Play live with a MIDI keyboard in your browser
midee lets you play live with a MIDI keyboard in your browser. Connect a USB MIDI controller, open Live mode, and your notes become a real-time piano-roll visualization with sound, glowing keys, particles, recording, and looping.
You do not need a DAW just to jam, sketch a phrase, or make something beautiful happen on screen.
Quick steps
- Connect your MIDI keyboard by USB.
- Open midee.app.
- Choose Live.
- Allow MIDI access if your browser asks.
- Play your controller.
- Turn on the metronome, record a session, or start a loop.
No MIDI controller nearby? Your computer keyboard and mouse can play notes too.
What live mode is for
Live mode is the performance side of midee. Instead of loading a MIDI file first, you play the notes yourself and midee visualizes them as they happen.
Use it for:
- Practicing scales, chords, and melodies with visual feedback.
- Jamming on a MIDI controller without opening a DAW.
- Recording quick MIDI ideas.
- Building layered loops.
- Making a visual performance for a stream or screen capture.
- Testing a MIDI keyboard connection in the browser.
If Synthesia is the "follow the falling notes" workflow, live mode is the "make the falling notes yourself" workflow.
Live mode features
| Feature | What it does |
|---|---|
| Web MIDI input | Receives notes from compatible MIDI controllers |
| Computer keyboard input | Lets you play even without hardware |
| Real-time visualizer | Shows live notes as piano-roll trails |
| Instrument sounds | Plays notes through midee's browser audio engine |
| Metronome | Keeps loops and practice grounded in tempo |
| Session recording | Captures what you play as MIDI |
| Loop station | Records a phrase, repeats it, and lets you overdub |
| MP4 export path | Turn loaded or recorded material into shareable videos |
Why use a browser for live MIDI?
For serious production, a DAW is still the right tool. But many moments are lighter than that. You may only want to hear your controller, check latency, practice a riff, record a short idea, or use a clean visualizer while you play.
A browser-based live MIDI app is useful because it is instant:
- No plugin scan.
- No audio project setup.
- No template.
- No track routing.
- No install on locked-down machines.
Open the page, connect the controller, play.
Live MIDI vs MIDI file playback
| Mode | Best for |
|---|---|
| Play | Open an existing .mid file and listen/watch |
| Live | Play notes yourself with a MIDI controller or keyboard |
| Learn | Practice with wait mode, sight reading, and ear training |
People often use all three together: load a MIDI to hear it, switch to Learn to practice it, then use Live to jam around the idea.
Browser support
Web MIDI works best on desktop browsers. Chrome, Edge, Opera, Safari 18+, and modern Firefox builds support Web MIDI in many desktop setups. iPhone support remains limited, and mobile browsers may restrict background audio or hardware access.
For lowest latency, use USB MIDI and wired headphones. Bluetooth MIDI and Bluetooth audio can both add noticeable delay.
For more detail, read Playing your MIDI keyboard in the browser.
Common questions
Can I play a MIDI keyboard in the browser? Yes. midee uses Web MIDI where the browser and device support it.
Do I need to install a driver? Most class-compliant USB MIDI controllers work without special drivers. Older proprietary devices may vary.
Can I record what I play? Yes. Live mode can record a session and save MIDI.
Can I loop a phrase? Yes. The loop station arms, records from your first note, repeats the phrase, and lets you overdub.
Can I use my laptop keyboard instead? Yes. midee also supports computer keyboard input.
Is this a replacement for a DAW? No. It is a fast live instrument, visualizer, looper, and recorder. Use a DAW for editing, mixing, plugins, and production.
Try it
Open midee, switch to Live, and play a few notes. If your controller is connected, the visual feedback should be immediate.
Try midee
Free, open source, runs in your browser. Drop a MIDI, watch it sing.
Open the app →