A MIDI setup with a laptop is great because it’s compact, portable and easily connected up. With loads of gear being designed with portability in mind, it’s now much easier for musicians to take their setup on the road for live gigs, rehearsing or recording.
The Simplest MIDI Setup
Firstly, while I refer to MIDI we automatically assume I’m talking about a MIDI cable connection. Well, we can also transmit MIDI with a USB cable. Actually, I’m so glad this was invented – how many spare MIDI cables do you have lying around your house as compared to USB cables! Err, probably not so many! USB cables are almost given away with every computer product you buy for free. So, excellent – we can use a USB cable BUT we have to have a keyboard with USB – Yes, that’s the catch!
USB Keyboards
Most USB-type keyboards are controller keyboards or ‘dummy’ keyboards. Basically, keyboards without sounds but have the ability to trasmit MIDI information through playing the keys, using the pitch bend, modulation wheel and turning a few knobs. Although, I have seen modern keyboards with a USB port AND an armoury of sounds built-in. So, keyboards and computer technology have finally embraced.
Keyboard Controller Connected to Laptop
Here’s a simple diagram of a controller keyboard connected to a Macbook Pro – It could easily have been a normal Windows-based laptop as well.
- If any drivers are included with the USB keyboard, install them first before connecting the keyboard.
- Connect the USB keyboard to the computer before opening any music software programs.
- Usually within most music software programs you can select the drivers that were installed for the device.
- Using the manufacturers drivers helps cut down latency. If there is a delay between you playing the keyboard and hearing the sound you need to tweak some settings. See the latency link.
- Some keyboards which have USB are powered by the laptop – Less cables!
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