- Free Midi Keyboard Controller Software
- Midi Keyboard Garageband Ios
- Garageband And Midi Keyboard Tutorial
- Play Garageband For Free
If you want to connect a MIDI controller to Garageband iOS, take comfort in knowing that it's really not that difficult.
Korg MicroKEY 25 Keyboard (Editor's Choice) Korg are famous for their slickly designed, innovative. The best midi keyboard for GarageBand that we will be reviewing in the article will all be Midi over USB, which mean that all you have to do is switch on the computer, plug in the keyboard then you will be playing the selected sounds and pre-set synths inside of GarageBand from your new keyboard controller. Any notes played while GarageBand is recording is saved to the project, and can be tweaked later, just like a MIDI keyboard's input. Another Option There is a second software keyboard available to. I set up what was needed in the 'Audio Midi Setup', and in the preferences of GarageBand, it says '3 MIDI Input(s) detected' in the MIDI Status. I also have 'Build-in Input/Output' selected. I first connect the Midi to the laptop, open garageband, then open the keyboard, and it then says '3 Midi Inputs detected'. You can connect a real MIDI keyboard through a USB cable (on most newer gear) or a MIDI adapter (on older equipment). You can connect other MIDI instruments, including guitars, woodwinds, and drums, and record onto a real instrument track in GarageBand. Click the red Record button when you're ready to rock.
I've already written a full tutorial on how to connect a MIDI keyboard to Garageband which you can read here.
However, it's slightly different on Garageband iOS, mostly due to the adaptors.
To put it simply, you need a Thunderbolt to USB adaptor in order to connect your MIDI controller into Garageband.
1) Connect your Thunderbolt to USB adaptor to your iPhone or iPad.
2) Hook up your MIDI controller using the Firewire to USB cable that it comes with.
3) Garageband iOS should be able to recognize it immediately, and you can start using it.
And it's really as simple as that.
We'll explore a more in-depth tutorial including images now.
Connecting A MIDI Controller to Garageband iOS
As I just said, you need to get your hands on a Thunderbolt to USB adaptor in order to make your MIDI keyboard work with your iPhone or iPad. This is essential.
What Gear You Need To Connect MIDI Controller to Garageband iOS
- MIDI Controller
Grab the Nektar 49-key here from Amazon. - Thunderbolt to USB Adaptor (Female)
Grab one off of Amazon here.I'd recommend getting one from the Apple Store instead, however. - Firewire to USB Cable
Check the price on Amazon here.
1) Connect your Thunderbolt to USB adaptor to your iPhone or iPad
Once you have your adaptor, all you have to do is connect it to your device.
2) Hook up your MIDI controller using the Firewire to USB cable that it comes with.
If you own a MIDI keyboard, you should already have every cable that you need, including the Firewire to USB cable. Most MIDI keyboards will come with one by default, but just in case you don't have one, you can grab it off of Amazon from the link above.
3) Garageband iOS Should Be Able To Recognize It Immediately
There are some exceptions to this, but for the most part, if you own a relatively new keyboard, there won't be any recognition issues.
In case you haven't purchased a MIDI Keyboard already, I have some key things to keep in mind.
What MIDI Keyboard Should I Get For Garageband iOS
Right off the bat, I'll say that the Acorn Masterkey 49 is probably the best budget keyboard because it doesn't cost a lot of money and it also comes with 49 keys.
However, these days, it doesn't appear on the Amazon store anymore, so I'd recommend getting this one instead.
While it's not the best keyboard on the market, it has a lot of range, pitch bends, modulation, volume knobs, etc. And there isn't a need to download any MIDI drivers or anything like that.
Put simply, it's good to go the moment you pull it out of the box and connect it to your interface. Quicktime mpeg playback component.
In case you decide not to take my advice, understand there are a few useful things you should consider before buying a keyboard for Garageband iOS.
Important Things To Note
1) Make Sure It's Class Compliant
By this, I mean that you don't have to download any drivers or software in order for it to work.
You may run into issues if you have to download additional software on your device in order for the MIDI controller to work. Ultimately, we want to avoid this completely, because it's just going to be a pain, at the end of the day.
When buying a MIDI controller, I find that it's best to always keep it simple, that way you don't run into any issues down the line. I find this is the most important thing to consider.
