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Midi Mac Download
Connecting your MIDI keyboard to your MAC can be slightly confusing when you’re new to keyboards. There are going to be a couple of different ways to accomplish this and I also want to touch on what you need to create sound once connected. Connecting your MIDI keyboard to a laptop is going to be the easy part; getting sound is going to be a little bit more difficult, but still easy.
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Contents
1) USB Cable
You will want to get a USB cable from a local music store or on Amazon if you don’t already have one.
They are typically cheap and you don’t need to spend a ton on one. Located your the USB port on your Macbook and connect the bigger side of your cable to it.
If you’re connecting to a computer, you do the same process. Find the USB port on your tower and plug it in accordingly.
When doing this you will want to plug the smaller side into the back of your MIDI keyboard. You should see your keyboard light up and turn on when doing this.
Make sure that your laptop is turned on and also plugged into a charger. I like to have mine plugged into a charger only to save the battery.
Once you do this, you will be fully connected to your laptop; now let’s talk about connecting to a DAW.
Are you looking for a stand for your laptop? Here are my favorite laptop stands for keyboard players.
Connecting MIDI Keyboard With A DAW
Connecting to your DAW might be a little more confusing, especially if you don’t know what a DAW is. Essentially, your DAW is going to be what allows you to play music with your MIDI controller.
An example of a DAW is GarageBand, which is on every single Macbook that you can purchase.
For example, let’s take Ableton Live. Connect your keyboard to your laptop the same way we discussed. Now, open up Ableton Live. You should immediately see a connection with your MIDI controller.
Now, go to preferences in Ableton Live and click the audio. Make sure the audio is correct with your speakers on your laptop.
Here is a really helpful video:
Connecting With Bluetooth
This is a very similar process, only you don’t need a USB cable. Make sure your laptop has Bluetooth turned on and then search to connect with your keyboard. If you can’t immediately find it, make sure you check your MIDI keyboard manual as this will show you any further instructions you may need for a specific keyboard.
Midi Cable For Macbook Air
If you have a Bluetooth controller, check out my guide to them here.
Conclusion
I hope this guide was helpful. Now that you know how to connect; I hope you have an amazing time playing with your MIDI controller.
Did you find this helpful? If so, leave a comment below!
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I thought I remember reading somewhere that the iPad would soon be able to connect MIDI to Mac over a simple plug and play USB connection, sort of like how you can now send audio from iPad to Mac by plug and play (well maybe not instant plug and play, but no interface needed, just enable iPad audio input within the Mac Audio MIDI system app).
Is this true? If so, is it coming in an update anytime soon?
Comments
Mac Midi Software
I heard about it too and was in an impresiion that it has been already implemented a quite while back. I have been using bluetooth midi between my ipad and macbook. No need for usb, as the latency is pretty much non existent.
This?
https://help.ableton.com/hc/en-us/articles/209073129-Enabling-Audio-over-USB-in-iOS-devicesyeah in the betas there is inter device midi over usb and it works very well. one port with 16 channels. also one stereo audio channel ios to mac.
I've used MidiMux, which is free, successfully with PC. Sez it works with Mac too.
Yes, you can do it already. I tried it the other day and had Xynthesizr sending MIDI while synced with Link to Ableton Live on the Mac. Had to fiddle about with that Audio MIDI utility on the Mac for a bit
@Jocphone said:
Yes, you can do it already. I tried it the other day and had Xynthesizr sending MIDI while synced with Link to Ableton Live on the Mac. Had to fiddle about with that Audio MIDI utility on the Mac for a bitYeh, as everyone knows, PCs are a lot easier to use.
@wim said:
@Jocphone said:
Yes, you can do it already. I tried it the other day and had Xynthesizr sending MIDI while synced with Link to Ableton Live on the Mac. Had to fiddle about with that Audio MIDI utility on the Mac for a bitYeh, as everyone knows, PCs are a lot easier to use.
@Jocphone said:
Yes, you can do it already. I tried it the other day and had Xynthesizr sending MIDI while synced with Link to Ableton Live on the Mac. Had to fiddle about with that Audio MIDI utility on the Mac for a bitReally? How do you set it up using the Audio MIDI app for Mac?
@1P18 said:
@Jocphone said:
Yes, you can do it already. I tried it the other day and had Xynthesizr sending MIDI while synced with Link to Ableton Live on the Mac. Had to fiddle about with that Audio MIDI utility on the Mac for a bitReally? How do you set it up using the Audio MIDI app for Mac?
Yes, really.
Don't remember exactly where I read it but the steps went something like: (with iPad plugged into Mac using Lightning -> USB cable)
- On iOS set Xynthesizr running add 'Network Session' (whatever it's called) as MIDI output. Enable Link if required.
- On Mac have Ableton open and ensure that 'Monitor' for a channel is on. Probably easiest to use 'All Inputs' and 'All Channels' at first. Enable Link if required.
- Open Audio MIDI setup, open the MIDI window, double click 'Network'
- Eventually your iOS device will appear under 'Directory' click on 'Connect'
- I think I also set both 'Live Routings' drop downs to 'Network Session 1'
Thats as much as I remember. A bit of tryings then it just worked and I was able record MIDI directly from Xynthesizr.
Oh and turn off MIDI out in Ableton channels because that caused weird transposing back in Xynthesizr, a feedback loop I guess.
Also MIDI setup crashed most times I closed the MIDI window but the setting continued working even when opening repeatedly.
HTH
@Jocphone Network! All along I thought the Network selection was for WiFi only. I doubt I ever would have figured that out on my own. Thanks.
@1P18 said:
@Jocphone Network! All along I thought the Network selection was for WiFi only. I doubt I ever would have figured that out on my own. Thanks.Me neither, think I found a blog post on ableton.com
If you're on a mac midimittr works flawlessly for midi and audio over lightning cable: midimittr by Matthias Frick
https://appsto.re/gb/n_Ek3.i
You have to download the mac app too, which is also freeIs there a way to send audio out of my MacBook to and iPad via usb? I used to do it with my iconnectmidi2+ but it is currently awaiting update on firmware.