Yamaha P125 as speaker

Very nice setup 👍 — you’ve basically created a small hybrid studio.

You have:

• 🎹 Yamaha P-125 connected via USB-to-Host (MIDI to Mac)

• 💻 MacBook running Ableton Live

• 🔊 Piano acting as an external speaker for the Mac audio

• 🎹 Another MIDI keyboard (Arturia) controlling sounds too

That’s actually a powerful arrangement.

Let’s break down what you can now do.

🎛 What This Setup Allows You To Do

1️⃣ Assign Each Keyboard to Different Sounds (Yes — exactly)

Inside Ableton:

• Create Track 1 → Piano VST

• Create Track 2 → Synth

• Set:

  
  

  • Yamaha P-125 → Track 1 input

  • Arturia → Track 2 input

• 
  

Now:

• Play piano → acoustic piano sound

• Play Arturia → pad, bells, bass, etc.

• Play both → layered textures

You can also:

• Split the keyboard by range

• Or layer both controllers to trigger the same sound

2️⃣ Record MIDI From Either Keyboard

Because USB carries MIDI:

• You can record performance data

• Edit wrong notes

• Change instruments after recording

• Quantize timing

Huge creative flexibility.

3️⃣ Use the P-125 as a MIDI Controller Only

You can:

• Turn local control off (optional)

• Use the Yamaha keys to control:

  
  

  • Arturia V Collection

  • Ableton instruments

  • External synths later

• 
  

The P-125 keybed is better than most MIDI controllers — so this is valuable.

4️⃣ Route Ableton Audio Back Into the Piano Speakers

Since the Mac audio is going into the P-125:

• All Ableton sounds play through piano speakers

• Both keyboards can trigger sounds

• Everything comes out of one speaker system

This is convenient — but:

⚠️ The P-125 speakers are not studio monitors.

They’re fine, but:

• Limited bass

• Not flat/accurate

• Not wide stereo image

5️⃣ Layer Piano + Workstation Sounds

Fun trick:

• Let the Yamaha play its internal piano sound

• Also send MIDI to Ableton

• Layer:

  
  

  • Internal Yamaha piano

  • 
    

    • soft pad from Ableton

    • 
      
• 
  

You get a huge cinematic piano texture.

6️⃣ Create Splits

Example:

• Left hand (below middle C) → Bass synth

• Right hand → Piano or strings

In Ableton:

• Use MIDI pitch range settings on tracks

• Or use Instrument Rack with key zones

Now one keyboard becomes two instruments.

7️⃣ Play Live Performance Mode

In Ableton:

• Use Session View

• Launch backing tracks

• Play live over them

• Change sounds mid-performance

Your P-125 becomes a live performance rig.

🎧 Next Level Upgrade (When Ready)

If you later add:

• Audio interface

• Proper studio monitors (like the HS8)

Then:

• Lower latency

• Cleaner sound

• Balanced connections

• Better mixing accuracy

But your current setup is already functional and creative.

🎯 What You’re Really Building

You now have:

Digital piano

• MIDI controller

• DAW

• Software instruments

• External audio routing

That’s a real mini production studio.

If you’d like, I can show you:

• How to set up two keyboards in Ableton step-by-step

• Or how to create a split/layer patch inside Ableton

Which direction do you want to explore next?