Best digital pianos for recording music in the studio

Best digital piano for recording music in the studio. Its easier to connect a digital piano to a computer and start recording.

Best Digital Piano for Recording

Almost every digital piano comes with USB port or line-outs that allows it to be connected to a computer, and a computer is the hub of most recording studios where the recording and mixing happens (using various software).

So you may use any digital piano for recording.

However, here are some options that will help you decide better.

Controller Keyboard
If your are more interested in recording, or if your are looking for a spare keyboard just for your studio work, you may consider getting a controller keyboard with 88 weighted keys (which will appeal to all the piano players).

Gigging artists
You should consider getting a stage piano or a synthesizer with weighted keys. You can use it for gigging and also for recording at home.

An 88-key workstation will appeal to piano players and will also let you do the entire recording and editing on the keyboard itself.

Yamaha MOXF8 Keyboard Synthesizer, 88-Key

Korg Krome-88 Keyboard Workstation, 88-Key

Roland FA-08 Music Workstation Keyboard, 88-Key

Keyboard players
Assuming you’re an intermediate level keyboard player who’s also learning to play the piano, consider getting an 88-keyboard with arranger like features. For example, the DGX-660 is a great digital piano with accompaniments and other features that can come in handy for recording.

Practice piano
Like playing the piano? You can use your practice piano for recording. Yamaha NP, P series, Casio Privia series pianos are great options that can also be used for recording

Also Read: Best keyboard pianos for various price ranges.

How to Record your Digital Piano on a Computer

While many digital pianos come with built-in sequencer to record ideas, to produce high quality music, its better to record the music on a computer. Once your music is on the computer, its easier to change/manipulate things (thanks to the various software/plugins).

Most novices record what they play on their digital piano using a microphone, however that’s not a great idea. In fact, using a mic is the worst way to record your music. If you are recording at home, you will have cats, gogs, doorbells, telephones and airplanes that will be picked up by the microphone, which is not easier to remove once the recording is done.

Please note that using a microphone is the common method to record an acoustic piano.

So assuming you use the built-in sound card of your computer (we will look at the free options), you will need to make the connection from your digital piano to the computer. The sound card on the computer may not be very good but its still going to be better than using a microphone.

You need to make a connection from the line outs of your digital piano (most have left and right outs that are quarter inch jacks) to the computer’s sound card (that accepts 1/8 inch stereo mini cable).

You get cables that that can make such connections (these have quarter inch plugs on one side and 1/8 inch plugs on the other side).

Once connected, you now have a connection between your digital piano and the computer. Run your software sequencer and you are ready to start recording.

This is a basic connection setup though. There are more and better options, but you need to invest in additional hardware/equipment for that.

KeytarHQ Editorial Team

KeytarHQ editorial team includes musicians who write and review products for pianists, keyboardists, guitarists & other musicians. KeytarHQ is the best online resource for information on keyboards, pianos, synths, keytars, guitars and music gear for musicians of all abilities, ages and interests.