How do I connect my keyboard to my computer?

That depends on which model of keyboard and computer you have.

DIRECT USB CABLE version – If you have the USB port version of our Learn to Play Keyboard Pack, you’ll simply need to connect the keyboard directly to your computer. Insert the square end of the USB cable into the USB port on the back of your keyboard. Insert the rectangular end of the USB cable into an available USB port on your computer. Power for your keyboard is supplied through the USB cable; therefore, no external A/C power supply is needed. If you don’t see the power light lit up on your keyboard, call us or email us for a solution.

USB-TO-MIDI ADAPTER version – If you have the USB-to-MIDI adapter version of our Learn to Play Keyboard Pack and are having problems connecting the keyboard to your computer using the supplied USB-to-MIDI adapter, follow these steps to insure that your connection is correct:

1. Make sure that the keyboard is plugged in using the power supply (the power light should be lit).
2. Make sure the supplied MIDI cable is connected from the "MIDI Out" port on the back of the keyboard to the "MIDI In" port of the USB-to-MIDI adapter.

MIDI/JOYSTICK PORT version – The joystick port connection from the MIDI keyboard connects the keyboard to your computer, and also provides the power to the keyboard. The most common problem in connecting a MIDI keyboard through the Joystick port is that there is no joystick port on the computer. The joystick port is usually found on the computer's soundcard. If you do not have a joystick port on your computer, you will need to use the USB port to connect your MIDI keyboard (using a USB to MIDI adapter) and you will also need an A/C adapter to power the keyboard.

I need the drivers for my USB keyboard.

Select one of the following:
• Windows XP (64-bit)
• Windows XP (32-bit)
• Windows 9x

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My keyboard is connected and the power is on, but I can’t hear the notes. The keyboard works with other programs.

All eMedia piano-based software searches for an active MIDI instrument on launch only. If you start our program and then connect your keyboard, the software won’t acknowledge the keyboard. You need to connect your keyboard, turn it on, and then launch our program, or simply close our application and relaunch it if your keyboard is now on.

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The program doesn’t seem to hear the notes I play on my electronic keyboard.

Make sure your keyboard is connected via USB or a USB-MIDI adapter and powered-on. Make sure the appropriate drivers are installed, if they are needed. Open up the eMedia application. Go to Options > Instrument Setup and confirm that the appropriate boxes are checked (e.g., “electronic keyboard,” “YES” for MIDI/USB, “from my computer” or “from my keyboard” (if your keyboard is capable of generating sounds). Strike a key. The green circle labeled “Keyboard test” will light up. If this does not happen, recheck your connections, restart your computer and application, and try again.

If the green circle lights up, but you still don’t hear a sound, then you’ve got a configuration issue with your sound source. If you selected “from my computer” for sounds, make sure your speakers are turned on and volume is up, make sure your speakers are the selected sound source in your Windows Sound control panel. Check Options > MIDI Sound and make sure that a valid internal sound source is selected. If you selected “from my keyboard” for sounds, make sure your keyboard is set up to receive MIDI and that it is connected to speakers (or headphones) and that the volume is not all the way down. Check Options > MIDI Sound and make sure that your keyboard is the selected device.

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There is a delay between when I strike a key and when I hear sound.

The problem you’ve encountered is called “latency.” Latency is the time it takes for your computer to convert audio to digital information and back into audio (so you can hear it). The amount of latency (delay) will depend on your audio processor speed.

In order to combat latency, you have a few options.

1. While running our software, disable any other software that would have concurrent active processeses, such as Windows Defender and anti-virus software.
2. If your sound card has ASIO drivers, install them. ASIO drivers greatly reduce latency. (Note: motherboards with on-board sound generally do not have ASIO drivers.)
3. Try getting an external MIDI device to handle the signal processing.
4. You could update your sound card to one that has ASIO drivers and touts low latency as one of its top features. Your local computer/music store can point you in the right direction and give you a better idea of the cost.

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The audio sounds choppy or distorted.

The QuickTime™ settings need to be changed. To do this, go to Start > Settings > Control Panel and open the QuickTime™ control panel. Set the first pull-down menu to Sound Out, and the second menu to Wave Out.

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Audio/Video/MIDI playback cannot be heard.

