1. Before you start: what you'll end up with

At the end of this guide you'll have:

• A video of your hands on the keys — from the side or from directly above, depending on your camera.
• Clean piano sound in that video — not the tinny sound of a phone microphone across the room.
• Optionally, an on-screen keyboard above your hands that lights up every key you press, with note names and chord names. Viewers can follow exactly what you play, even when your hands cover the keys.

What it costs: OBS Studio is free, open-source software. If you already own a laptop with a camera or a smartphone, you can start without buying anything. A webcam and a stand come in a wide range of prices; in 2.2 we show you what to look for, so you don't pay for features you won't use.

How long it takes: Plan about one hour for the first setup. After that, starting a recording takes less than a minute.

How this guide works: Every step ends with a ✅ Check that it worked box. Do the check before you move on. If something doesn't work, you know exactly which step to look at, instead of searching through the whole chain at the end.

2. Hardware

2.1 Your keyboard and the USB cable

Almost every digital piano and keyboard made in the last 15 years can talk to a computer. The language they use is called MIDI — it doesn't carry sound, it carries information like "key C4 was pressed, this hard, now released". (What is MIDI? — Wikipedia)

Step 1 — Find the right socket on your keyboard. Look at the back panel for one of these:

Socket on your keyboard	Labelled	Cable you need
Square-ish USB socket	"USB to Host" or "USB"	USB-B to USB-A (the classic "printer cable") — or USB-B to USB-C for newer laptops
Small flat USB socket	"USB"	USB-C to USB-C or USB-C to USB-A
Very small, slightly trapezoid socket (older or compact keyboards)	"USB"	Micro-USB to USB-A or Micro-USB to USB-C — a data cable, not a charge-only cable
Two round 5-pin sockets	"MIDI OUT" / "MIDI IN"	A USB-MIDI interface cable (see note below)

Step 2 — Plug it in. Keyboard into the computer, directly — avoid unpowered USB hubs if you can. Switch the keyboard on.

Step 3 — Drivers? Almost always: none needed. Most keyboards are "class compliant", which means WindowsmacOS recognises them automatically. Only a few older models need a driver from the manufacturer's website. If your keyboard doesn't show up, search for "[your keyboard model] USB MIDI driver".

2.2 Your camera

Testing a camera: the built-in camera app

You don't need OBS to test a camera. Every computer comes with a simple camera app that shows the live picture — nothing to download.

• Name: Camera. It comes with Windows 10 and 11.
• Open it: press the Windows key, type Camera, press Enter.
• More than one camera? Click the Change camera button in the top-right corner of the app until you see the right picture.
• "We can't find your camera"? Open Settings → Privacy & security → Camera and switch on Camera access and Let apps access your camera — and also Let desktop apps access your camera, otherwise OBS can't use it later.

• Name: Photo Booth. It comes with every Mac. FaceTime works too.
• Open it: press Cmd+Space, type Photo Booth, press Enter — or Finder → Applications → Photo Booth.
• More than one camera? In the menu bar at the top of the screen, click Camera and choose the one you want (in FaceTime: menu Video).
• The picture is mirrored? That's normal: Photo Booth works like a mirror. Your OBS recording won't be mirrored.

The laptop's built-in camera

The easiest possible start: it's already there, and OBS sees it right away.

Where to put the laptop:

• To the side of the keyboard, turned about 45° towards your hands. On a chair, a side table or an ironing board (really — adjustable height and very stable).
• A bit higher than the keys, so the camera looks slightly down. Stack a few books under the laptop if needed.
• Not on the music stand facing you. Then the camera sees your face and chest, not your hands.

Limits: Laptop cameras are usually low resolution and struggle in dim rooms. Good light (see 2.4) helps more than anything else.

