Digital pianos and mobile devices are a combination that has become increasingly important in recent years. Whether it’s an iPad or other device, the USB MIDI/Audio function provides the simplest and most reliable connection between digital pianos and external devices.
If you use audio interfaces to connect to your computer, you are probably familiar with the digital transmission of audio and MIDI data over USB. These interfaces provide a connection to the outside world, allowing you to work with microphones, electric guitars, and MIDI instruments. The USB MIDI/Audio connection on digital pianos works the same way, but its purpose is different.
The USB MIDI/Audio function on a digital piano allows for the full integration of computers or mobile devices for music production via a single USB cable. This means: USB MIDI allows you to use the piano to control an application on a mobile device (e.g., Korg Module Pro), which sends its sound back to the digital piano via USB Audio.
However, unlike digital pianos with only USB MIDI, digital pianos with USB MIDI/Audio require an OTG adapter and additional accessories, such as audio cables or mixing consoles. The OTG adapter is necessary for the USB connection between the mobile device and the piano.
Since this is a relatively new trend, manufacturers frequently release new models with this feature. Some Yamaha digital pianos have conveniently supported USB MIDI/Audio for a while now. Examples include the current Clavinova and Arius models, the Yamaha P-515, the new P-145 and P-225 portable pianos, and even the smallest NP-35 Piaggero keyboard.
Other USB MIDI/Audio-capable models include Korg’s Liano and B2 portable pianos, the Thomann SP-120, and Studiologic and Viscount stage pianos.
→ You can find an overview of the current models on our Thomann landing page.*
Digital pianos with USB MIDI/audio capabilities make it easy to use an iPad as a sound source for live performances. If you want to use piano apps such as Korg Module Pro, Modartt Pianoteq 8, or e-Instruments Pure Piano for performances, there are many designs and price points to choose from.
Below are five digital pianos that we find particularly interesting in the context of USB MIDI/Audio.
The Korg Liano is a particularly lightweight stage piano (approx. 6 kg) thanks to its compact body and easy-to-play semi-weighted keyboard. If mobility is a priority, this is the 88-key stage piano for you.
Pros and Cons
...a tip for anyone who wants to practice the piano or take online lessons while on the go, or needs an extremely compact and lightweight digital piano for rehearsal, small gigs and live jams.
Liano : 310,00 €
TO THE OFFERIf you prefer a weighted hammer-action keyboard, look no further than this portable piano from Korg. Its minimalist sound equipment basically suggests adding sounds from a piano app.
The USB audio/MIDI functionality makes the Korg B2 a flexible digital piano for beginners and entry-level players who also want to learn and play the piano in connection with a smartphone or tablet.
Would you prefer a slightly smaller keyboard and a more compact case? Despite its semi-weighted keys, the Thomann SP-120 is very comfortable to play and has a powerful sound system. It’s recommended for anyone looking for a lightweight, compact, portable piano.
Pros and Cons
The only notable trade-off with the SP-120 is the smooth playing feel of its semi-weighted keyboard. However, this design choice keeps the weight down, making the SP-120 an ideal mini piano for travel.
SP-120 : 159,00 €
TO THE OFFERThis portable piano offers the most comprehensive features of this selection and generally features one of the best keyboards in its price range.
Pros and Cons
The smaller model of the new FP-"X" Series is a powerful stage piano for home and mobile use thanks to its great features at an attractive price. The FP-30X has modern features, including MIDI and audio Bluetooth and USB connections; greatly expanded sound generation; new speaker settings; and app connectivity for iOS and Android devices. The keyboard and piano sounds are impressive, as is the overall sound selection.
A professional stage piano with MIDI keyboard features, the Studiologic Numa X comes with many great sounds and effects. USB MIDI/Audio allows connections to mobile devices. The Studiologic Numa X is available in several different keyboard versions.
Pros and Cons
The range of features is as impressive as the consistently vibrant and powerful 200 internal sounds.
Numa X Piano 88 : 1.299,00 €
TO THE OFFERNuma X Piano GT : 1.549,00 €
TO THE OFFERNuma X Piano 73 : 1.049,00 €
TO THE OFFERWhether you want to learn the piano with an app, play along with songs, take online lessons, create music with a DAW app, or use your iPad as a piano module, USB MIDI can make it happen. Almost all digital pianos have this feature nowadays, so why is there a need for more?
Problem #1:
When connecting a digital piano to mobile devices via USB MIDI, you are working with two separate audio systems: While you hear the digital piano through its built-in speakers or headphones, the piano app plays through the iPad’s connected speakers or headphones.
As you can see, this requires mixing two separate audio signals. You can either connect the iPad and the digital piano to a mixer, or connect the iPad’s audio output to the digital piano’s audio input. With these connection options come the next problems…
If your digital piano supports USB MIDI/audio, you can save money on accessories and eliminate cable clutter. If your piano only has USB MIDI and an audio input, the “dimode” stereo DI unit by Millenium is a good choice.
It’s very easy to connect a digital piano to an iPad using the USB MIDI/Audio function. Below are a few technical details that may be helpful, depending on your equipment.
A USB cable connection contrasts with wireless Bluetooth, the easiest option for using a remote piano app or playing along with a song. Bluetooth works perfectly well in cases where only MIDI or audio data is needed.
However, if you need to transmit both audio and MIDI at the same time, a USB connection is essential. The reason is that Bluetooth audio always introduces a slight delay. This latency is too high to keep MIDI and audio in sync.
MIDI stands for Musical Instrument Digital Interface. This is a standardized interface that was agreed upon by a committee of musical instrument manufacturers in the 1980s. The purpose of MIDI is to connect musical instruments within a network. This allows you to trigger the sequencer of a DAW program or, for example, a music notation program via a synthesizer or electric piano, and vice versa.
MIDI only carries control information, such as which keys are played, how long they are played for, and their velocity. However, the MIDI protocol also transmits control panel information, such as sound selection, and other functions, such as pedals. These functions are listed as standardized information and are called program change, pitch bend, or continuous controller (volume, expression, timbre, sustain, etc.).
Originally, a MIDI connection was established using a MIDI cable with round, five-pin DIN connectors. However, these connections have almost entirely been replaced by USB connections. Technically, USB can do even more, but almost all electric pianos use the USB port for the USB-MIDI connection.
Piano remote apps use the MIDI protocol to control the piano and its functions remotely via a touch screen. MIDI data is not very data-intensive and is transmitted quickly over USB-MIDI, resulting in virtually zero latency.
USB audio interfaces are well-known for their ability to transfer digital audio information. In principle, this requires a driver architecture, but this is not necessary for digital pianos with USB MIDI/Audio functionality. It’s similar to audio interfaces that meet the “class-compliant” standard, which are immediately supported by the operating system via plug-and-play.
Every digital piano today has a USB port. However, some models even have two.
The acronym stands for Direct Injection. A DI unit is a small accessory used in recording studios to convert unbalanced signals into balanced ones. This conversion occurs through a transformer that galvanically isolates the circuits, thereby eliminating ground-loop hums caused by interconnected devices with separate power supplies.
Using mobile devices or computers with electric pianos or mixing consoles can cause noise due to the presence of multiple power adapters. There are active and passive DI boxes. Passive DI boxes do not require their own power source and typically result in a lower output level, which the mixing console compensates for with the head amplifier. Active DI boxes have an internal amplifier circuit and deliver a better output level. A 2-channel DI box is required to transmit the stereo audio signal from mobile devices.
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