HT1043: Configuring your MIDI controller for best results with MainStage

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Ronmuse

Q: Cables and/or Hardware to connect Keyboard to MacBookPro with Mainstage2

New to MS. I need to use MS with a midi keyboard live (gigs, etc.). Would like to know what additional hardware-cables &/or boxes-(specific brand or generic names) are needed to connect my Keyboard (Yamaha S90) to my MacBookPro for live gigs.

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.4)

Posted on Aug 22, 2012 9:47 AM

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Q: Cables and/or Hardware to connect Keyboard to MacBookPro with Mainstage2

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  • by mrdister,

    mrdister mrdister Aug 23, 2012 9:05 AM in response to Ronmuse
    Level 1 (60 points)
    Aug 23, 2012 9:05 AM in response to Ronmuse

    If you want the actual sound of the piano, you will need some kind of audi converter like an M-Audio Fast Track Pro or an Apogee Duet. Units like these take incoming audio through either a 1/4" connection, XLR, or RCA and put it into a computer via Firewire/ USB (which your MBPro will have).

     

    You could either send the audio oudio out using your laptop's built in audio (don't do that). Or, you could use that same audio/midi box as your output.

     

    If you want to use the Yamaha S90 as a MIDI controller, you would need to hook up a MIDI cable from the back of the keyboard to your audio/midi box. Incoming notes would then be interpreted by the computer as MIDI notes and not audio piano sounds. You could make your keyboard play drum sounds, synth sounds, etc. by using a plugin in Mainstage.