Your smartphone as a camera

A modern phone camera is far better than most webcams. The phone sends its picture to your computer, and OBS records it together with your sound. How you connect it depends on your phone and computer:

Your phone	How to connect	Link
iPhone	Built in: Continuity Camera. You need macOS Ventura (13) or newer, iOS 16 or newer and an iPhone XR or newer. Sign in with the same Apple Account (with two-factor authentication) on both, switch on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and keep the iPhone near the Mac. Mount it still, lock it (screen off) and keep the rear cameras free. It then simply appears as a camera. If it doesn't, check on the iPhone: Settings → General → AirPlay & Continuity (on older iOS: AirPlay & Handoff) → Continuity Camera on.	Apple Support: Continuity Camera
Android	Use the Camo app: install Camo on the phone and Camo Studio on the Mac, connect the phone, then choose Camo as the camera in OBS.	Camo

Your phone	How to connect	Link
Android	Built into Windows 11, for phones with Android 10 or newer and an up-to-date Link to Windows app: open Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Mobile devices → Manage devices, link your phone and switch on Use as connected camera.	Microsoft Support: Use your mobile device's camera
iPhone	An app like Camo or DroidCam: install the app on the iPhone and the matching program on the PC, then choose it as the camera in OBS.	Camo · DroidCam

Mounting the phone: A phone tripod or a clamp holder with a flexible arm (search for "phone holder gooseneck clamp") is enough. Clamp it to a table or chair next to the piano: to the side of your hands, slightly from above.

Turn the phone sideways (landscape)! Upright videos look strange on YouTube and on a computer screen.

The webcam

This is the view you know from piano tutorials: the camera looks straight down onto the keys. Viewers see every finger. It's also the perfect base for the on-screen keyboard in Part 4.

What to look for	Why
1080p (Full HD)	Enough for YouTube and sharp enough to see fingers. 4K is nice, but needs a stronger computer.
A standard tripod thread (¼") at the bottom	So you can screw it onto any stand. Most webcams have one.
Wide field of view (around 78–90°)	The wider the view, the lower you can mount the camera and still see all keys.
Manual focus / exposure possible	Auto-focus that "pumps" in and out whenever your hands move is annoying — you want to lock it.

Popular examples: Logitech C920e (78° field of view), Logitech Brio 4K (65°, 78° or 90°, adjustable) and Elgato Facecam MK.2 (84°). Any decent 1080p webcam with a tripod thread will do.

The stand — three options

Option	How it works	Pros	Cons
Boom microphone stand	A floor stand with a long swinging arm. Add a small adapter (5/8" to ¼") and screw the webcam onto the end of the arm, pointing down.	Cheap, very flexible, stands on the floor beside the piano	Can sway a little when you play hard; needs a counterweight
Overhead camera arm / desk clamp arm	An arm that clamps to a table or shelf next to the piano and reaches over the keys.	Compact, stable	Needs a table or edge to clamp to
Tripod with a horizontal arm	A photo tripod whose centre column can be turned horizontal.	Very stable, also useful for photos	The most expensive option

How high? A rule of thumb

The camera has to see the whole width of the keys you want to show:

Keyboard	Width of the keys (approx.)	Camera height above the keys (approx., with a ~78° webcam)
49 keys	~70 cm	~50–60 cm
61 keys	~85 cm	~60–70 cm
88 keys	~123 cm	~90–100 cm

These are starting points. Mount the camera, look at the live picture, and move it up or down until the keys fill the width of the picture.

2.3 Sound: how your piano gets into the recording

Sound matters more than picture. People forgive a slightly blurry video — not a crackling, distant, tinny sound.

There are four ways to get good sound, from simplest to best:

#	Method	What you need	Sound quality
1	Microphone of the camera/phone/laptop	Nothing	😐 OK for a practice check. Picks up the room, fan noise, your breathing.
2	Sound via the USB cable	Nothing extra — if your digital piano supports "USB audio"	😀 Very good: clean, direct, no room noise
3	Headphone / Line Out → audio interface	A USB audio interface with two inputs + two audio cables (6.3 mm jack)	😀 Very good, works with any keyboard with a headphone or line output
4	Sound from the computer	Keyboard without its own sound (pure MIDI controller) + a piano sound on the computer	😀 Very good. See Part 4 — The Ultimate Piano can be that sound source

Method 2 in detail: USB audio

Many current digital pianos send their sound over the same USB cable they use for MIDI. The manual calls this "USB audio interface" or "audio via USB". Look it up in the manual or on the manufacturer's website: search for "[your model] USB audio".

