The life of a computer keyboard often ends when the first key fails and it's very common to find such keyboards in the dump yard.

Here I propose to salvage a computer keyboard and reuse it as a midi keyboard for your Digital Audio Workstation (DAW: basically a computer with some music software).

Please note that midi doesn't make sounds by itself, Midi is a set of instructions that your music software can interpret as notes: the keyboard key touch to midi message translation will happen in your computer.

There's already a lot of great tutorials on how to modify a keyboard to turn it into a midi device without computer:

https://www.instructables.com/howto/midi/

This tutorial is much simpler: no soldering, no buying things, just recycling.

Supplies

A salvaged keyboard.

Optional:

- markers or paint to change the aspect of the keys

- tiny screwdriver (if you need to open the keyboard to check connections)

- vinegar (if cleaning connections is necessary)

- glue if you want to add keys on top of other keys

Step 1: Get a Keyboard With at Least Some Working Keys

Get a keyboard, plug it in and check if it works and if some keys are dead. All ok? Go to step 2.

If the keyboard doesn't work, first clean its connector with some vinegar. No success? You need to open it and check if there's any cable that is disconnected. You should check for information concerning the model of keyboard you have, for example on

https://www.ifixit.com/

Step 2: Converting Key Touch to Midi in Your Computer

With the keyboard connected, choose a way to translate key strokes into midi notes in your computer.

Many softwares like Ableton, Garageband or Reaper already have some function to listen to your keyboard input and turn it into midi. Example for Ableton:

https://sonicbloom.net/en/ableton-live-tutorial-co...

If you don't have such function or need more customization there are dedicated software, like the simple qkmidi for windows:

http://qkmidi.sourceforge.net/

or more complex Glovepie for windows:

http://qkmidi.sourceforge.net/

There's also vmpk for all plateforms:

http://qkmidi.sourceforge.net/

Remember that midi does not make any sound! Once you have your midi notes you need a software or a plugin (like VST for windows or AU for mac) to use the midi input to actually produce sounds.

Step 3: Map Your Keyboard

Depending on your keyboard (and the keys that are not functional) and the software you use, choose which keys you will use to play. On my keyboard my first C note starts on the key "Z" and notes go up with keys to the right side (ex: C sharp is "S").. I use a second row of higher notes where "Q" is F and "2" is F sharp and so on..

Step 4: Customize the Keyboard

Here it's up to you. Because I use the keyboard mostly as a midi piano, I take care of making the keys that serve as notes (according to the map in the previous step) easily recognizable. In this example the original keys are quite flat so I glued keys from another keyboard on top of the keys I use as midi notes.

I have also kept black keys for sharps and spray painted keys for other notes. For visual comfort, I have C in green, E in golden color and the rest in beige.

Step 5: Other Example 1

Here I removed unused keys (with fingers or something hard and flat) to have a clearer space for sharp notes and spray painted two rows of notes (covering 3 octaves) in white for a piano look.

Step 6: Other Example 2

Here I have first spray painted all keys in white, then removed unused keys near the sharps. Then put a final touch with markers: notes are in blue with a black borders for C and sharps are in red. Note that the numpad on the right side can be used as a midi drumpad..

Step 7:

Step 8: Rock

Now use your instrument! This method is extremely cheap and there is always some discarded keyboards around that you can salvage. Usb or wireless, the latency is low enough so that you can use your keyboard for live shows! See the middle and very end of this video for example of use.