How to Connect a Yamaha Keyboard to a Computer

Last Updated: November 5, 2022

This wikiHow teaches you how to connect your Yamaha keyboard to a computer. A musical keyboard is a great tool for recording music on a computer. Once you connect your keyboard with your computer, you can use a digital audio workstation program to record using MIDI or direct audio from your keyboard.

Steps

1
Connect a USB or MIDI cable to your keyboard. Your Yamaha keyboard may have different USB ports depending on the model. There are four types of audio-out ports you are likely to find on your keyboard. ^{[1]
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- USB audio and MIDI: A USB audio and MIDI port is capable of sending both audio and MIDI data. You can connect to these ports using a USB A-to-B cable
- USB MIDI Only: A USB MIDI only port can send MIDI data to your keyboard, but not audio data. You can connect to these ports using a USB A-to-B cable.
- MIDI Port: Some older keyboard do not have a USB port. Instead, they have a MIDI out port. MIDI ports are circular shaped with 5 pins. To connect these cables to your computer, you will need an audio interface with a MIDI in port.
- Line-out/Auxilary:. Some keyboards have a line-out or auxiliary port that you can connect to using a 1/4" audio cable. You can also use the headphone port on your keyboard as a line-out port.
2
Connect the other end of the cable to your computer or audio interface. If you don't have a USB input on your computer, you can buy an adapter online.
- USB: If you have a USB A-to-B cable connected directly to your keyboard, you can connect the other end of the cable directly to a free port on your computer.
- MIDI: If you are using a MIDI cable, connect the other end of the cable to the round MIDI In port on your audio interface. Then, connect the audio interface to your computer using a USB A-to-B cable.
- Line out/Auxilary: If you are using 1/4" audio cable to connect to your computer, you will need to connect the other end of the cable to the Line In port on an audio interface. You can then connect the audio interface to your computer using a USB A-to-B cable.
  - If you are using a 1/4" audio cable to connect to your computer and you do not have an audio interface, you can connect directly to the microphone port on your computer using a 3.5mm adapter.
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3
Turn the keyboard on. Once your keyboard is connected to your computer, power it on.
- Some keyboards may require you to put them in PC or MIDI mode to record MIDI data.
4
Download the MIDI drivers for your keyboard. If you want to record your keyboard using MIDI data, you should download the latest MIDI drivers. Use the following steps to download the latest drivers for your Yamaha keyboard.
- Windows:
  - Go to https://usa.yamaha.com/support/updates/umd_win64_kbd.html
  - 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 your Downloads folder or in your web browser to extract the files.
  - Open the "um3141x64" folder in the extracted folder.
  - Double click the Setup file and follow the onscreen instructions.
- Mac
  - Go to https://usa.yamaha.com/support/updates/usb_midi_driver_for_mac.html
  - 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 your Downloads folder or in your web browser to extract the files.
  - Open the um132-2mx in the extracted folder.
  - Double-click the Yamaha USB-MIDI Driver V1.3.2.pkg file and follow the on-screen instructions.
5
Select your keyboard or audio interface in your sound settings. Use the following instructions to select your keyboard or audio interface in Windows and Mac.
- Windows:
  - Click the Windows Start menu.
  - Click the Gear icon/Settings menu.
  - Click System in Window Settings.
  - Click Sound in sidebar to the left.
  - Select your keyboard or audio interface in the "Input" drop-down menu.
- Mac:
  - Click the Apple icon in the upper-left corner.
  - Click System Preferences in the drop-down menu.
  - Click the Sound icon in the System Preferences menu.
  - Click the Input tab at the top.
  - Click your keyboard or audio interface.
6
Open your digital audio workstation. In order to record with a Yamaha keyboard, you need digital audio workstation (DAW) software. Many digital interfaces come with their own DAW. If you do not have a DAW, Reaper offers an unlimited free trial. Audacity is another free recording program.
7
Add a new audio or MIDI track. The way this is done is different from one DAW to another. Typically, you click Track in the menu bar at the top, and then click New Audio Track or New MIDI Track or something similar.
- Audio recording records the exact sound that comes out of your keyboard as a wave file.
- MIDI records the play data (the keys your press, and the volume) but uses your computer or DAW to apply the sound or tone.^{[2]
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8
Arm the track and record your keyboard. After you add a new audio or MIDI track, arm the track and click the record button to start recording.

Community Q&A

Question

My keyboard doesn't have a USB port. What should I do?

Community Answer

Use the MIDI port instead if there is one. If not, your keyboard might not be able to connect to the computer.
Question

Can I use this keyboard in logic like a MIDI keyboard?

Community Answer

Most likely, yes. Almost any keyboard that you can connect to your computer will have MIDI capabilities.
Question

I have just downloaded a music downloader but my computer does not find my Yamaha keyboard PSR-350. I have it connected via midi usb. What should I do?

Raga Raga

Community Answer

Have you tried plugging the -IN- MIDI cable in the -OUT- port on your keyboard, and the -OUT- MIDI cable in the -IN- port? They will not work if put the other way around.