Garage Band won't work with Yamaha P250 Keyboard???? -- Help!!

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Garage Band won't work with Yamaha P250 Keyboard???? -- Help!!

I have a Yamaha P250 stage piano keyboard that I would like to be able to play and record into tracks on Garage Band with my MacBook Pro. The Tools software that came with the Yamaha P250 doesn't support the OS X 10.4.6 of the MacBook Pro. I downloaded free software from Yamaha: Generic USB driver- v1.0.1 (.SIT, 124 Kb, MAC OS X). But when I hook up the USB connection and try to record, --- nothing. My Mac does not register any input on "line-in" in the Apple system preferences.

Does anyone have any experience with this? Could it be there is something very simple I need to adjust? Do I need a different driver? Is it possible that Garage Band just can't work with the Yamaha P250?

MacBook Pro Mac OS X (10.4.6)

MacBook Pro Mac OS X (10.4.6)

MacBook Pro Mac OS X (10.4.6)

Posted on Apr 8, 2006 7:06 PM

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Answer 1

xs4is

Level 4

2,800 points

Apr 8, 2006 7:34 PM in response to skygirl

Since you have the MacBook Pro, it might not yet be compatable. The Intel chipset requires a different set of drivers. Patience, everything should be coming in the next couple of months.

I am unfamiliar with your keyboard. If it is a synth and not just a midi controller, I suggest recording the audio outs of your keyboard in GB. You'll get some sound that way at least.

Welcome to the forum skygirl,

Good Luck!!

-xs4is

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Answer 2

skygirl Author

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Apr 8, 2006 8:15 PM in response to xs4is

Thank-you very much. I didn't think about that. That sounds very simple.

By output I assume you mean the same place I put in headphones to listen or to hook up to an amp??? If so, may I ask: if that works, what capabilities would I be gaining by using the new software if and when it becomes available in 2 months or so......

Thanks much again.....(I will rate you when I get a change to check it tomorrow.)

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Answer 3

xs4is

Level 4

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Apr 8, 2006 8:23 PM in response to skygirl

If you use the audio outs you will get audio regions in GB.

If you get the updated drivers and everything works, you can record Midi regions. You can edit midi info in a much more thorough manner than audio. Each individual note can be editted in this manner. In an audio region you can only edit the whole "sound." I suggest playing with some midi Apple Loops and changing things around.

Hope that helps. Good luck skygirl!

X

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Answer 4

skygirl Author

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Apr 9, 2006 6:45 AM in response to xs4is

O.K. -- yes, the audio works and now I understand much better. One last question: is there anywhere I can go online to get info on the planned new drivers that you say are due out in the next couple of months?

Thanks for all your help.

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Answer 5

xs4is

Level 4

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Apr 9, 2006 9:00 AM in response to skygirl

I'm just assuming they'll be out in the next couple of months. I would check out Yamahas website. If you don't find anything there, emial their support.

If they don't plan on supporting your keyboard, you can get a very simple but amazingly effective midi comtroller for about $100 bucks. I use an M-audio keystation 49e. AWESOME!

If you like what you've read, then don't forget the helpful/solved points!

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Answer 6

Apr 19, 2006 10:40 AM in response to xs4is

I found this driver for my Yamaha S08 last night and it works now on my Intel MacMini:

http://www.global.yamaha.com/download/usb_midi/index.html#00004

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Answer 7

skygirl Author

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Apr 19, 2006 5:49 PM in response to Woods2006

Actually, I got a very helpful message from Yamaha directing me to a site that lists additional drivers. For a Yamaha P250 you have to go to the following website and then download USB-MIDI Driver for Mac OS X um110mx.zip. Here's the website:

http://www.global.yamaha.com/download/usb_midi/

I did this and it works just fine!

MacBook Pro Mac OS X (10.4.6)

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Answer 8

SCU 99

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May 20, 2006 12:22 PM in response to skygirl

Skygirl (or anybody else with an idea on this one),

Are you able to control the recording start/stop function in Garageband using any of the assignable MIDI buttons on the P250? Or, do you have to start/stop recording using the controls in Garageband itself? I have a Yamaha P200 (similar to the P250, but older) and am able to control various Garageband functions from the P200 unit, but not the recording start/stop. I was wondering if you had any luck in this area. Thank you for your time.

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Answer 9

Sensei_V

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35 points

Jun 12, 2006 11:57 AM in response to skygirl

After installing the driver contained in um110mx.zip, I was able to get my MacBook Pro to recognize my Yamaha S08 keyboard (connected via USB) in Audio MIDI Setup and even GarageBand detected one MIDI input, but I still wasn't able to get GarageBand to record the output. Is there something simple that I just don't know to do?

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Answer 10

HangTime

Level 9

53,873 points

Jun 12, 2006 12:26 PM in response to Sensei_V

Did you have a Software Track selected?

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Answer 11

Sensei_V

Level 1

35 points

Jun 12, 2006 12:34 PM in response to HangTime

Yes. From my understanding, a software instrument is MIDI with input from a musical keyboard or the computer keyboard, etc., while a real instrument is input from a microphone or other audio source.

I just can't find instructions for actually capturing from the MIDI device. Is it as simple as pressing 'record' on a software track and playing the keyboard? If it is, then I have a problem because that isn't working.

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Answer 12

HangTime

Level 9

53,873 points

Jun 12, 2006 2:03 PM in response to Sensei_V

Yes, it is supposed to be as simple as that.

Select or create a software track, press the record button, play your keyboard.

I would suggest twiddling around in Audio MIDI Setup utility, but if GB is telling you that it detects a MIDI device, you should be Good To Go.

When you press a key on the keyboard, do you see a little dot light up in the Time display, right between the Time/Bars numbers and the Tempo numbers?

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Answer 13

skygirl Author

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Jun 12, 2006 2:10 PM in response to Sensei_V

I'm the one who originally had a problem, but when I downloaded the program from Yamaha everything worked.

I haven't done the keyboard to mac arrangement in awhile because now my band is recording directly into a mixer, for a variety of reasons, but if you continue to have problems, I'll see if I can reconstruct the steps I went through to get mine to work -- it went very smoothly once I had the Yamaha software.

Let me know.

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Answer 14

Sensei_V

Level 1

35 points

Jun 13, 2006 6:18 AM in response to skygirl

Thanks sky and Hang.

I'm actually in the process of moving right now, so I haven't had a chance to fiddle with it more. This morning I noticed something new, however: the Yamaha keyboard/driver created a System Preferences pane, but it isn't functional when the keyboard isn't attached. I'll play with that some and get back to you.

Thanks again.

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Answer 15

Jun 18, 2006 7:56 AM in response to skygirl

Sensei,
Is your goal to record the voices that are built into your S08, or to record the voices built into Garageband (called software instruments) using the S08 as the keyboard control?
I do the latter, but havent figured out how to record the sounds from the S08. My guess is to connect it to Garageband using an audio interface (I have the M-Audio Mobile Pre which I record guitar parts through), with standard audio cables, not midi or usb.

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