If it works, your piano appears in OBS as a microphone/input device with its model name — see 3.5.

Method 3 in detail: audio interface

An audio interface is a small box that turns an audio cable into a USB sound device. Your digital piano sends stereo sound (left and right), so pick a model with two inputs, for example the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2. A model with only one input records only one side.

1. Connect the keyboard's LINE OUT L/MONO and R sockets to inputs 1 and 2 of the interface, with two 6.3 mm jack cables. If your keyboard has only a headphone socket (PHONES), use a "stereo jack to two mono jacks" splitter cable (TRS to 2× TS) instead.
2. If the interface has an INST switch or button for each input, leave it off — your keyboard is a line-level source.
3. Interface to the computer via USB.
4. Turn the input knob ("Gain") on the interface up until the level light flickers green when you play loud — never red.

An acoustic piano is recorded with a microphone. There are three levels, from simplest to best:

#	Method	What you need	Sound quality
1	Built-in microphone of the laptop— or of the phone, if your webcam method passes it on (Continuity Camera and some apps do); pick the microphone you want in OBS	Nothing	😐 OK for a practice check. Picks up the room and the computer's fan.
2	One USB microphone	A USB microphone	😀 Good: plug in, done. Usually mono (one channel)
3	Audio interface + two microphones	An audio interface with two microphone inputs, two condenser microphones, two XLR cables (the round, three-pin microphone cables) and two microphone stands. Condenser microphones need power from the interface: turn both gain knobs down, connect the microphones, then switch on 48V ("phantom power").	😍 Best: stereo, a real "piano in the room" sound

Where to put the microphone

These are starting points. Move the microphone, record ten seconds, listen, move again — your ears decide.

Piano	One microphone	Two microphones
Upright	Open the lid on top. Microphone about 30–50 cm above the opening, pointing down into the piano.	Both above the open top, one over the low strings, one over the high strings, about 60 cm apart.
Grand	Open the lid. Microphone at the curve of the case, about 50–100 cm away, at the height of the lid's edge, pointing at the strings.	Same place, the two microphones side by side about 30–60 cm apart, one pointing towards the low strings, one towards the high strings.

2.4 Light

The single cheapest improvement to any video.

• Light from the front or side, never from behind. A window behind the piano turns everything into a silhouette.
• One soft LED panel or desk lamp aimed at the keys from the side is often enough.
• Beware of glare on glossy black keys and glossy piano cases. If you see white reflections in the picture, move the light further to the side or bounce it off a white wall.
• Avoid mixed light (warm lamp + cold daylight). Pick one.
• Flicker? Some LED bulbs flicker on camera. If your video has rolling stripes, switch the lamp — or set the camera's anti-flicker option to 50 Hz (Europe) / 60 Hz (North America).

3. Software: installing and setting up OBS Studio

OBS Studio ("Open Broadcaster Software") is the most popular recording and streaming program in the world. It's free, open-source, runs on Windows, macOS and Linux, and is used by beginners and professionals alike.

It looks intimidating at first. It isn't. You'll only need a handful of buttons.

3.1 Download and install

1. Go to obsproject.com — only download from this official site.
2. Click WindowsmacOS and download the installer.
3. Run the installer and click through with the default settings. If Windows asks whether the app may make changes to your device, click Yes.Open the downloaded file and drag OBS into your Applications folder.

Permissions: On first start, macOS asks whether OBS may use the camera, the microphone and screen recording. Allow all three. If you clicked "Don't allow" by accident: System Settings → Privacy & Security → Camera / Microphone / Screen & System Audio Recording → switch OBS on, then restart OBS.

3.2 The first-start wizard

On the first start, OBS offers the Auto-Configuration Wizard.

1. Choose "Optimize just for recording, I will not be streaming".
2. Base (canvas) resolution: 1920x1080. FPS: 30 (choose 60 if you play fast passages and your computer is reasonably new).
3. Let OBS run its test and click Apply settings.

