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New Macbook Pro won't recognize external synths

Posted: Thu Jan 23, 2020 12:42 pm
by supadisco
I'm at a loss now...spent a lot of time on the phone with Applecare who were pretty helpless, so they suggested I contact Ableton. I emailed their tech support a couple days ago, but no response yet, so thought I'd try you kind people. :)

I even bought new USB cables to connect my midi keyboard to the new USB type C ports which is all these new Macs have, unfortunately. On System Info the synth shows up in the USB list as "portable grand" (piano) so it's definitely there, but nothing is happening within Ableton -- not even a meter signal that it's got a midi device connected.

The other weird thing that's happening is my external cinema display that works perfectly via the miniport input on my old laptop now is having these weird double image persistence problems that literally give me a headache.

Anyone else?

Thanks!

J :)

Re: New Macbook Pro won't recognize external synths

Posted: Thu Jan 23, 2020 8:53 pm
by TLW
Are the synths showing up in the MIDI part of the Audio/MIDI Setup application?

Re: New Macbook Pro won't recognize external synths

Posted: Thu Jan 23, 2020 9:20 pm
by Tone Deft
is the USB mode or similar on the synths set up to act as midi ports? did you rtfm on the synths? what are the they?

Re: New Macbook Pro won't recognize external synths

Posted: Wed Jan 29, 2020 10:48 am
by supadisco
Thanks so much for the replies, and sorry for the late response on my part as I'm only seeing these now.

The synths and soundcard do not show up in the Audio MIDI Setup box, unfortunately. Which is strange that they do show up under System Info in the USB 3.1 slots.

I've checked again that all of these work perfectly fine with my older Mac laptop using the older standard USB cables as they're just plug 'n play (no drivers, etc needed).

Ugh...thanks again, though!

J

Re: New Macbook Pro won't recognize external synths

Posted: Wed Jan 29, 2020 11:09 pm
by Tone Deft
if your synths are connected to your computer via midi cables they have nothing to do with the conversation, they will not show up as devices in Live.

if they're USB that's another story. but you never posted what synths these are or how they're connected. these should show up as their own devices.

my guess is that your older computer had the right drivers installed. FORCE your computer to do a driver update for your sound card.

list the gear involved and how they're connected.

Re: New Macbook Pro won't recognize external synths

Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2020 10:49 am
by supadisco
Hey thanks so much Tone Deft. I finally figured out the problem!

Turns out Yamaha now requires a driver to work with the latest Mac OS, Catalina.

Phew! Back to the studio. Thanks again everyone. I'm thrilled to finally have this figured out. :)