Check the following:

• Make sure your computer speakers are plugged in and powered on and that volume knobs are adjusted.
• Open your “Sound” control panel and make sure your computer's sound output level is turned up (and not muted) in the operating system. XP users also make sure that your software synth volume slider is turned up.
• Check the volume of the software synth in your “Sound” control panel.
• Another way to accomplish the above steps is to select Run from the “Start” menu and enter “SNDVOL32.” After clicking OK, you’ll be presented with the Windows volume mixer. Raise all sliders to the top and exit out of the mixer.
• In the eMedia application, open the Set Volume window from the Options menu and make sure the sliders are set appropriately. In most cases, the sliders should be turned up. If you see a slider called “Mix,” set it half-way between keyboard and accompaniment.

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When installing the drivers, a warning appears stating that the drivers are not signed by Microsoft and may damage my computer. I’m asked if I want to continue.

So long as you are using the Windows driver provided on the installation CD or from our website, you shouldn’t have any problems. The driver hasn’t been certified by Windows. In other words, Microsoft hasn’t spent much (or any) time testing the driver with our keyboard. While we have done extensive testing on both our live and test machines, Microsoft refuses to give the driver their mark of approval until they've conclusively tested it.

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My keyboard doesn’t work with my Vista (32-bit only).

To use your eMedia Learn to Play Keyboard Pack with Vista (32-bit only), you must have the latest "Plug and Play" version of the MIDI keyboard or you need the Legacy MIDI Keyboard Upgrade Accessory Kit from eMedia. Before you order an upgrade kit, please check your MIDI keyboard to see if you already have the "Plug and Play" version. The "Plug and Play" version has a round "Plug and Play" sticker under the keyboard and octave transpose buttons located above the "Pitch Bend" and "Modulation" wheels to the upper left of the keyboard. If you don’t have these features you have the legacy version of the keyboard, and you need the upgrade kit – which can be ordered from our upgrades order form.

I need drivers for my 2nd generation eMedia USB keyboard. (If it doesn’t have octave buttons under the eMedia logo or a “Plug & Play” sticker on the underside but still has a USB port, then it’s a 2nd generation keyboard.)

Download this driver (PowerPC Macs only)

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Program freezes (e.g., I get a spinning rainbow ball) when I connect my MIDI keyboard.

1. Download this file to your desktop and double-click on it to unarchive it.
2. Find eMedia Piano and Keyboard Method in your Applications folder. Hold CTRL as you click on the program icon to bring up a contextual menu. Select “Show Package Contents” to open the application bundle.
3. Open “Contents”
4. Locate the folder called “xtras.”
5. Drag the file you just downloaded (eMediaMIDI.xtra which looks just like a folder) into the "xtras" folder. Replace the older item inside.

Close everything, connect your keyboard, and run eMedia Piano and Keyboard Method.

If this does not solve the problem, your computer is probably experiencing a driver conflict with the eMagic MIDI driver that ships with Mac OS X. Unless you are using an eMagic MIDI interface, remove the eMagic driver by deleting it from Macintosh HD > Library > Audio > MIDI Drivers. If this does not work, try removing all of the MIDI drivers from that folder to see if that solves the problem. (Back them up to a thumbdrive and delete them from the computer.)

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My keyboard is connected and the power is on, but I can’t hear the notes. The keyboard works with other programs.

All eMedia piano-based software searches for an active MIDI instrument on launch only. If you start our program and then connect your keyboard, the software won’t acknowledge the keyboard. You need to connect your keyboard, turn it on, and then launch our program, or simply close our application and relaunch it if your keyboard is now on.

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There’s no sound from the Metronome.

You could have the software configured to use an external keyboard for MIDI playback. Your keyboard must be compatible with General MIDI and set to receive MIDI information on channel 10. If your keyboard does not support General MIDI, or if you are unsure, you can quickly resolve this issue by switching the setting back to the default for MIDI playback. To do this:

1. Select the Instrument Setup item in Options menu
2. Location the question, “Where should the piano sound come from?” and select the answer, “From my computer.”

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My keyboard doesn’t work with my Intel Mac.

To use your eMedia Learn to Play Keyboard Pack with an Intel Mac, you must have the latest "Plug and Play" version of the MIDI keyboard or you need the Legacy MIDI Keyboard Upgrade Accessory Kit from eMedia. Before you order an upgrade kit, please check your MIDI keyboard to see if you already have the "Plug and Play" version. The "Plug and Play" version has a round "Plug and Play" sticker under the keyboard and octave transpose buttons located above the "Pitch Bend" and "Modulation" wheels to the upper left of the keyboard. If you don’t have these features you have the legacy version of the keyboard, and you need the upgrade kit – which can be ordered from our upgrades order form.

Questions about eMedia Piano and Keyboard Method software?

Visit the eMedia Piano and Keyboard Method Windows or Mac software support page.