Yamaha p-115 as controller?

Septembermusic · Post by **Septembermusic** » Tue Feb 27, 2018 6:57 pm

Has anyone tried using a yamaha p-115 as a midi controller for a Kronos through usb?

I’m looking for an affordable 88 key keyboard that can both be used as a controller for my Kronos 61 but that can also be used as a basic stage piano...

danmusician · Post by **danmusician** » Fri Mar 02, 2018 7:11 pm

The P-115 should work. Of course, all the control you're going to get is key on/off/velocity. You won't have any pitch bend or sliders.

For a little bit more money, the Casio PX-5S will give you some controllers, if that matters to you. Of course, it won't have built in speakers.

I tried a Korg DP in the price range of the P-115 with my Kronos several years ago. Wasn't happy with the touch and couldn't get a combination of settings with the Kronos that I liked. I ended up with the PX-5S.

If you like the P-115 and gives you what you need, it should work fine.

geoelectro · Post by **geoelectro** » Fri Mar 02, 2018 11:15 pm

I think the question was about USB. Any keyboard can work as a controller. I use an older Yamaha P80. I only need the keys as all other functions are just above the controller on the Kronos 61.

I don't know about USB on a P115. However, all you would need if that doesn't work is a single MIDI cable.

Geo

danmusician · Post by **danmusician** » Sat Mar 03, 2018 6:16 am

geoelectro wrote:However, all you would need if that doesn't work is a single MIDI cable.

The P115 doesn’t have a midi jack. It only connects with USB. It should work if it’s class compliant. I can’t imagine that it’s not.

dfahrner · Post by **dfahrner** » Sat Mar 03, 2018 7:43 am

danmusician wrote:The P115 doesn’t have a midi jack. It only connects with USB. It should work if it’s class compliant. I can’t imagine that it’s not.

Most Yamaha keyboards that I've encountered are NOT USB MIDI class compliant (a couple of their newer, more expensive ones are, and at least the latest versions of the MX workstation have been upgraded to be class compliant)...Yamaha's P115 online pages don't say anything about class compliance, and their P115 downloads page lists a computer driver that can be downloaded - which usually means that the instrument is not class compliant, since if it is you don't need a driver...

If the P115 not class compliant, you can't connect it directly to the Kronos USB ports, or use adapters like the Kenton USB MIDI Host to convert the P115's USB port to MIDI for connection...the only way to connect is through a computer that is running the Yamaha driver

df
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To be fair to Yamaha, instruments like the P115 are designed and sold for home entertainment and learning, with occasional connection to a home computer for those kind of apps...they are not stage pianos, which are designed for live performance and recording, and usually connected to other instruments through USB and/or MIDI...

danmusician · Post by **danmusician** » Sat Mar 03, 2018 7:39 pm

Thanks for that info about Yamaha. I did not know that!