You can run the wizard again any time: Tools → Auto-Configuration Wizard.

3.3 OBS in 60 seconds: scenes, sources, mixer

The order of sources matters: The source at the top of the list lies on top in the picture. If your camera suddenly disappears, it's probably hidden behind another source — drag it up.

3.4 Add your camera

1. In Scenes, rename the default scene: right-click → Rename → e.g. "Piano".
2. In Sources, click + → Video Capture Device → name it "Camera" → OK.

3. In the dropdown Device, pick your camera: the built-in camera (often called "Integrated Camera" or "FaceTime HD Camera").your phone (e.g. "iPhone Camera", "Camo" or "DroidCam").your webcam (usually its brand and model name).
4. Resolution/FPS Type: set to Custom, then Resolution: 1920x1080, FPS: 30 (if your camera offers it).
5. OK. Right-click the camera in the preview → Transform → Fit to screen (shortcut: Ctrl+FCmd+F).

Keys upside down? Right-click → Transform → Rotate 180°. Mirrored (low notes on the right)? Transform → Flip Horizontal. Viewers expect the low notes on the left.

Locking focus and exposure: Double-click the camera source → Configure Video. Untick "Auto" for focus and exposure and set them by hand while your hands are on the keys. Some webcams have a fixed focus — then there's simply no focus setting to change.

Locking focus and exposure: macOS has no built-in dialog for this. Most webcam makers offer a free app for it (search for "[your webcam] software Mac"). Set focus and exposure by hand while your hands are on the keys.

3.5 Add your sound

First, silence what you don't need, so you don't record unwanted system sounds:

1. File → Settings → Audio.
2. Under Global Audio Devices, set Desktop Audio to Disabled— unless your piano sound comes from the computer (Method 4 / Part 4).
3. Set Mic/Auxiliary Audio to Disabled as well — we'll add the exact source we want by hand.

Then add your piano sound:

1. Sources → + → Audio Input Capture → name it "Piano".
2. Pick the device:
   • Method 1 → your camera's or laptop's microphone
   • Method 2 → your digital piano (appears with its model name, e.g. "USB Audio CODEC" or the brand name)
   • Method 3 → your audio interface (e.g. "Focusrite USB")
   • Method 4 → you don't need this source: your piano sound comes from the computer. Set it up first with 4.1 to 4.4, then come back for the test recording in 3.7.
   • Built-in microphone → e.g. "Microphone Array" or "MacBook Pro Microphone"
   • USB microphone → its brand and model name
   • Audio interface → its name (e.g. "Focusrite USB")
3. Play your loudest passage. In the Audio Mixer, the meter should reach the yellow area on your loudest notes — never the red. Adjust this at the source (keyboard volume or the gain knob on the interface), not with the OBS slider: once the sound is distorted before it reaches OBS, the slider can't repair it. Use the OBS slider only afterwards, to balance it against other sounds.

3.6 Recording settings that just work

File → Settings → Output (switch Output Mode to Simple):

Turning MKV into MP4 (for YouTube, phones, WhatsApp, some editors): File → Remux Recordings → pick the file → Remux. Takes seconds, no quality loss. OBS can also do this automatically: Settings → Advanced → Recording → tick Automatically remux to MP4.

File → Settings → Video: Base and Output resolution 1920x1080, FPS 30 (or 60).

3.7 Your first test recording

1. Click Start Recording (bottom right).

2. Play 30 seconds — include your loudest and your quietest passage.
3. Click Stop Recording.
4. File → Show Recordings → open the file.

Check:

• Can I see my hands and all the keys I play?
• Are low notes on the left?
• Is the sound clear, without crackling on loud notes?
• Do picture and sound match (key hits the bottom = note sounds)? If not, see Tips: fixing sync.

Congratulations — that's the basic setup. Everything from here on is optional. Only exception: if your keyboard has no sound of its own (Method 4), you need Part 4 for your sound.

3.8 Going live: streaming instead of recording

The good news: a stream uses exactly the same scene you just built. Camera and sound(and, later, the virtual keyboard) stay as they are — you only tell OBS where to send the picture.

