If you want to record live sounds and connect your MIDI keyboard to an audio interface, you can use an audio interface. These versatile boxes have two MIDI connectors on one end, and a USB connection on the other. You’ll need to purchase two MIDI cables and a power adapter for your midi keyboard. Once you’ve purchased the right audio interface, you can get started recording.
Connecting a midi keyboard to an audio interface correctly includes some special benefits such as reducing the latency in the recording or performance and allowing you to keep your USB slots vacant or free for other things. Wondering how to connect a midi keyboard to an audio interface? Well, you can follow these simple steps:
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Connecting Your MIDI Keyboard to an Audio Interface
There are several ways in which your midi keyboard can be connected to the audio interface as well as different setups commonly used by studio producers and musicians, each of the ways are explained below.
Connecting Through a MIDI Cable
Connecting through the MIDI cable is the first and the best method you can choose, it is commonly used with old keyboards and synthesizers to send midi signals. It is best used with older equipment and is the easiest option. All you have to do is to connect your interface to your PC and ensure it is discovered, then set it your desired DAW’s MIDI input. Continue by connecting the MIDI output of your keyboard to the MIDI input of your audio interface and load up an instrument that is capable of using the MIDI signal.
Connecting through USB Cable
If your MIDI keyboard has a USB port, you can connect it with a USB cable to your audio interface using that port. The USB connection will also allow your midi keyboard to power itself, avoiding the need for additional cabling and connections. Be sure to purchase an interface with a USB port, which is much more common.
This way, you can easily connect your MIDI keyboard to your audio interface. It’s important to choose a suitable audio interface based on your budget, as there are many different options available. Make sure to connect your keyboard to your computer to make sure it is well recognized, a driver might be automatically installed to make it easier than load up an instrument in your DAW and play the instrument with this MIDI signal.
This method is also one of the simplest ways to send MIDI signals directly to your DAW but you might as well have to rely on the product having a good and quality driver and the ability to communicate with minimal latency.
Connecting Through a MIDI Hub
This method of connection is slightly different from the others. A MIDI hub is synonymous with a MIDI interface that does not necessarily have audio abilities and capabilities. It is basically focused on sending MIDI signals and allows the user to be able to connect all the MIDI devices into one central hub and at the same time use the signal. A MIDI hub usually has numerous inputs and will allow you to choose any MIDI signal of your choice to use for any given project. All you have to do is to connect it to your computer and make sure it is seen then set it to your DAW’s MIDI input. Connect the MIDI output of your keyboard to the MIDI input of the MIDI hub and it will directly act to different channels and take signals from multiple channels.
Conclusion
Before you start recording with your MIDI keyboard, you must connect the MIDI keyboard to the audio interface’s input and output ports. You’ll need to connect the audio interface’s output port to your MIDI keyboard’s input port. This is essential since midi data will continually flow between the keyboard and the computer. The MIDI keyboard’s input port will send and receive midi data.
