Connecting Yamaha Keyboard to Garageband

Question

Level 1

20 points

Connecting Yamaha Keyboard to Garageband

I need help setting up my Yamaha DGX-220 so I can use it in Garageband as a Midi controller...The only thing is I know nothing. I am using a usb cable to connect the two. *Please Help!*

iMac, Mac OS X (10.5.7), Keyboard: Yamaha DGX-220

Posted on Jul 2, 2009 4:36 PM

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Answer 1

lzap

Level 1

4 points

Jul 2, 2009 9:09 PM in response to BernDesigns

To use it as a midi controller you need to connect a midi cable to the midi out jack on the keyboard and then connect the cable to a midi interface box, and connect that box to your computer with a USB cable. While the DGX-220 can connect directly to a computer via USB, I believe this is only to access the pre-made songs and lessons. To use it as a midi controller you need to use a midi cable.

Any of the products listed on the page below will do the trick:
http://www.zzounds.com/cat--USB-MIDI-Interfaces--2434
I have the Mark of the Unicorn (MOTU) FastLane USB MIDI Interface. I use it to connect my Yamaha P80 digital piano to my iMac and I have been happy with it.

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Answer 2

Jul 3, 2009 3:06 AM in response to lzap

Before you buy additional hardware, you might check your USB connection. Have you installed a driver at all? Without that, it won't work. Is it the latest driver? Check Yamaha's download page:

http://www.yamahasynth.com/downloads/

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Answer 3

BernDesigns Author

Level 1

20 points

Jul 3, 2009 7:23 AM in response to lzap

Thank you so much for your help! I found this site that has a pdf file of the manual that came with my keyboard: http://www.yamaha.com/yamahavgn/CDA/ContentDetail/ModelSeriesDetail.html?CNTID=4 51238&CTID=205200&RLTID=590&DETYP=RELATION#

If you look on page 13 it shows a rear panel view of the keyboard. As you can see there is no MIDI output, thats why I was thinking it had to be through USB. I lost my cd for the driver...but even if I found it, it was only for Windows. I also found this discussion of someone looking for the same driver: http://www.ocremix.org/forums/archive/index.php/t-7378.html
Someone gives a link so I downloaded it. It shows up in system preferences and I plug in my keyboard through USB but, when I click the icon it says,"Yamaha USB-MIDI device is not connected." I followed the manuals instructions on how to connect it to the computer but, its still not working.

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Answer 4

Jul 3, 2009 8:49 AM in response to BernDesigns

Sure you have the latest driver? Yamaha released a new USB driver 3 days ago:
http://www.global.yamaha.com/download/usb_midi/index.html

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