Replacing the MainStage Piano with Your Keyboard’s Internal Piano Sound

Some KeyboardTEK MainStage concerts include an External MIDI Piano or External Instrument channel strip. This optional setup allows you to use the built-in piano sound from your keyboard instead of the software piano sound included in MainStage.

You can skip this article if you are happy with the piano sound already included in the MainStage concert.

Use these steps only if you want to route your keyboard’s internal piano sound through MainStage so it plays only on the patches where piano is needed.

Before You Begin

This setup requires a keyboard with internal sounds, an audio interface, and MIDI connections between the keyboard and your interface.

This is not the same as simply using your keyboard as a MIDI controller. In this setup:

• MainStage sends MIDI to your keyboard.
• Your keyboard generates the piano sound.
• The audio from your keyboard returns to your audio interface.
• MainStage controls when that sound is active in the show.

MainStage cannot convert a software instrument channel strip, such as an EXS24 or Sampler channel strip, into an external MIDI instrument channel strip. For this reason, KeyboardTEK may include a separate aliased External MIDI Piano or External Instrument channel strip on piano patches where this option is supported.

What You Need

You will need:

• A keyboard with internal piano sounds
• An audio interface with available MIDI and audio inputs
• Two 5-pin DIN MIDI cables, or one dual MIDI cable
• One or two 1/4-inch instrument cables
• A KeyboardTEK MainStage concert that includes an External MIDI Piano or External Instrument channel strip

Connect MIDI Between the Keyboard and Audio Interface

Connect MIDI in both directions between your keyboard and audio interface.

1. Connect MIDI Out from your keyboard to MIDI In on your audio interface.
2. Connect MIDI Out from your audio interface to MIDI In on your keyboard.

This allows MainStage and your keyboard to communicate with each other.

Connect Audio from the Keyboard to the Audio Interface

Next, connect the audio output from your keyboard to your audio interface.

For mono:

1. Connect a 1/4-inch instrument cable from your keyboard’s L/Mono Output to an unused input on your audio interface.

For stereo:

1. Connect your keyboard’s L/Mono Output to one unused input on your audio interface.
2. Connect your keyboard’s R Output to a second unused input on your audio interface.

For piano, mono is usually fine, but you may use stereo if your setup supports it.

Choose the Piano Sound on Your Keyboard

On your keyboard, select the internal piano sound you want to use with MainStage.

Choose a sound that will work well in a theatre mix. A Bright Piano or Rock Piano sound may cut through better than a softer solo piano sound.

Set the keyboard’s volume control to the level you want to use during the show. In most cases, this volume should stay in the same position for the full performance unless you plan to adjust it manually or use a separate expression pedal connected directly to the keyboard.

Turn Local Control Off on Your Keyboard

If your keyboard allows it, turn Local Control off in the keyboard’s internal settings.

This setting is usually found in the keyboard’s MIDI settings. Check your keyboard’s manual for the exact steps.

Turning Local Control off prevents the keyboard from playing its internal sound every time you press a key. Instead, MainStage controls when the keyboard’s internal piano sound is heard.

If Local Control is off, your keyboard may seem silent at first. That is expected.

If your keyboard does not support Local Control off, this setup may be difficult to use. You may need to manually turn the keyboard’s volume up and down whenever the internal piano sound is needed. If the keyboard volume stays up the entire time, you may hear the piano on patches where piano is not intended.

Configure the External MIDI Piano Channel Strip in MainStage

In MainStage, select the External MIDI Piano or External Instrument channel strip.

Then update the following settings.

MIDI Input

Set MIDI Input to the keyboard you are using to play the MainStage concert.

This may appear as the name you assigned in Layout mode, or MainStage may display the device name from the MIDI driver. It may also appear as something like 88 Key Controller.

MIDI Output

Set MIDI Output to the instrument whose internal sound you want to use.

For example, this may be a Roland, Yamaha Motif, Korg Kronos, or another keyboard.

MIDI Channel

Set the MIDI Channel to the channel your keyboard is receiving on.

In most cases, this will be Channel 1 unless you have changed the MIDI settings on your keyboard.

Format

Set Format to Stereo if you are using a stereo audio connection.

If you are using a mono connection, choose the appropriate mono input option for your setup.

Input

Set the channel strip Input to the audio interface input where your keyboard audio is connected.

For example, choose Input 1, Input 2, Input 1–2, or Input 3–4, depending on where you connected the keyboard.

Output

Set the channel strip Output to the main output for your audio interface.

In most setups, this will be Output 1–2.

If your setup uses a bus or auxiliary channel, choose the appropriate output or bus for your system.

Test the Piano Sound

After configuring the channel strip:

1. Select a patch where the external piano should be active.
2. Play the keyboard.
3. Confirm that you hear the keyboard’s internal piano sound through MainStage.
4. Use the volume slider on the MainStage channel strip to adjust the level.
5. Move to a patch where piano is not used and confirm that the internal piano sound is not heard.

If everything is set correctly, the keyboard’s internal piano sound should only be heard on the patches where that External MIDI Piano channel strip is active.

Optional: Layer the Internal Piano with MainStage Sounds

You can use the external piano sound by itself, or layer it with other MainStage instruments.

The External MIDI Piano channel strip can be copied, pasted, or aliased like other channel strips in MainStage.

Volume Pedal Note

You may need to map your volume pedal to Expression at the Concert Level for the External MIDI Piano channel strip.

This allows the volume pedal to control the external piano sound consistently across the concert.

Troubleshooting

I hear the piano on every patch

Your keyboard may still have Local Control turned on, or the keyboard’s internal volume may be up while the keyboard is playing independently of MainStage.

Turn Local Control off if your keyboard supports it.

I do not hear the internal piano sound

Check the following:

• The keyboard is set to the correct internal piano sound.
• MIDI cables are connected in both directions.
• Audio cables are connected from the keyboard output to the audio interface input.
• The MainStage channel strip input matches the audio interface input you used.
• The MainStage MIDI Output is set to the correct keyboard.
• The MIDI channel matches the keyboard’s receiving channel.
• The keyboard volume is turned up.

The sound is too soft or too loud

Adjust the level using the channel strip volume slider in MainStage. You can also adjust the keyboard’s output volume, but it is usually best to set the keyboard volume and leave it in place for the show.

Still Having Trouble?

Contact KeyboardTEK Support if the External MIDI Piano channel strip is included in your concert but you cannot get it working after following these steps.