# Do I need a keyboard with MIDI

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-a-keyboard-with-midi/926709>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Tags:** music\
**Created:** [November 29, 2020, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-a-keyboard-with-midi/926709 "2020-11-29T01:58:06Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\
**Post date:** [November 29, 2020, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-a-keyboard-with-midi/926709/1 "2020-11-29T01:58:06Z")

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I have a basic keyboard that only has USB port. My plan is to connect it to Windows laptop to make music using software synth. I have Windows 10 home if it matters.

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**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\
**Post date:** [November 29, 2020, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-a-keyboard-with-midi/926709/2 "2020-11-29T02:03:07Z")

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MIDI is transmitted over USB these days. You almost certainly have a keyboard with MIDI, unless it’s a super cheap toy keyboard or something.

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**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\
**Post date:** [November 29, 2020, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-a-keyboard-with-midi/926709/3 "2020-11-29T02:12:14Z")

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no it’s not cheap, made by M audio bought a few years back

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**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\
**Post date:** [November 29, 2020, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-a-keyboard-with-midi/926709/4 "2020-11-29T03:38:50Z")

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Yeah, that’s definitely a MIDI controller keyboard you’ve got then. (I have a bunch of M-Audio stuff.)

Just plug it into USB and your music software should find it easily.