This wikiHow teaches you how to connect a Yamaha keyboard to a computer. The music keyboard is a reliable tool for recording music on a computer. After connecting the keyboard to your computer, you can use a digital audio workstation program to record songs using MIDI or audio directly from the keyboard.
Step
Step 1. Connect the USB or MIDI cable to your keyboard
Yamaha keyboards usually have several different USB ports, depending on the model. There are four types of audio-out ports that you might find on a keyboard.
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USB audio and MIDI:
USB audio and MIDI ports can transmit audio and MIDI data. You can connect your keyboard to that port using a USB A-to-B cable.
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USB MIDI only:
The USB MIDI port can only transmit MIDI data to the keyboard, no audio data. You can connect a keyboard to this port using a USB A-to-B cable.
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MIDI ports:
Some older model keyboards do not have a USB port. However, this keyboard has a MIDI output port. This port is circular with 5 pins. To connect it to a computer, you need an audio interface device with a MIDI input port.
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Line-out/Auxiliary ports:
. Some keyboards have a line-out or auxiliary port that can be connected with a -inch audio cable. You can also use the headphone port on your keyboard as a line-out port.
Step 2. Connect the other end of the cable to the computer or audio interface device
If you don't have a USB input on your computer, you can purchase an input adapter from the internet.
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USB:
If you have a USB A-to-B cable that connects directly to your keyboard, plug the other end of the cable directly into an empty USB port on your computer.
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MIDI:
If you are using a MIDI cable, connect the other end of the cable to the circular MIDI input port on the audio interface device. After that, connect the audio interface device to the computer using a USB A-to-B cable.
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Line out/Auxiliary:
If you are using a -inch audio cable to your computer, plug the other end of the cable into the line-in port on the audio interface device. After that, you can connect your device to your computer using a USB A-to-B cable.
If you are using a inch audio cable to your computer and do not have an audio interface device, connect the cable to the microphone port directly on the computer with a 3.5 mm adapter
Step 3. Turn on the keyboard
Once the keyboard is connected to the computer, turn on the instrument.
On some keyboards, you need to enter PC or MIDI mode in order to record MIDI data
Step 4. Download the MIDI driver for the keyboard you are using
If you want to record songs from the keyboard using MIDI data, download the latest MIDI driver. Use these steps to download the latest version of the Yamaha keyboard driver.
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Windows:
- Visit
- Scroll down and click the checkbox to agree to the license agreement.
- Click the purple button to download the ZIP file.
- Click the ZIP file in the “Downloads” folder or browser download bar to extract the files.
- Open the " um3141x64 " folder in the extracted folder.
- Double click the file " Setup ” and follow the instructions shown on the screen.
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Mac
- Visit
- Scroll down and click the checkbox to agree to the license agreement.
- Click the purple button to download the ZIP file.
- Click the ZIP file in the “Downloads” folder or browser download bar to extract the files.
- Open the folder " um132-2mx ” in the extracted folder.
- Double click the file " Yamaha USB-MIDI Driver V1.3.2.pkg ” and follow the instructions shown on the screen.
Step 5. Select keyboard or audio interface in computer sound settings
Use the following instructions to select a keyboard or audio interface on Windows and Mac computers.
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Windows:
- Click the "Start" menu.
- Click the gear icon or the “Settings” menu.
- Click " System ” in the “Window Settings” window.
- Click " Sound ” in the left sidebar.
- Select a keyboard or audio interface in the "Input" drop-down menu.
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Macs:
- Click the Apple icon in the top-left corner of the screen.
- Click " System Preferences ” in the drop-down menu.
- Click the icon " Sound ” in the “System Preferences” menu.
- Click the tab " Input ” at the top of the window.
- Click the keyboard or audio interface.
Step 6. Open the program
In order to record music with a Yamaha keyboard, you will need a digital audio workstation (DAW) program. Some digital audio interfaces come with their own DAW programs. If you don't already have the program, Reaper offers an unlimited free trial version. Audacity can also be an alternative recording program of choice.
Step 7. Add a new audio or MIDI track
The process of adding tracks differs from program to program. Usually, you need to click “ Track ” in the menu bar at the top of the window, then click “ New Audio Track " or " New MIDI Tracks ” (or a similar option).
- The audio recording process will take the sound produced by the keyboard as a sound wave file.
- The MIDI recording process will retrieve keyboard performance data (key presses and tone dynamics/volume settings), but use a computer or DAW program to apply sounds or sounds to data entry.
Step 8. Prepare tracks and record music from the keyboard
After adding a new audio or MIDI track, prepare the track and click the record button to start the recording process.
