Can a usual keyboard play VST under a DAW?

[scdaymon]

Hi there friends…

Is it possible for a YAMAHA PSR-E223 (a normal keyboard) with a midi cable, to be connected to a pc and work under a DAW (REAPER in my case) with VST’s?
I was thinking about buying a Midi Keyboard, but it is easy and inexpensive for me to buy a keyboard like YAMAHA PSR-E223. I know that that keyboard does have a midi connection, but I never heard of anyone using this kind of gear to play VST’s under a DAW.
Have you heard about it?
Is it even possible?
How does it work? Do you connect the midi cable from the keyboard to an audio interface (mine is ALESIS IO2 Express) or do you connect it directly to the computer usb port?
Please, advise me on this one guys.

Thanks in advance

Ps: This is the YAMAHA PSR-E223

PSR-E233 - Teclados portáteis - Yamaha - Portugal

[kcearl]

You attach it to the alesis and it should work fine

[the-music-man]

Most of the time they will say 'General MIDI' on them if they can be used as a midi keyboard. If it says that you can use the midi cable or USB. If you want to use usb just dowload the drivers for that keyboard on the internet and you should be good to go

[TimOBrien]

For it to play as a real vst, you have to move up to at least the Yamaha MOX line. Here's a typical guide.

Otherwise any midi keyboard can record and play as an external instrument.

[scdaymon]

So, as I understood it: it should work to plug to the computer and record the sounds (banks/voices/patches whatever) it originally brings, but however it will not work as a midi controller for vst's such as Sonatina Symphonic Orchestra (for instance)?

[gecko zzed]

So, as I understood it: it should work to plug to the computer and record the sounds (banks/voices/patches whatever) it originally brings, but however it will not work as a midi controller for vst's such as Sonatina Symphonic Orchestra (for instance)?

You should be able to do both.

You can record the sounds it originally brings by recording the keyboard's audio.

You can use the keyboard's midi to drive a VST.

[guitarplayr82]

Just a quick heads-up: Some of those lower-end keyboards don't have velocity-sensitive keys, meaning you can't play with dynamics on the keyboard; everything comes out sounding the same volume. I'd double check the velocity-sensitive capabilities for that keyboard before buying. Otherwise, it looks great!

[chuckduffy]

You attach it to the alesis and it should work fine

Yes - my goto synth controller is a $100 keyboard from radioshack. My goto piano controller is a Yamaha P60 digital piano. Both work great.

[scdaymon]

Thanks to you all guys…

I guess I’ll really go for it. I’m pretty sure that the keyboard doesn’t have “velocity-sensitive keys”, killing a lot of dynamic while playing. However, if I choose to record from the keyboard I should be able to work that dynamic in the mixing phase (just by playing around with the volume and with reverb), and if I play VST’s I should be able to work the dynamic in the midi sequencer.
Sure I would prefer to have it all in the keyboard interface, but this Yamaha comes at a great price, it’s supposed to be a great keyboard, and plus… I’m able to buy it in phased payments!
From what I read, I cannot connect it to the Alesis. I will need to buy a midi cable to connect the keyboard to the computer usb port.
I may, however and in the meanwhile, record through the microphone pointed at the keyboard speakers!

After the purchase I’ll come here to share some ideas about the keyboard!

Once again, thank you all for the help…

[Mr Clean]

I use a PSR-520 via Midi/USB cable to play VSTi and Synths and it works really well.

Only downfall with your keyboard would be the non touch sensitive keys. You can adjust the velocity for each note in the midi editor, it just might take some time doing lots of notes.