Keybird’s new MIDI
Our new MIDI system brings a digital layer to the Keybird, while preserving the feel of the acoustic action.
Custom PCB boards are mounted beneath the keybed, where optical sensors track each keystroke and capture velocity. The signal is sent directly via USB-C, so you can connect the piano to your computer, DAW, sound module, or other MIDI-compatible setup.
Together with our Silent Mode foam bar, the system lets you play digitally without the full acoustic sound of the piano. The foam bar sits between the hammers and the strings, reducing the sound while keeping the natural mechanical feel of the action.
As with other silent systems for acoustic pianos, the instrument is not completely silent. You will still hear the mechanical noise of the keys, action, and hammers. In our measurements, this noise is comparable to other silent piano systems.
The pedal signal is also included in the MIDI stream, so your playing dynamics and pedal use carry through to your digital setup.
A basic built-in sound option is planned, but its mainly for testing. The main purpose of the system is USB-C MIDI output for use with external software or sound modules.
In the videos below, you can hear the difference: live acoustic sound, MIDI audio file, and MIDI performance with and without the foam installed
Wav output:
MIDI output:
The video below in the beginning displays how playing on the Silent Mode sounds from the outside, and later displays how it sounds inside player’s headphones.