI messages. A computer sequencing program then records these MIDI messages – not sound waves but rather information encoded by key presses, knob turns, joystick wiggles or any physical action taken during use.
Sequencing software will then record MIDI information either as musical notation or as an editable list of events, for later editing and playback using virtual instruments or software pianos. MIDI files can then be played back via these virtual instruments/pianos to allow performers to correct mistakes, change tempos and add musical parts as desired, as well as use various piano sounds for their performances.
Start recording MIDI on your computer by choosing and activating a track armed for recording and enabling its record button. Next, play your MIDI controller or keyboard and make your desired musical passage using its keys or controller – any information recorded into this clip including note pitches and durations as well as performance details will be recorded into its respective MIDI clip on your computer.
Digital and hybrid pianos do not support externally generated sound through their built-in speakers; however, some models allow audio directly to a computer via USB connection. If this is how you intend to use your piano, be sure to check first before making your purchase decision.
Connect a set of studio monitor speakers to your computer as another solution. Music producers typically prefer these types of speakers because they provide accurate sound reproduction with flat frequency response – KRK, Yamaha HS series and JBL are some popular choices among many brands available on the market today.
One excellent option for keyboard/piano accompaniment is using an affordable accessory such as Accent’s USB-MIDI interface that links directly to your computer via XLR connectors and offers great value for solo pianists. With its full-sized 88-key hammer action keyboard featuring superior Steinway samples from AIR Music Technology as well as 50 piano accompaniment styles that help create the ideal atmosphere for performances, this device makes an excellent accompaniment option.
Computer Speakers
Digital pianos can often connect to computers to unlock features not available when used independently, such as Roland’s Piano Partner 2, which provides access to settings and functions normally hidden away inside their case and provides unprecedented power and versatility in terms of how the instrument is used.
Connecting a digital piano and computer can be done using various means, depending on your individual requirements. Many digital pianos come equipped with USB connections which enable sending MIDI data directly from and receiving audio data from your computer – this makes for convenient use when wanting to access software synths or sample libraries installed directly onto the piano itself.
Use standard mono 6.3mm jack cables (like those found on guitar leads) to connect your digital piano’s headphone outputs or line outputs to an external sound interface connected to your computer, with its audio IN (line in) providing feed-in for Pianoteq software and being played back through its speakers.
Other digital pianos such as the Yamaha P-145 are designed with dedicated MIDI ports and can be connected directly to your computer to act as an external soundcard/DAC. Once this driver has been installed on your system, recording audio from piano onto computer becomes very straightforward and vice versa.
Option 2 is to combine both of your piano’s audio and MIDI outputs onto one USB connection by using a special cable that splits them into two channels with their own 3.5mm jack plugs; these channels should then be connected via two standard pair of 6.3mm jack cables – one to the piano’s AUDIO IN port, while the second channel connected directly to your headphone or line outputs via two standard pair of 6.3mm jack cables similar to those mentioned previously – one end into your square USB-B socket marked ‘USB to Host’ while the other end can plug directly into an available port on your computer’s system.