Record first, stream second. Do at least one test recording before your first stream. A recording shows you problems (sound too loud, picture out of sync) that you don't want your audience to discover for you.

Step 1 — Connect OBS to your platform (File → Settings → Stream):

Step 2 — Let OBS pick the settings for your internet. Run Tools → Auto-Configuration Wizard again, this time choosing "Optimize for streaming, recording is secondary". OBS measures your upload speed and picks a matching quality.

Step 3 — Sound for live listeners. Streaming platforms compress the sound. Two things keep your piano sounding good:

• Settings → Output (with Output Mode set to Simple) → under Streaming, set Audio Bitrate to 160.
• Keep your levels in the yellow — a clipping stream can't be fixed afterwards.

Step 4 — Go live. Click Start Streaming. Tip: also click Start Recording — then you keep a high-quality copy on your computer, independent of the platform.

4. Extension: show a virtual keyboard next to your hands

In many piano videos, hands cover the keys — especially black keys, and especially from the side. A virtual keyboard above the camera picture solves that: every key you press lights up on screen, with its note name, and the chord you're playing is named live.

We'll use The Ultimate Piano for this. It runs in your web browser — nothing to install — and receives the notes from your keyboard over the USB cable from 2.1. OBS then records that browser window alongside your camera.

4.1 What you need

• Your keyboard connected via USB (the MIDI connection from 2.1)
• Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge or Opera. These browsers can receive MIDI from a keyboard. Safari can't — on a Mac, just use Chrome.
• The same computer that runs OBS

4.2 Connect your keyboard to The Ultimate Piano

1. Open app.the-ultimate-piano.com in Chrome, Edge or Opera.
2. Click the gear icon (Settings) → tab MIDI.
3. Switch MIDI on/off on.
4. Your browser asks whether the site may access MIDI devices → Allow.

5. Under MIDI devices, tick your keyboard. A green dot means: connected.
6. Play a few keys — they light up on screen.

4.3 Make the virtual keyboard look right for video

In Settings:

What	Where	Recommendation
Match your real keyboard's range	General → Start octave (C) and Octaves (1–8)	For all 88 keys: Start octave 0, Octaves 8. For your overhead shot, set exactly the range your camera shows — then real and virtual keys line up.
Note names on the keys	Display → Keys → Show note names on keys	On — viewers see "C", "F#" … on every pressed key
Sharps or flats	Display → Keys → Note name style	Pick what matches your piece
Highlight colour	Display → Keys → Default highlight color	A strong colour that stands out in your video
Chord names	Display → Score & Chords → Show chord names	On — shows the chord you're playing (Cmaj7, Am …)
Sustain pedal	Pedal display (on by default)	Shows when you press the sustain pedal — useful for students

See all options: Settings.

4.4 Sound: keyboard or app?

You have two choices — decide on one so you don't get a double sound:

Your situation	Do this
Your digital piano has its own good sound	Keep your sound setup from 3.5. In The Ultimate Piano, click the speaker icon in the header and mute the Piano channel — the app only shows, it doesn't play.
Your keyboard has no sound of its own (pure MIDI controller) — or you prefer the app's piano	Use The Ultimate Piano as your sound source: it plays a sampled grand piano. In OBS, set Desktop Audio back to your speakers or headphones (Settings → Audio) so OBS records the browser's sound. Desktop Audio also records notification sounds. To record only the browser, leave Desktop Audio disabled and add Sources → + → Application Audio Capture with your browser window instead.On a Mac, OBS doesn't record the browser's sound by itself: add Sources → + → macOS Audio Capture, choose your browser (Chrome, Edge or Opera), and check that the new source moves in the Audio Mixer when you play.

If the app's sound feels a little delayed when you play, see Optimizing Audio Latency.

