Most digital pianos from roughly the last two decades can double as a MIDI keyboard controller, sending performance data to a computer instead of (or alongside) playing their own internal sound.

What's needed

  • A MIDI or USB-MIDI connection - most digital pianos with a USB port support this directly with a standard USB cable; older ones may need a 5-pin MIDI-to-USB interface instead.
  • A DAW (digital audio workstation) or standalone plugin host on the computer to receive the MIDI data.
  • A VST (or AU) piano plugin - sample-based or physically modeled software piano sounds, which can sound noticeably more refined than a budget digital piano's built-in sound engine.

Why this matters for a used purchase

A used digital piano with a good weighted keybed but a dated or mediocre internal sound engine can still be a genuinely good buy, since the keybed and touch response are what a VST piano can't provide on its own. Checking the MIDI/USB output works correctly is worth adding to a used-purchase checklist for exactly this reason.