Sometimes it can be really hard to be sure if your MIDI keyboard controller or other your USB-MIDI interface is working correctly, particularly if you are using it with complicated software. My suggestion is to separate the two things! Test that the hardware is working OK with a MIDI diagnostic tool, then once you can see it is working you know that you need to work on the software configuration. If you are using Windows, then download MIDI-Ox, it’s a fantastic piece of software that shows the stream of MIDI data on your screen so you can check every key, fader, pad and wheel on your MIDI keyboard and be sure they are all working OK. Download it here:
MIDI-Ox MIDI diagnostic tool.
Then if you want a step-by-step guide on how to use it, this page on the M-Audio support portal is great, with easy to follow screen shots. Although it is referring to an M-Audio device you can use this software with any MIDI keyboard or interface.
If you are on a Mac then the SNOIZE MIDI Monitor software does a similar job and they have nice documentation on their site on how to use it.
Hope you find that useful!
News Tagged ‘MIDI’
Testing your MIDI device on Windows or Mac
Tuesday, April 17th, 2012Win a fabulous M-Audio Keystation Mini 32 USB MIDI Keyboard!
Thursday, December 8th, 2011
We know many of you visit our site because you want to connect your keyboard to your computer, or because you want advice on which is the best keyboard for music and recording software and so we are very excited to tell you we have a M-Audio Keystation Mini 32 USB Keyboard to give away before 14th December! Just in time for Christmas. The M-Audio Keystation Mini is a total solution capable of taking you from your musical inspiration to your finished compositions. The M-Audio Keystation Mini is a small but perfectly formed USB MIDI controller keyboard perfect for using on the run, it’s small enough to fit in a rucsack but has all the features of a much bigger keyboard, and 32 notes (plus octave up and down). AND it comes with a full blown copy of Sibelius First notation software so this one package has everything you need to connect up and start composing.
According to our source at Avid the Keystation MINI has been one of their biggest product launches ever. We’re not surprised, it is such good value and so well featured. Unfortunately stocks have been really limited due to overwhelming popularity but we have one sitting here ready to give away.
OK, so you really really want one, how do you win one for free? We are running a facebook friend competition, and the instructions for winning are on our Facebook welcome page (click this link to go there). All you have to do is ‘Like’ our page and the instructions for how to enter will be revealed. If you are on a mobile device and having trouble viewing the Welcome Page then just message us and we will send you the instructions. But remember, you must be our friend to be in with a chance to win! And it really is ridiculously simple to enter. So why not give it a go!
PLEASE NOTE – this competition is now ended, the winner was or Facebook Fan Matthew Lee. But keep watching, we will be launching a brand new competition soon!
Get Them While You Can! Special Offers on M-Audio Fast Track C400 and C600
Friday, November 25th, 2011
This is an offer you cannot ignore! The Avid M-Audio Fast Track C400 and C600 with Pro Tools software have been the fastest selling product launches Avid have ever made. Why? Because they combine suberb quality USB Audio interfaces with industry-standard Pro Tools software so you can make pristine recordings and then mix and edit to their true potential in the Pro Tools environment.
We have been blown away by the success of these products, and we want YOU to have one for Christmas. But we know times are hard so while our current stocks last we have cut the prices down to an unbeatable size! Go on, you know you want one…..
Click here to see the FULL range at the new LOWER prices (while our current stocks last …). But hurry, because new stocks won’t be able to be this price.
Choosing the Right MIDI Keyboard for Notation and Composition
Thursday, November 10th, 2011Hello. You gave me some excellent advice a couple of years ago when buying a microphone, so now I’m looking for help on ‘which midi keyboard’. I’ve read your article on which keyboard, and found it helpful. All I need is a midi keyboard, but which one? My requirements are simple. 1. To be able to use it to help me work out chords for second accordion. 2. To practice vamping to accordion music playing on my pc. 3. I’ve music notation software which accepts midi input, so it will help me enter music into it.
My budget is £100 – £150. What would you recommend? Thanks.
Welcome Back! You are right your requirements are pretty straightforward, it doesn’t sound as if you need any additional faders and controls, just a straightforward keyboard. As all our USB-MIDI keyboards will connect easily to a computer to be used with music notation software, the only thing you really have to consider is how many keys you want, and whether you want them to be full sized?
We have two excellent mini keyboards, the 32-Note M-Audio Keystation Mini and the 37-Note Korg Microkey. But if you want full sized keys yet are tight for space, then you chould look at the Alesis Q25, a very neat 25-note keyboard with no bells and whistles at a very straightforward price.
If you want more notes without pressing the octave shift, then either the 49-key M-Audio Keyrig 49 or the Alesis Q49, the 61-Note M-Audio Keystation 61ES or the full piano keyboard sized 88-note M-Audio Keystation 88ES would all do the job admirably. All have full sized keys and every keyboard here is touch sensitive. I have listed all these USB-MIDI keyboards in one category so you can easily compare them if you click here. All our prices include standard shipping to any UK mainland destination. Good luck with finding the right one!
Loading...