Skip to main content

Getting Started

Connecting Your MIDI Keyboard

Connect via USB or Bluetooth to get real-time note feedback as you play.

Quick Start

  1. Connect your keyboard via USB adapter or enable Bluetooth on your keyboard
  2. Open Crescendo and tap the MIDI button (or go to Settings)
  3. Tap your keyboard in the device list
  4. Play a few notes to verify the connection

A green indicator appears next to your device when connected.

USB Connection

USB provides the most reliable connection with the lowest latency (5-10ms).

Required Adapter

Your Device Adapter Price
iPhone 14 or older, older iPads Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter ~$39
iPhone 15+, iPad Pro, iPad Air, iPad 10th gen USB-C to USB Adapter ~$19

Steps

  1. Connect your keyboard's USB cable to the adapter
  2. Plug the adapter into your iPhone or iPad
  3. Power on your keyboard
  4. Tap the MIDI button in Crescendo, then tap your keyboard in the list

Tip: The Lightning to USB 3 adapter has a charging port - use it if your keyboard needs extra power or you see "This accessory uses too much power."

Required Adapter

  • USB OTG adapter (~$10) - USB-C to USB-A female
  • Must be labeled "OTG" - charging-only adapters won't work

Steps

  1. Connect your keyboard's USB cable to the OTG adapter
  2. Plug the OTG adapter into your phone
  3. Power on your keyboard
  4. Tap the MIDI button in Crescendo, then tap your keyboard in the list

Phone-Specific Settings

Brand May Need
Samsung, Pixel Usually works without extra settings
OnePlus Enable USB OTG Storage in Settings → Additional settings
Xiaomi / MIUI Enable Developer Options, set USB Configuration to MIDI

Note: Some Xiaomi devices auto-disable OTG after 10 minutes of inactivity. Keep playing or touch the screen periodically.

Bluetooth Connection

Bluetooth MIDI is wireless and convenient. Latency is slightly higher (5-15ms) but works well for practice.

Steps

  1. Put your keyboard in Bluetooth pairing mode (check your keyboard's manual)
  2. Tap the MIDI button in Crescendo
  3. Tap Scan for Bluetooth MIDI
  4. Tap your keyboard when it appears in the list

Important: Pair your Bluetooth MIDI keyboard within Crescendo, not in iOS Settings. Bluetooth MIDI uses a different protocol than regular Bluetooth audio.

Requirements

  • Android 6.0 or later
  • Bluetooth MIDI keyboard (BLE MIDI)

Steps

  1. Put your keyboard in Bluetooth pairing mode
  2. Tap the MIDI button in Crescendo
  3. Tap Scan for Bluetooth MIDI
  4. Tap your keyboard when it appears (scan runs for 30 seconds)

Note: On some Android devices, you may need to reconnect your Bluetooth keyboard each session. Pair within Crescendo, not in system Bluetooth settings.

After Connecting

Verify Your Connection

When connected, you'll see:

  • A green indicator next to your device
  • Latency estimate (e.g., "5-10ms")

Keyboard Calibration

On first connection, Crescendo asks you to play your keyboard's lowest and highest keys. This helps display the correct range of notes for your keyboard. You can recalibrate anytime in Settings.

Auto-Connect

Enable Auto-connect in Settings to automatically reconnect to your preferred keyboard when it's detected.

Troubleshooting

Start here to diagnose your issue:

Is your keyboard detected in Settings? ├── YES → Does it respond when you play? │ ├── YES → You're connected! │ └── NO → Check keyboard is set to send MIDI │ (not just audio output) └── NO → See connection issues below
Keyboard not showing in the list

For USB connections:

  • Make sure your keyboard is powered on
  • Check that the USB cable is firmly connected at both ends
  • Try unplugging and reconnecting the cable
  • Use a different USB cable (cables can fail)
  • Make sure you're using an OTG adapter on Android, not a charging cable

For Bluetooth connections:

  • Make sure your keyboard is in pairing mode
  • Tap Scan for Bluetooth MIDI
  • Stay within range (typically 10 meters / 30 feet)
  • Try turning Bluetooth off and on again on your device
Keyboard detected but connection fails

You may see one of these messages:

  • "[Device] not responding"
    Make sure it's powered on and in range. Try unplugging and reconnecting.
  • "[Device] rejected connection"
    Try unplugging and reconnecting the cable or re-pairing via Bluetooth.
  • "[Device] is no longer available"
    The keyboard may have powered off or disconnected. Power it on and try again.

Crescendo automatically retries the connection up to 3 times before showing an error.

iOS: "This accessory uses too much power"

Some keyboards need more power than a basic adapter provides.

Solution: Use the Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter (~$39) instead of the basic USB adapter. It has a charging port that provides extra power to connected accessories.

For USB-C devices, the USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter (~$69) also has power pass-through.

iOS: "This accessory is not supported"

This usually means the adapter isn't compatible.

Solution: Use a genuine Apple adapter. Third-party adapters often lack proper MIDI support.

Android: Keyboard not detected (Xiaomi/MIUI)

Xiaomi phones may need additional settings enabled:

  1. Go to Settings → About Phone
  2. Tap MIUI Version 7 times to enable Developer Options
  3. Go to Settings → Additional settings → Developer Options
  4. Find USB Configuration and set it to MIDI
Keyboard disconnects during practice

If your keyboard disconnects, you'll see a full-screen notification with options to:

  • Reconnect - Try to reconnect immediately
  • Continue Without MIDI - Keep practicing using tap-to-advance

Common causes:

  • Loose USB cable - check connections
  • Bluetooth range - move closer to your device
  • Keyboard went to sleep - check power settings
  • USB port battery drain warning - use adapter with power pass-through
Will my keyboard work?

Crescendo works with class-compliant USB MIDI keyboards from all major manufacturers, including:

Roland, Yamaha, Korg, Casio, Kawai, Native Instruments, M-Audio, Akai, Arturia, Novation, Alesis, Nektar

What is "class-compliant"? It means the keyboard works without special drivers. Most USB MIDI keyboards made after 2015 are class-compliant.

Quick test: If your keyboard works with an iPad without installing any apps or drivers, it will work with Crescendo.

What about latency?
Connection Typical Latency
USB MIDI 5-10ms
Bluetooth MIDI 5-15ms (up to 20ms)

Both are fast enough for comfortable practice. Most people can't perceive latency under 20ms.

Still Need Help?

Let us know your keyboard model and device - we'll help you get connected.

support@crescendopiano.app

Response time: 2-3 business days

Related Articles