4.5 Add the virtual keyboard to OBS

1. Put the browser with The Ultimate Piano on your screen and switch it to fullscreen — no tabs, no address bar: press F11.press Ctrl+Cmd+F.
2. In OBS: Sources → + → Display CapturemacOS Screen Capture → pick the screen with the browser → OK. This source also records the sound your Mac plays (macOS 13 or newer). In the Audio Mixer, click its speaker icon to mute it — your piano sound already comes from the sources you set up before, and with both on you'd hear it twice.
3. Crop to the keyboard: hold AltOption and drag the edges of the source in the preview. Drag the top edge down until only the keys (and, if you like, the chord name) are left.
4. Position the strip directly above the camera picture of your keys, full width. Your hands and arms come from below, so they never cover the virtual keyboard.
5. Make sure the camera source is below the screen capture in the source list (so the keyboard strip lies on top).

4.6 Layout ideas

Layout	How	Best for
Strip above	Virtual keyboard across the top, the camera picture of your keys below it (~75 % of the height)	An overhead camera — the classic tutorial look
Overlay	Camera full screen, virtual keyboard slightly transparent along the top edge of the picture (right-click → Filters → Color Correction → Opacity)	A side view, when you don't want to shrink the camera picture
Two scenes	Scene "Camera only" + scene "Camera + Keyboard"; switch between them while recording	Explaining a passage, then playing it through
Split screen (the classic)	Bottom: the virtual keyboard, with the camera picture of your keys right below it. Top left: notes or chords. Top right: a live picture of you	Tutorials and streams where you talk to your audience — see 5.7

The overhead trick: Set the virtual keyboard to exactly the range your camera shows (see 4.3) and stretch the strip to the same width as the keys in the camera picture. Now each lit-up key sits directly above the real key — viewers can follow at a glance.

5. Tips and tricks

5.1 Picture and sound out of sync

Cameras — especially phones over Wi-Fi — deliver their picture a fraction of a second late. You'll notice it when the note sounds before the finger hits the key.

Fix: Delay the sound to match the picture.

1. Open Edit → Advanced Audio Properties (in the menu bar at the top of OBS).
2. For your piano sound, set Sync Offset to e.g. 100 ms.
3. Record a test: play single, clear notes. Adjust in steps of 20–50 ms until finger and sound match.

With the virtual keyboard: The browser picture is usually faster than the camera. If the lit-up key appears before the finger hits the key, add a Render Delay filter to the screen capture (right-click the source → Filters → + → Render Delay) with the same value as the audio offset.

5.2 Make yourself comfortable on camera

• Record a "warm-up take" that you'll throw away. Most people play worse in the first minute because the red light makes them nervous. It passes.
• Record in long takes. Don't stop after every mistake — cut later, or just keep the best run.
• Tidy up what's in the picture. Coffee cups, cables, notes on the piano lid — the camera sees everything.
• Sleeves and jewellery: Wide sleeves and bracelets hide your hands from above.

5.3 Get the most out of your recording as a practice tool

• Listen without watching first. Then watch without sound. You'll notice different things each time.
• Record the same piece once a week and keep the files. In a month, you'll hear your progress — very motivating.
• Send your teacher a short clip of the one passage you're stuck on, rather than the whole piece.

5.4 Start and stop recording without touching the mouse

Settings → Hotkeys → Start Recording / Stop Recording → click the field and press a key combination, e.g. Ctrl+Shift+1Cmd+Shift+1 / Ctrl+Shift+2Cmd+Shift+2. Test it once while the browser is in front: the recording indicator in OBS should change. If the hotkeys don't react, give OBS Accessibility access in System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility.

Now you can start recordingwhile the browser is in front and your hands stay near the keys.

5.5 Keep your computer calm

• Close other programs and browser tabs during recording.
• Laptops: plug in the charger. On battery, many laptops slow down and the video stutters.
• Check "Stats" in OBS (Docks → Stats): if "Skipped frames due to encoding lag" climbs, lower FPS to 30 or switch to a hardware encoder.
• Enough disk space: One hour of 1080p video is several gigabytes. Keep at least 20 GB free.

