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How to Make Music Using a Keyboard on the Computer

New MIDI controllers can be expensive. Whether you’ve never owned a MIDI controller or are temporarily without one, you can use your computer’s keyboard as a temporary stopgap or occasional music creation resource. Assigning notes and chords to your computer keyboard allows you to make music as you would with a more elaborate setup.

Things You'll Need

  • Audio creation software
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Instructions

    • 1

      Install MIDI audio creation software onto your computer. Consider Digidesign Pro Tools, Ableton Live, Adobe Audition, Apple Logic or Sony Acid Music Studio. Garage Band is a similar interface that comes installed on Apple computers.

    • 2

      Designate your computer’s keyboard as the audio creation software’s default MIDI controller if required. Visit the program’s “Preferences” and select your computer keyboard from the list of available MIDI devices. Download and install Virtual MIDI Controller if the audio creation program does not directly allow computer keyboards to serve as MIDI controllers. Virtual MIDI Controller serves as a conduit between your audio creation software and device, allowing you to assign keyboard keys and acting as a digital MIDI controller.

    • 3

      Assign notes to your computer keyboard’s keys. Open the “Preferences” tab in your audio creation software or Virtual MIDI Controller’s menu bar. Set the notes to your keys as desired if the default arrangement is not to your liking.

    • 4

      Push the assigned keyboard keys to play the notes and sounds as you would on a standard MIDI controller or musical keyboard.

Digital Music

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