Yamaha P45 MIDI Capabilities / What are the requirements for controlling this keyboard with my computer?

Question

Prefacing this post with a link to a post covering the same topic, but I'm having a hard time understanding if any of these solutions allow me to use my computer to change the instruments and manipulate sounds.

Yamaha P45 Digital Piano - Can it be made MIDI compatible?

If I'm understanding correctly, if I hook my computer up via usb to midi, the most I will be able to do is play and record something on the keyboard, and listen to it on my computer.

Other comments refer to using the keyboard as a controller. Does this mean only the keyboard can talk to and tell the computer what to do? Versus my computer telling the keyboard what sounds to play and what velocity/pitch to play it at? Will I see recordings as an audio clip or MIDI clip where I can see and change what notes are being played?

What are the minimum requirements a keyboard needs to meet in order to control the sounds, instruments, and effects from my computer? I am currently using an Alesis MIDI keyboard and looking to upgrade. Since my Alesis has this capability I am surprised to see that the Yamaha doesn't.

My current setup is keyboard connected to computer, and computer connected to speaker via AUX. While the Yamaha has internal speakers, I would rather hear it from mine in addition to the other sounds I am playing along with. in Ableton

Thank you for your help, I think I just need a dumbed down explanation of the post I linked to understand. Best, and thanks again

Answer 1

MIDI is a way for musical instruments to communicate with a device and tell it what notes they're playing. If you're using MIDI, then you need to get your own instrument sound on the computer via something called a VST. You can change the VST currently active to change the instrument.

If you just want to play the sound on your own speakers, you can just connect a cable from the headphone jack to your speakers. Not sure how to get both the sounds from your computer and the keyboard to play.

Does this mean only the keyboard can talk to and tell the computer what to do? Versus my computer telling the keyboard what sounds to play and what velocity/pitch to play it at?

As in using the keyboard to play back a MIDI file or some MIDI input? I'm honestly not sure. But the other way round (keyboard tells the computer what notes it's playing) is supported.

Will I see recordings as an audio clip or MIDI clip where I can see and change what notes are being played?

As a MIDI clip.

Answer 2

According to the manual, the keyboard has MIDI receive capabilities as well.

If it's implemented as it ought to be, this should mean you can specify it as a MIDI output in your DAW.

Here's an example of a track in Reaper that is routed to UM-ONE (my USB-to-MIDI cable), which connects it to my keyboard. The keyboard then plays the data in whatever voice I have it currently set to. As a bonus, I then record the keyboard audio output so that I don't have to have my keyboard on in future just to hear the track — obviously can only be done once the MIDI is finalized.