Learning to use MIDI controller

[baconhairpiece]

Hi there, I'm new. Please bear with me. I'm a keyboardist and this is my first MIDI controller experience. Please help me learn! I have the following pieces:

-MacBook with OS 10.6.7/1.83 GHz Intel/2GB 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM/Garageband/etc.

-Roland PC 200 MK II MIDI Controller

-MIDI interface cord: One end is USB and the other side has two ends: IN and OUT.

I successfully installed the driver for the interface on my computer. That's about all the success I have had.

I would like to start using the controller simply by using it in Garage Band. The back of my Roland controller has a "MIDI OUT" port. Which part of the interface cord do I plug in, "IN" or "OUT?" Thanks for your time, I know this is a very knowledgable forum.

 

[NikMac]

Hi there, I'm new. Please bear with me. I'm a keyboardist and this is my first MIDI controller experience. Please help me learn! I have the following pieces:

-MacBook with OS 10.6.7/1.83 GHz Intel/2GB 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM/Garageband/etc.

-Roland PC 200 MK II MIDI Controller

-MIDI interface cord: One end is USB and the other side has two ends: IN and OUT.

I successfully installed the driver for the interface on my computer. That's about all the success I have had.

I would like to start using the controller simply by using it in Garage Band. The back of my Roland controller has a "MIDI OUT" port. Which part of the interface cord do I plug in, "IN" or "OUT?" Thanks for your time, I know this is a very knowledgable forum.

I believe you will want to plug the "IN" cord into your Roland controller's MIDI Out port. It's a little ambiguous - most USB MIDI interfaces I've seen say something like "TO MIDI OUT" - that's the one you would want to use here. Anyway, if "IN" doesn't work you can always just switch to "OUT"...

You will also need to make sure Garageband is set up properly - I'm running iLife '10 and need to have a new "software instrument" track armed for recording if I want to hear anything.

Good luck!

 

[jackerin]

The "Out"-port sends MIDI signals; where signals go out. The "In"-port receives MIDI signals; where signals go in.

 

[OllyW]

This page might help you.

 

[baconhairpiece]

Well I'm about a week in and things are for the most part going swimmingly! The only problem I'm having is no organ sounds are coming through. I have both Garageband and Logic pro 9 and none of the organ sounds work on either... suggestions?

 

[jackerin]

Check to see what channel your MIDI controller is transmitting on, there is a bug where organs don't respond to channels higher than 4 (iirc).

 

[ChrisA]

Check to see what channel your MIDI controller is transmitting on, there is a bug where organs don't respond to channels higher than 4 (iirc).

I don't think it's a bug. Has something to do with organs can have two manuals and a pedal board. You need to use multiple channels so as not to cross all that up.

But you got root of the problem. There are 16 MIDI channels and the keyboard and software have to agree.

 

[baconhairpiece]

Great advice here, awesome board! I'll post again when I get some more time to tinker with it. So much fun!

 

[baconhairpiece]

Alright, still havent gotten organ sounds to work with my Roland PC 200 MK II controller, but I have an Alesis which connects via USB which works. From what I can tell the problem is with the MIDI channel on the MKII... what channel do I set it on?

 

[ChrisA]

Alright, still havent gotten organ sounds to work with my Roland PC 200 MK II controller, but I have an Alesis which connects via USB which works. From what I can tell the problem is with the MIDI channel on the MKII... what channel do I set it on?

Use the event list view to peek at the channel number of the data coming in from the Alesis. Set your Roland to send on the same channel.

 

[Pezzer]

Hello

I also have an old Roland pc200 mk2 and after reading this forum went out and bought the midi to USB converter cable (and the iPad camera kit so I can plug it in there too) but neither my mac or iPad are working with it.

Garge band on the mac recognises a new midi channel and opens a new instrument track but the keyboard isn't doing anything when I play it.

The iPad isn't doing anything at all when I plug it in there with garage band running.

I'm using the right end of the midi cable (out to in).

Any suggestions?

 

[Aquatic Stew]

Help with Drivers!!

Hi there, I'm new. Please bear with me. I'm a keyboardist and this is my first MIDI controller experience. Please help me learn! I have the following pieces:

-MacBook with OS 10.6.7/1.83 GHz Intel/2GB 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM/Garageband/etc.

-Roland PC 200 MK II MIDI Controller

-MIDI interface cord: One end is USB and the other side has two ends: IN and OUT.

I successfully installed the driver for the interface on my computer. That's about all the success I have had.

I have a Roland Pc-200 MK II as well, along with a MIDI interface chord. I however have not found a driver, and would be very thankful if you could tell me where you found yours. I am quite desperate, as I have not been able to use my keyboard for a few weeks now. Thanks for the help!

 

[ChrisA]

I have a Roland Pc-200 MK II as well, along with a MIDI interface chord. I however have not found a driver, and would be very thankful if you could tell me where you found yours. I am quite desperate, as I have not been able to use my keyboard for a few weeks now. Thanks for the help!

You don't need a driver. That is why you can't find one. Your midi to USB cord is what they call "class compliant" and Mac OS X can use it with no driver.

Just plug it and use the audio/midi setup app to set it up

 

[Kyle Turnbull]

IN goes to OUT and

OUT goes to IN. hehe

 

[Doublenine]

My midi controller will not recognize my Roland PC-200.

My midi controller will recognize my Korg Electribe.

My Korg Electribe will recognize my Roland PC-200 but my midi controller will not accept the data played from my PC-200 through the Korg.

Is this a midi controller problem or is it simply because the Roland PC-200 is too old?