Do you need extra control? From a simple sustain pedal input to full-fledged control surface functions, iPad/iPhone keyboard controllers vary greatly in the amount of control they provide. Knobs, sliders, and transport controls are incredibly useful for controlling iOS DAWs and synth apps, and you can have a lot of fun with an X-Y pad too. Dec 01, 2018 How to use a USB MIDI Keyboard in GarageBand iOS (iPhone/iPad). In this video, I give you my beginner's guide to all things USB MIDI keyboard in GarageBand iPhone and GarageBand iPad.
- Connect Keyboard To Garageband
- Midi Keyboard Garageband Ipad 7
- Garageband Piano Keyboard
- Midi Keyboard Garageband Ipad 2
GarageBand User Guide for iPad
After you install GarageBand, additional content bundled into sound packs may be available to download in the Sound Library.
Sound packs can contain different types of content, including the following:
- Sounds for the Keyboard and Alchemy synth
- Drum kits for Drums, Smart Drums, and Beat Sequencer
- Live Loops grids
- New Touch Instruments
In the Sound Library, you can download and manage sound packs on your iPad. Each sound pack has an icon and a name that shows a brief description and preview button when you tap it.
![Keyboard Keyboard](/uploads/1/2/6/0/126032395/716771949.jpg)
Notifications on your iPad and numbered badges in GarageBand indicate that new or updated sound packs are available in the Sound Library. New sound packs have a badge labeled New, and sound packs already installed are labeled Downloaded.
Some sound packs may also be needed to perform certain tasks, such as opening a GarageBand song created on another device. In this instance, a message appears, asking if you want to download the required sound pack.
Open the Sound Library
Do one of the following:
- Tap the Browser button , swipe left or right, then tap Sound Library.
- Tap a numbered badge in the Sound browser, Template browser, Loop Browser, or anywhere you can choose instrument sounds.
Connect Keyboard To Garageband
Download a sound pack
- In the Sound Library, tap the sound pack you want to download.Sound packs needed to open a song have a badge with an exclamation point.
- Tap the Preview button to hear a sample of the sound pack.
- Tap Get to download the sound pack.
- Tap Done when you finish.
Delete a sound pack
- In the Sound Library, tap the sound pack you want to delete, then tap Delete.
- Tap Done when you finish.
Manage sound packs
You can manage downloaded sound packs to free up storage space on your iPad. The total amount of space used for all installed sound packs is shown at the top of the list. The size of each individual sound pack is shown in the list. You can delete sound packs whether or not your iPad is connected to the Internet.
![Ipad Ipad](/uploads/1/2/6/0/126032395/589186741.jpg)
- Open the Sound Library and tap Manage Packs in the upper-left corner.
- Do either of the following:
- Delete a sound pack: Tap Edit at the upper-right, tap the Delete button next to the sound pack you want to delete, then tap Delete. Alternatively, you can swipe left on the sound pack, then tap Delete.
- Download a sound pack: Tap Get next to the sound pack you want to download.
Manage notifications
You can change the settings for notifications you receive when new sound packs are available. You can turn notifications on or off, choose how and where you want the notifications to appear, choose how you want the notifications grouped, and more.
Midi Keyboard Garageband Ipad 7
- Close GarageBand, then open the Settings app.
- Tap Notifications, scroll down, then tap GarageBand under Notification Style.
- Change the various settings for GarageBand notifications.
With the exception of a few dedicated iOS-specific models, most MIDI controller keyboards require another piece of hardware to be placed in between them and your iOS device in order for your Core MIDI apps to recognize and respond to your MIDI controller. You have a few different ways you can go.
iOS MIDI interface
One way to go is to purchase a dedicated iOS MIDI interface, or an iOS audio-and-MIDI interface that gives you microphone or guitar connections (or both) in addition to a MIDI connection. Examples of audio-and-MIDI interfaces on the market include the IK Multimedia iRig PRO, the Alesis I/O Dock II, and the Behringer iS202.
If you only need MIDI and don’t plan on recording audio, a dedicated iOS MIDI interface is an economical way to go, and more are being released all the time. For instance, the new IK Multimedia iRig MIDI 2 gives you the option of Lightning and 30-pin connections for iOS, or USB connections for Mac and PC. It features MIDI in, out, and thru ports.
If you want to have the option to set up a multi-machine setup with four MIDI ins and four MIDI outs, and the ability to pass audio from one machine to the next, you might consider iConnectivity’s new iConnectMIDI4+, which, with all its capabilities, sells only for about $200.
To connect a controller keyboard with an iOS interface, first connect the interface to your iOS device’s dock port. Next, plug the keyboard’s MIDI out to the MIDI in on the interface using either a standard MIDI cable or a cable that comes with the unit, depending on the interface you have. The keyboard’s MIDI out is where messages coming from the keyboard — including note-ons and note-offs, CC data, and more — are sent.
The interface’s MIDI in port takes that data and brings it into your iOS device and makes it available for your app.
Before MIDI came along, synthesizers used control voltage (or CV) to pass messages like notes and performance data between different devices. CV isn’t common to iOS interfaces yet, but some enterprising souls allow you to pass MIDI to digital devices and CV to analog devices for some truly impressive synth rigs. If you feel like geeking out, check out apps like Brute LFO and buy the cable you’ll need (one end should be the standard headphone to plug into the phone, and the other end whatever the analog synth accepts).
Connecting controllers to iOS devices using USB
Another option for plugging in an external keyboard is to use a standard USB MIDI controller. “But wait, there’s no USB port on an iOS device,” you say. This is technically true, but you can add one very easily with Apple’s inexpensive Lightning-to-USB-camera adapter, for Lighting-equipped devices, or the Camera Connection Kit for iOS devices with 30-pin dock connectors.
When you do this, the MIDI controller world is your oyster, as you can choose from a large selection of USB MIDI interfaces.
In order to work with Apple’s Core MIDI, a USB MIDI controller must be USB Class Compliant, which means that it’s designed to work with your iOS device (or a computer) without the need to install a software driver. If driver installation is required, it won’t work on your iOS device.
A large percentage of USB controller keyboards are USB Class Compliant, and some even advertise themselves as being iOS compatible, if you use one of the Apple camera adapters.
Garageband Piano Keyboard
Do your research and make sure your USB MIDI controller will work with iOS devices. Manufacturers who do produce compatible equipment will usually fall over themselves advertising this fact.
Midi Keyboard Garageband Ipad 2
One more big advantage of connecting via USB to your iOS device is that you don’t need to plug a power adapter into the keyboard; it will be bus powered, which means it gets its power through the USB cable. As a result, you can connect your MIDI keyboard in places where there’s no AC power available — as long as your iPad’s battery is charged. However, longer chains of devices or larger devices might still need a separate power source — do your research and test first.