How do I set up my MIDI keyboard?

Question

Level 1

5 points

How do I set up my MIDI keyboard?

I have a macbook with the latest version of garageband. i have also a MIDI to USB cable that runs from my two MIDI in and out ports of my Yamaha keyboard. I've tried to use the MIDI assistant to set up my keyboard with Grargeband, but nothing is working, I've tried looking on youtube and such but nothing is getting me there. Any help?

MacBook Black, iMac G3, Sony VAIO, Mac OS X (10.5.1)

Posted on Jan 10, 2009 12:03 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Jan 10, 2009 1:30 PM in response to iPoD nAnO G2

How did you connect the cables? The keyboard's midi out has to be connected to the interface's midi in and vice versa (well, actually you need no cable going into the keyboard since the data go only one way).

Also, what did you do on the Garageband side?

Plus, what is this "Midi to USB cable" you are using? These things aren't just cables, but interfaces, and most of them need a driver installed on the Mac in order to communicate with the computer.

Reply

Answer 2

iPoD nAnO G2 Author

Level 1

5 points

Jan 10, 2009 1:51 PM in response to Christoph Drösser

The "midi to usb cable" is a usb wire, with a thing on it which has LEDs indicating out and in, then the other end has two midi cables, one in and one out. I haven't really done much with Garageband apart from go on the preferences and audio midi option. When i brought the MIDI USB cable it said on the back of the box that the drivers were built in and it was "plug and play". I've fiddled about with the Audio MIDI Setup assistant but I have had no luck.

Reply

Answer 3

Jan 10, 2009 3:40 PM in response to iPoD nAnO G2

If you told us exactly what interface it is, maybe we could help with the driver question. "Plug and play" might refer to Windows only.

When you go to GB's prefs, Audio/Midi tab, does it say "1 midi device detected" or "0 midi devices detected"?

Reply

Answer 4

Jan 10, 2009 10:41 PM in response to Christoph Drösser

My Yamaha is hooked up using a Yamaha UX-16 USB/Midi Interface. Sounds like the one you're describing. I think the drivers are here:

http://www.yamaha.com/yamahavgn/CDA/ContentDetail/ModelSeriesDetail/0,,CNTID%252 53D2382%252526CTID%25253D204600,00.html

Then go back in to AUDIO/MIDI. Mine looks totally different - just the older style I guess - mine isn't a cylinder shape mine is a small rectangle and almost a black color (dark blueish). Try the drivers - might work. Or Google UX-16 to find the older style pictures to see if yours is a UX-16 or not. They're actually USB drivers - not midi drivers - but once I had the drivers installed IT SOUNDED LIKE A CATHEDRAL in here 🙂 Hope this helps ya'.

Reply

Answer 5

iPoD nAnO G2 Author

Level 1

5 points

Jan 14, 2009 6:52 AM in response to Christoph Drösser

It does say on GB that there is one midi device connected, i have no idea how to get it working. My USB midi interface cable is pretty much similar to the link that dude gave me. It said on the box it was for mac aswell. If anyone has got a keyboard set up with garageband via midi, could you please tell me how you did it ?

Reply

Answer 6

Kaboodle

Level 1

44 points

Jan 15, 2009 8:58 PM in response to iPoD nAnO G2

You also may want to check the Yamaha support site and see if there are midi drivers specific to your keyboard, in addition to the midi interface.

Your Mac PC may be able to see the USB interface, but not the keyboard through the interface.

Reply

Answer 7

HangTime

Level 9

53,841 points

Jan 15, 2009 9:01 PM in response to Kaboodle

but not the keyboard through the interface.

the only thing the mac will ever see is the interface, if you are using one, not the keyboard

Reply

Answer 8

Kaboodle

Level 1

44 points

Jan 15, 2009 10:21 PM in response to HangTime

Valid point, I was referring to the setup describing the linking the keyboard to the midi interface per this picture here:

"An example of a working Audio MIDI setup with an M-Audio MIDI interface and a non-USB MIDI keyboard looks like this:"
http://www.macjams.com/images/articles/20040128064923856_4.gif

Which is described through this article.
http://www.macjams.com/article.php?story=20040128064923856

Reply