How to Setup a MIDI Keyboard in a Home Studio

Updated: May 18, 2024

This article will show you how to install a MIDI Keyboard in FL Studio. Setting up a MIDI Keyboard in a home studio is REALLY easy!

Before you start, you want to make sure to install the MIDI Keyboard’s drivers, then plug in the MIDI Keyboard with its USB Cable, then turn it on for the first time!

The most confusing part of a MIDI Keyboard is that there is no sounds in the MIDI Controller itself.. so people often ask, “How can I play sounds with my MIDI Keyboard”.

The short answer is that we play sounds inside our music program, and the MIDI Keyboard triggers these sounds, whereas a Hardware Synthesizer has the sounds built into the unit (but hardware synths are super expensive compared to a MIDI Keyboard’s average cost of about $300, depending on how many piano keys you get, its features and build quality).

This video shows the M-Audio Oxygen Pro MIDI Keyboard.

Here’s the step-by-step process to setup a MIDI Keyboard:

• Install the MIDI Keyboard Drivers
• Plug in your MIDI Keyboard with the USB Cable
• Turn on the MIDI Keyboard (if it has a switch)
• In your DAW, go to the settings, and enable the MIDI Keyboard

Use FL Studio? View How to Setup MIDI Controller in FL Studio.

That’s it for the MIDI Keyboard setup! It’s really easy! Your USB cable is both power and data transmission for the MIDI Controller (MIDI Keyboard), and most often you want to install the drivers for the latest updates and best performance of your MIDI Keyboard.

You may like to check out my custom midi keyboard tray!

What’s the Best MIDI Keyboard for FL Studio?

View my FL Studio MIDI Keyboard Reviews.

Or see results of my best MIDI Keyboards for FL Studio.

There’s also more videos in this Music Studio Reassemble Series.

About Author: GratuiTous

GratuiTous discovered FL Studio around 2009 when a friend introduced him to the DAW.. he then began making FL Studio tutorials in 2011 which lead to creating his Beatmaker Training Platform. He also authors music production books, and hosts the "Music Production Made Simple Podcast". Fun Fact: He was an electrician in Canada for 10 Years!

Contact Join Platform

Related

How to Unlock FL Studio from Trial Version

How to Unlock FL Studio from the Trial Version by using your Image-Line Account, or a .reg key (registry key file).

How to Fix Duplicate Images in Plugin Database

Remove duplicate images from the Plugin Database in FL Studio. Use the Command Line to Automatically Hide all duplicate image...