How to connect a digital piano to your computer
Most digital pianos and keyboards from the past fifteen years can communicate with a computer via USB. Each time you hit or release a key, the piano sends a brief message known as MIDI. An application such as Keystair then interprets these messages to determine precisely what notes were played and when.
What you need
A USB cable that fits your piano. Mostly, it’s USB-B, the square plug found on printers, but some newer models use USB-C. If your piano has just two round five-pin MIDI sockets, a USB-MIDI adapter is necessary. You’ll also need a computer running Chrome or Edge, as both browsers can read MIDI directly. No extra drivers or software are needed for most pianos.
Connecting it
Plug the cable into both the piano and the computer, then turn the piano on. In Keystair, press Connect piano and allow MIDI devices if the browser asks. From then on, it recognizes your piano automatically when you return.
If nothing shows up
Turn the piano off and back on with the cable plugged in. Try using another USB port or a different cable, as some cables only provide power without data transfer. Close any other music applications that might be connected to the piano, and check that your computer recognizes it as a connected device.
No cable?
Keystair can use your computer’s microphone to listen instead. It works best with single notes in a quiet room. You can also play on the computer keys to practice before the cable arrives.