Especially in the case of Garageband Mac OS and Garageband iOS.
Admittedly, not every manufacturer bothers to make their device compliant with Garageband, just because some people believe Garageband isn't a real DAW, despite the fact it works amazingly.
2) Get At Least 49 Keys
This is really up to personal taste, but I would say that getting a keyboard with at least 49 keys is your best bet. Anything less than that, for instance, 25 keys, I find isn't enough.
Ideally, you'd like to have more than 2 octaves when purchasing a MIDI keyboard, because it's going to give you more range for compositions.
I would argue that this, in conjunction with it being class compliant, are the two most important specifications of a MIDI keyboard, so pay attention to them the most.
3) Not Every MIDI Keyboard is Compatible with GarageBand iOS
Pay careful attention to the manufacturer's comments on what software their device works with.
This is an issue for higher-end keyboards, which don't always work with Garageband, so make sure you've researched this sufficiently.
Garageband doesn't actually support assignable pads and keys the way that other DAWs do. In other words, if you buy a popular Drum Pad, like something from Akai, you won't actually have the ability to customize each pad.
With that said, these keyboards do work with Garageband, but the way the DAW maps them out by default is how they'll remain. You can't change them.
4) Connecting A Keyboard Invalidates Certain Functions
When you plug in your MIDI keyboard into Garageband iOS, it has the benefit of increasing the amount of range you have among other advantages, however, it does stop certain functions from working as they normally would.
For instance, if you set up the Smart Strings, the Smart Piano, or the Smart Guitar, you'll notice that the keyboard won't respond to the actual controls in the Smart interface.
With that said, however, you can still press on the screen and play them as you normally would, but it just won't respond to the Keyboard.
While this seems like a disadvantage, it's actually an advantage because then you have both capabilities.
Put simply, you can use the Smart interface's automatic functions, but you also have the ability to play individual notes as you normally would with a MIDI keyboard.
Moreover, you won't be able to use the arpeggiator in the same way.
With all that said, having a MIDI keyboard is essential in my honest opinion, especially if you want to play more harmonically complex chords and progressions.
Additionally, only having at your disposal a few keys is no good if you want more range and dynamics in your compositions.
Using a MIDI keyboard will allow you to determine how much velocity you want in your compositions through the way you've actually played the notes on the keyboard.
Contrast this to the fact that if you're playing it on the touch screen, you won't have the same ability, or at least not in the same way.
5) It's Best To Use An Official Apple Adaptor
People who use Apple products know that their adaptors aren't cheap, but frankly, they always seem to work a lot better than the knock-off ones that you buy from other places.
I imagine that Apple has done this on purpose in order to guarantee more sales for themselves, but that's neither here nor there.
Just pay the extra money for the appropriate adaptor, and then you don't have to worry about it breaking after a few months.
More importantly, I find their adaptors are more versatile, and everything is going to work once you're using an official Apple adaptor.
If you want to get a multi-purpose adaptor, I'd recommend grabbing one from Amazon here.
6) MIDI Keyboard Allows For More Drum Pattern Customization
There's no question that using a MIDI Keyboard makes composition a lot easier, and this fact manifests itself additionally through the use of playing the drums.
A MIDI Keyboard is going to allow you to make more complex drum patterns, and more importantly, it's just a lot more fun when you have an actual keyboard to play with, rather than a touch screen.
7) Turn 'Low Power Mode' Off
If you're anything like me, then you prefer to almost always have 'Low Power' mode turned off when using Garageband.
Having it switched on isn't the best way to run Garageband iOS, because you'll find it will go to sleep if you move away from your phone for a minute, say, for example, to do some research.
I find it's best to switch this off, that way the device doesn't go to sleep, and it doesn't interrupt your workflow.
YouTube Video Tutorial
Conclusion
That's it for this tutorial. Do me a favor and share this on your social media. If you're interested in looking at more gear, check out my recommended products page.
