connect OLD midi keyboard to iMac (via Korg sound module) PLEASE HELP !!

[applebebe2002]

Hi,

I'm trying to connect these to my iMac GarageBand:

Roland PC-200 mk2 MIDI controller Keyboard (1x MIDI OUT) 5-pin
Korg X5DR Midi Sound Processing Unit (3 x Midi: IN + OUT + THRU) 5-pin

I can play via headphones if I connect Keyboard OUT to Korg IN.

But I'm finding it so hard to get it connected to my iMac.

I have a 5-pin Midi to USB converter. BUT it has TWO midi sockets going into the USB.
it has a MIDI IN and OUT.

I've tried so many combinations, but to no avail.

should the keyboard connect to the Korg and then the Korg connects to the iMac ?
or, should the keyboard and Korg be connected to the iMac independently?

This is what I logically imagined:
the midi to usb converter connects to the IN + OUT of the korg? and then the keyboard connects to the korg THRU ?

or does the keyboard connect to the korg THRU ?

I also have a Behringer Audio Interface for the MIcrophone and Guitar (which is fine), but the Behringer Audio interface does not have MIDI.

I would greatly appreciate any input as this is so frustrating for me.

Many thanks

 

[Horselover Fat]

You need to establish two chains:

PC-200 MIDI OUT -> USB MIDI Interface MIDI IN -> iMac USB
USB MIDI Interface MIDI OUT -> KORG XD5R MIDI IN

Then you need to setup the MIDI connection in GarageBand (choose your MIDI interface, etc). Bear in mind that this connection only transfers MIDI data, not audio signals. You can record notes into GarageBand and edit them in the software but you cannot record the audio from your XD5R. For this you need to connect the audio outs of the XD5R with an AUDIO IN of you iMac. The quality/latency of the normal audio ports of a Mac are not very good but it might suffice your needs. If you suffer from a latency too high you need to switch to a 'professional' audio interface.

 

[sahnert]

I will add that I recently had an issue where a USB midi device was no longer recognized after updating to Mojave (known good device, works on older OS). There seems to be a bug in the MIDI server that fails to recognize devices when they are attached.

The solution was to create a “new configuration” in the MIDI Studio window of Audio Midi Setup.

So if you are troubleshooting your connection from the keyboard through the USB Interface you may need to go to Audio Midi Setup > Midi Studio > click on “Default” drop down > choose “New Configuration”

(If your device shows up in the default configuration there is no need to create a new one)