5.6 Watch and share

• YouTube: upload MP4. If you recorded in MKV, turn it into MP4 first (File → Remux Recordings, see 3.6).
• Instagram / TikTok prefer upright video. Set OBS Settings → Video to 1080x1920 in a separate profile (Profile → New), or crop later in an editor.
• Simple editing: Trim start and end with a basic video editor — Clipchamp comes with Windows 11 (on Windows 10, get it free from the Microsoft Store)iMovie is on many Macs; if not, get it free from the App Store, or DaVinci Resolve if you want more.

5.7 A second camera for you: talking to your audience

Many piano teachers and streamers use a fixed split screen: the keys at the bottom, the notes at the top left, and a live picture of themselves at the top right — the whole time, not just when they talk. Viewers see what you play, what you read and who is playing, all at once.

Which camera for your face? You don't need anything special. A laptop camera, a phone or a second webcam is fine. A good combination: a webcam above the keys and the laptop's own camera for your face. Place it roughly at eye level, a bit away from the piano, so it shows your face and shoulders — and look into it when you talk.

Arranging the areas: Drag each source by its corner handles until it fills its area. With the source selected, Ctrl+ECmd+E opens Edit Transform, where you can type exact positions and sizes (for a 1920x1080 video: top half = 540 pixels high). Save the layout: it stays in your scene.

6. Troubleshooting

Still stuck? The OBS Knowledge Base and the OBS forums are very helpful.

7. Quick checklists

One-time setup

• Keyboard connected via USB (the right socket: "USB to Host")
• Microphone placed, level tested in the sound settings
• Camera to the side, slightly above, tested in the camera app
• Webcam straight above the keys, stand secured, tested in the camera app
• Light from the front or side, no glare on the keys
• OBS installed, wizard run for "recording only"
• Scene with camera + piano sound set up
• Recording format MKV (or Hybrid MP4), hardware encoder
• Test recording checked: picture, sound, sync
• (Optional) The Ultimate Piano connected, range and display set, added as screen capture

Before every recording

• Keyboard switched on before opening OBS or the browser
• Lid open, room quiet, phone on silent
• Laptop plugged in, other programs closed
• Glance at the OBS preview: camera sharp, keys in the picture
• Play one loud chord: meter yellow, not red
• (Optional) Virtual keyboard reacts to your keys
• Start recording — warm-up take — then the real one 🎹

8. FAQ

Do I need an expensive camera to record yourself playing piano?

No. A smartphone from the last few years or a 1080p webcam is enough. Light and sound make a bigger difference than the camera.

Is OBS Studio really free?

Yes. OBS Studio is free, open-source software for Windows, macOS and Linux, downloaded from obsproject.com.

Can I record without a computer, just with my phone?

Yes, with the phone's camera app. You'll get a video quickly, but only with the phone's microphone and without the extras. This guide uses a computer with OBS so you can combine a better sound source and your camera, plus a virtual keyboard, in one video.

How do I record an acoustic piano?

With a microphone: the built-in one of your laptop for a quick check, a USB microphone for good sound, or an audio interface with two microphones for the best result. Where you put the microphone matters more than which one you buy. See 2.3 with "Acoustic piano" selected in your setup.

My keyboard has no speakers. How do I get sound into the recording?

Your keyboard is a MIDI controller: it only sends which keys you press. The sound has to come from the computer — for example from The Ultimate Piano, which plays a sampled grand piano in your browser. OBS records it as Desktop Audio (see 4.4).

Why should I show a virtual keyboard in my piano video?

From the side, and often even from above, hands cover the keys. A virtual keyboard that lights up every key you press — with note names and the chord you're playing — lets viewers follow exactly what you play. It's especially helpful in tutorials and for teachers. It needs a digital piano or MIDI keyboard connected via USB.

Does the virtual keyboard work on an iPad or phone?

For this setup you need a Windows or Mac computer: OBS runs there, and the browser needs to receive MIDI. Use Chrome, Edge or Opera.

Can I use the same setup to stream live?

Yes. The scene you build for recording works unchanged for a live stream on YouTube, Twitch or any other platform — you only connect OBS to the platform and click Start Streaming (see 3.8).

Do I need a plugin for OBS?

No. OBS records the camera and the sound directly, and the browser with The Ultimate Piano as a screen capture.