How do you connect a USB MIDI keyboard to iPad Air?

Question

Level 1

8 points

How do you connect a USB MIDI keyboard to iPad Air?

Hello,

I can't get my USB keyboards to connect to my iPad Air. I used to use the camera connection kit with my 1st gen iPad and it worked perfectly. Now when trying to connect using my camera connector plugged into a lightning to 30 pin adapter with the iPad Air I get no response when trying to use my keyboards with Garageband, etc. This seems like a step backwards!!!

Can anyone advise on how to use a USB MIDI keyboard with the iPad Air?

Thanks,

Richard

iPad Air Wi-Fi, iOS 7.0.3

Posted on Nov 8, 2013 12:58 PM

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Answer 1

AmishCake

Level 6

9,648 points

Nov 8, 2013 1:02 PM in response to Bass_dude

Apple discontinued support for many third-party accessories since the electrocution incident in China. iOS 7 may no longer be compatible with your rig.

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Answer 2

Bass_dude Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 8, 2013 1:16 PM in response to AmishCake

Thanks AmishCake, but surely with the growing number of great MIDI compatible music apps out there, it is still possible to use a MIDI keyboard with the iPad? I'm happy to buy new kit to do so but am not sure what will do the job...

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Answer 3

AmishCake

Level 6

9,648 points

Nov 8, 2013 1:22 PM in response to Bass_dude

The Air is very new so perhaps nothing has been released yet. I wonder if you tried searching with Google?

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Answer 4

Nov 8, 2013 1:32 PM in response to Bass_dude

Two options:

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/StudioConLt/

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/iRigPro/

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Answer 5

Ralph9430

Level 7

21,998 points

Nov 8, 2013 1:57 PM in response to Bass_dude

I think using the lightning to 30 pin adapter is the problem. If you used a camera connection kit before try using the new Lightning to USB Camera Connection.

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Answer 6

DanZi

Level 1

0 points

Nov 18, 2013 12:23 PM in response to Bass_dude

Same problem here...

I just read on another forum that someone managed to connect a midi device using a simple converter.

I have a digital piano with the square type USB connector, bought an adapter to convert the iPad Air's ligtning USB cable's USB end to that square connector, plugged it in, GarageBand did not respond to the Midi input.

on a macbook pro it works ok, but would be nice to use the iPad now that I bought it...

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Answer 7

Nov 18, 2013 12:40 PM in response to Ralph9430

I think you're right about the adapter. Seems to be causing people problems.

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Answer 8

Bass_dude Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 19, 2013 11:26 AM in response to Bass_dude

I just got the official Apple Lightning to USB camera connector and am happy to report that it works perfectly with my USB MIDI keyboards on the iPad Air.

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Answer 9

Nov 27, 2013 4:47 AM in response to Bass_dude

Sort of related issue: I use a Tascam DR40 to record and want to upload from it to my new iPad Air, but the Tascam has a usb connector and the iPad the lightening connector. What are the chances that the lightening camera cable will work? I've tried posting a question on this in the Garage band forum, but so far no insights. The Tascam DR40 is a widely used recorder, so I'm thinking someone somewhere must have cracked the connectivity isssue?

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Answer 10

Dec 6, 2013 4:09 AM in response to docdaveswampash

Problem solved, I think. I have bought a (samll) Kingston WiFi device which has a built in SD card reader and a slot for a usb stick. This lets me read the files on the Tascam SD card and the send the files wirelessly to the iPad Air. You can also transfer them to the usb stick.

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