This guide covers basic troubleshooting steps to determine whether your USB MIDI device is recognized and working properly on a Mac computer. 


Contents


 

Testing to see if a MIDI device is recognized on Mac

  1. Open the Audio/MIDI Setup by going to Applications > Utilities > Audio/MIDI Setup.    
  2. If the MIDI Studio window does not appear automatically, go to the menu bar at the top of the screen and select Window > Show MIDI Studio.

    Audio MIDI_2.png

  3. With the MIDI Studio window open, plug in your USB/MIDI keyboard or controller. Once the device is plugged in and recognized it will appear in the window as solid. If the device is grayed out it is currently unavailable. If your device is not listed or grayed out you may want to try a different USB cable and or USB port.

    Audio MIDI_3.png


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How to Reconfigure your Mac OS MIDI Studio

If your MIDI Device is not being recognized by your Mac, creating a new MIDI configuration can help the device be recognized.


Before getting started, disconnect all USB MIDI devices or keyboards. This will eliminate any potential conflicts upon creating a new configuration.

 

  1. Open the Audio/MIDI Setup by going to Applications > Utilities > Audio/MIDI Setup.
  2. If the MIDI Studio window does not appear automatically, go to the menu bar at the top of the screen and select Window > Show MIDI Window.
  3. The MIDI Studio window will pop and display all of your current MIDI devices.


    You may see icons for all of your MIDI devices that have been "greyed out." This just means that the devices are not currently connected. If a device is not connected to the computer but still appears connected in your MIDI Studio, that may be a part of the problem and a sign that the MIDI Studio needs to be reset.

    Please Note: The IAC Driver and Network will always appear in the MIDI Studio.

  4. To create a new configuration, click on the Configuration drop-down menu and select New Configuration...

  5. Name the new configuration in the window that appears.

  6. Click OK and the MIDI Studio will rescan your devices. If nothing is connected, only the IAC Driver and Network should appear again.

  7. Starting with the device in question, re-connect each device one by one. Wait for the device to show up in the MIDI Studio before connecting the next one. Hint: you can also use the Rescan MIDI button at the top if a device is still not showing up while connected.

  8. And that's it! Test your keyboard or MIDI device in your DAW again and refer back to our USB Troubleshooting Guide for more troubleshooting tips.


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Further Technical Support

It's impossible to cover all of the possibilities of USB troubleshooting in a single guide but this should act as a jumping-off point. The suggestions above should at least help you quickly determine that a product is functional, and help you overcome common set up obstacles such as poor USB communication or out-of-date drivers. 

If you require further assistance with product setup or have determined that the product is NOT functioning correctly, click the New Support Ticket button at the top of the screen to contact our support team and receive further assistance.