Keyboard Shortcuts
Action
Shortcut
Navigation/Moving the playhead
Play/Pause
Space bar
Go to beginning
Home or Z
Go to end
End or Option-Z
Move back (the amount depends on zoom level)
Left Arrow
Move forward (the amount depends on zoom level)
Right Arrow
Move back in larger increments
Option-Left Arrow
Move forward in larger increments
Option-Right Arrow
Move back by the visible width of the timeline
Page Up
Move forward by the visible width of the timeline
Page Down
Zoom out
Free Midi Keyboard Controller Software
Control-Left Arrow
Zoom in
Control-Right Arrow
Tracks
Create new track
Command-Option-N
Duplicate track
Command-D
Delete selected track
Command-Delete
Select next higher track
Up Arrow
Select next lower track
Down Arrow
Mute/Unmute selected track
M
Solo/Unsolo selected track
S
Show/Hide track automation curve
A
Lock track
L
Show/Hide arrange track
Command-Shift-A
Show/Hide master track
Command-B
Show/Hide podcast track
Command-Shift-B
Show/Hide movie track
Command-Option-B
Turn ducking on/off
Command-Shift-R
Appendix A
Keyboard Shortcuts
117
Track Info pane
Show/Hide Track Info
Command-I
Midi Keyboard Garageband Ios
Select next higher category or instrument
Up Arrow (when Track Info pane
is open and either a category or
an instrument is selected)
Select next lower category or instrument
Down Arrow (when Track Info
pane is open and either a
category or an instrument is
selected)
Move from instrument column to category column
Garageband And Midi Keyboard Tutorial
Left Arrow (when Track Info
pane is open and an instrument
is selected)
Move from category column to instrument column
Right Arrow (when Track Info
pane is open and a category is
selected)
Learning to play
Automatic notation view
1 (in a Learn to Play lesson)
Show chord names
2 (in a Learn to Play lesson)
Show chord grids (guitar) /
Show left hand only (piano)
3 (in a Learn to Play lesson)
Show tablature (guitar) /
Show right hand only (piano)
4 (in a Learn to Play lesson)
Show tablature and standard notation (guitar) /
Show both hands (piano)
5 (in a Learn to Play lesson)
Show notation and animated instrument
8 (in a Learn to Play lesson)
Show animated instrument only
9 (in a Learn to Play lesson)
Show notation only
0 (in a Learn to Play lesson)
Easy view (piano lessons only)
E (in a Learn to Play lesson)
Arranging and editing
Undo
Command-Z
Redo
Command-Shift-Z
Cut
Command-X
Copy
Command-C
Paste
Command-V
Delete
Delete
Select all
Command-A
Split region
Command-T
Join selected regions
Command-J
Snap to grid
Command-G
Action
Shortcut
118
Appendix A
Keyboard Shortcuts
Show/Hide alignment guides
Command-Shift-G
Delete Arrange region with timeline content and close
Command-Option-Delete
Lock automation curves to regions
Command-Option-A
Recording
Record Start/Stop
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R
Turn cycle region on/off
C
Turn metronome on/off
Command-U
Turn count in on/off
Command-Shift-U
Score view
Move selected notes to previous grid position
Left Arrow
Move selected notes to next grid position
Right Arrow
Move selected notes back one measure
Shift-Left Arrow
Move selected notes forward one measure
Shift-Right Arrow
Transpose selected notes up a semitone
Trap synth vst. Up Arrow
Transpose selected notes down a semitone
Down Arrow
Transpose selected notes up an octave
Shift-Up Arrow
Transpose selected notes down an octave
Shift-Down Arrow
Adjusting master volume
Raise master volume
Command-Up Arrow
Lower master volume
Command-Down Arrow
Showing windows and editors
Show Track Info pane
Command-I
Show loop browser
Command-L
Show Media Browser
Command-R
Show editor
Command-E
Show Tuner in LCD
Command-F (with a Real
Instrument track selected)
Show Chords in LCD
Command-F (with a Software
Instrument track selected)
Show Time in LCD
Command-Shift-F
Show Measures in LCD
Command-Option-F
Show Tempo in LCD
Command-Control-F
Show onscreen keyboard
Command-K
Show Musical Typing window
Command-Shift-K
File menu functions
New
Command-N
Action
Shortcut
Appendix A
Keyboard Shortcuts
119
Open
Command-O
Close
Command-W
Save
Command-S
Save As
Command-Shift-S
Application menu functions
Show GarageBand Preferences
Command-comma (,)
Hide GarageBand
Command-H
Hide other applications
Command-Option-H
Quit GarageBand
Command-Q
Help menu functions
GarageBand Help
Command-question mark (?)
Action
Shortcut
