How do I hook my Keyboard up to my computer to use it as a MIDI controller?

Question

How do I hook my Keyboard up to my computer to use it as a MIDI controller?

Ok, I'm new to MACS and new to LOGIC. I just installed logic and all of its components on my IMAC. OSX 10.6.3 Once I installed everything, I tried to hook up my electric piano to use it as a MIDI controller. Mind you, I am also completely new to MIDI. My Piano is a KORG sp-300. I used an Alesis Audio Link USB- MIDI cable to connect my keyboard directly to a usb port in my MAC. I hooked up the midi side of the connector to the midi in and out on my keyboard, and plugged in the usb side to the computer. I then went to the Audio Midi set up, and looked in the midi studio, and there was the USB2MIDI(which is associated with the Alesis cord, and not my Korg piano) and the IAC driver from MAC. I checked so that both are online, and didn't change any of the other settings. I did a test set up, but when I played notes on the keyboard nothing happened.

So now when I open Logic, or garage band for that matter, it doesn't recognize that I have a midi controller hooked up. When I look in midi preferences in garageband, it says that there are 2 midi devices detected. In logic it says that there is no input or output.

I read the manual for LOGIC and for my Korg, and I am lost. Korg says that it transmits on 1 channel, automatically set to channel 1 if not adjusted, and receives on 16. If I am correct, right now I am not interested in receiving, only transmitting.

At this point, I just want to select a software instrument in Logic, play my Korg, and see notes(or MIDI data) appear in the arrange area. I don't know what's going on, but again, I am completely lost.

Could someone please help me here? Am I missing an obvious step? Like I said, I am new to all of this, so please let me know if you have any idea how to get my midi controller to work. It says in the Korg manual that it can be used as a controller, or a multitimbral tone generator. And I did switch the Local Off.

By the way, who would be best to call to solve this issue. MAC? Sweetwater(where I bought the Alesis cord, and Logic)? Or Korg?

Please let me know if you have any helpful advice.

Thanks,

Tristan

IMAC, Mac OS X (10.6.3), Running Logic Pro Studio 9

Posted on Jun 24, 2010 8:01 PM

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Answer 1

Pancenter

Level 6

14,644 points

Jun 25, 2010 12:33 AM in response to MUYconfundido

Man, I read these questions and I wonder how everyone figured this stuff out 25 years ago when it was really new.

MIDI OUT of The Korg keyboard to MIDI IN on the interface, if you're going to use the Korg only as a controller that's all you need. At this point you should see notes coming into Logic, you don't have to do anything else. deactivate the IAC driver, not necessary.

You don't have to do any fancy setup in the Audio/MIDI setup, it only needs show the MIDI interface for things to work.

pancenter-

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Answer 2

Jun 25, 2010 12:37 PM in response to Pancenter

Pancenter,

Thanks for the response, but I do not have a midi interface. I am using a midi to usb connector cable, thus bypassing the need for a Midi interface.

The Mac reads the USB cable as a midi device, but not the keyboard that I am trying to use as a controller. I have tried it with my korg sp 300 and with my Nord Electro 2.

Thoughts?

Thanks,

Tristan

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Answer 3

Pancenter

Level 6

14,644 points

Jun 25, 2010 2:52 PM in response to MUYconfundido

MUYconfundido wrote:
Pancenter,

Thanks for the response, but I do not have a midi interface. I am using a midi to usb connector cable, thus bypassing the need for a Midi interface.

The Mac reads the USB cable as a midi device, but not the keyboard that I am trying to use as a controller. I have tried it with my korg sp 300 and with my Nord Electro 2.

Thoughts?

Thanks,

Tristan

Tristan...

This is what you have, correct?
http://www.alesis.com/usbmidicable

This from Alesis..

"The AudioLink Series USB cable receives and outputs MIDI signal thanks to its internal interface. The USB-MIDI Cable connects plug-and-play to your Mac or PC for an all-in-one USB-MIDI solution."

Notice, -internal interface-. What you have is a simple USB MIDI Interface. Most MIDI interfaces are USB.

My point is (was), MIDI OUT of the Korg goes to the connector marked MIDI IN on the Alesis, those new to MIDI often get this wrong.

pancenter-

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Answer 4

Aug 2, 2010 1:22 PM in response to Pancenter

I figured it out. The guy at Sweetwater sound knew exactly what I was talking about and helped me in about 10 seconds.

Thanks again...

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Answer 5

Aug 2, 2010 1:23 PM in response to MUYconfundido

Anyone who has every bought gear from Sweetwater sound, they have a great support line. I called and they figured it out in about ten seconds. Something super simple that I never would have figured out on my own.

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