Some older digital pianos might not have a USB socket – that doesn’t mean you can’t connect to a computer.
Just like a digital camera or printer a digital piano needs a bit of software called a Driver – so you will have to install a driver for your digital piano – all of the major digital piano manufacturers are very good at providing these at no charge. Simply stating “USB” in the specifications doesn’t tell you the type of USB connectivity provided. If you plan to use these connections, you need to check the type of USB connections available on the instruments you’re considering. Type B is a “USB to Host,” connector and allows connection to computers. Type A is a “USB to Device,” connector and allows direct connection to a variety of external memory-storage devices such as a USB key.
There are however, two types of USB connector – Type A and Type B. All you need to send MIDI data from your digital piano to your computer and back again is a USB cable.
It is worth noting that some pianos give you the option to record your performance as SMF data or audio – useful if you want to transfer it to a PC and email or burn a CD – no need to have dedicated recording software on a PC that will read SMF data.Ĭonnecting your piano to a computer is very simple.
If you recorded your piece straight into a PC, you could even edit individual notes. You could perhaps change the sound if you didn’t like the instrument. This data is stored in a format known as SMF which means standard midi file and this data format allows you to do many things that you couldn’t do with a simple audio recording.įor example, if you recorded the right hand part of a piece, you could slow it down while practising the left hand. There is a big difference and some big benefits! Recording data means all of the actions you make when you play a piece - both key presses and control actions. When you record yourself playing on a digital piano, you are recording data and not actual sound. One of the main reasons you might wish to connect your piano to a computer is to record your performances either for self-evaluation for sharing via social media or for sending to family and friends. A digital piano can be easily connected to your Windows or Mac computer opening up a universe of music education, composition, and recording software to explore. While many digital pianos have built-in tools for learning and making music, you can expand your possibilities even further through your PC.