Let’s Multi-Instrument! Bass Rig Keyboard Setup
Ever since seeing Greta Kline from Porches alternate between bass guitar and bass keyboard duties, I’ve been semi-obsessed with creating a bass rig keyboard setup of my own. Greta plays a Novation Bass Station II. At some point I’d like to try out that keyboard out, but I ended up landing on the Akai MPK Mini MkII keyboard controller, with an iPad brain, and Garageband Keyboards for the software.
I play an Ampeg SVT-VR which has 4 inputs so I got this crazy idea that I should be able to use one of those inputs for the keyboard setup, when I’m not playing bass.
Connecting your MPK mini mkII to Garageband is a quick process: First, connect your MPK mini mkII to an available USB port on your computer. The MPK mini mkII should power on automatically. Locate the Garageband icon on your taskbar or in your Applications folder and click it to open the software. Once Garageband is open, select Empty Project. Akai MPK Mini mkII Hardware Guide Akai MPK Mini mk3 Hardware Guide All other third-party non Serato-compatible MIDI devices should work with Serato Studio, however the pre-configured mapping may differ between third-party devices.
My Bass Rig Keyboard Setup
I selected the Akai Mini because it has both keys and drum pads. It has enough features to be ‘professional’ but is simple enough for a beginner electronic musician such as myself. The final reason I chose it is because you can find them for as little as $20 buck or new for $99. I already had an Apple iPad with Garageband on it so I thought I could have a great keyboard/drum pad set up for about the cost of a round of beers…it’s never that simple.
Getting the iPad to connect the Akai was a nightmare…I easily connected my Android phone and my Macbook Pro to the Akai so I knew the Akai was working.
Here’s all the different crap I tried getting this stuff to work:
- USB hub – Internet says this will work but you need a specific adapter and it will run your iPad out of power.
- Powered USB hub – Internet says this will work, but you still need the same lightning to USB adapter.
- USB A to USB C Adapter – Don’t try this, I lost my mind and thought Apple switched over to USB C. I was able to used it for my phone though.
- USB B to lightning Adapter – Doesn’t work, iPad complains that Akai is drawing too much power.
- Apple Lightning to USB Camera Adapter – WINNER WINNER, CHICKEN DINNER!
The Remedy
In the end I recommend using the Apple Lightning to USB Camera Adapter because this is the simplest, least expensive, working solution. This adapter converts USB A to lightening and delivers power to the iPad. Any solution involving a hub, also requires a USB to Lightening adaptor…even if you think it doesn’t, it does.
If I end up loving this set up, I may switch the iPad with a iPod Touch that is dedicated to running Garageband. This would make my set up even more simple and compact.
My Setup Bass Rig Keyboard Setup:
- Multi-input Bass Amp
Here’s a quick video showing how I set it up:
Mapping Akai 25 Mpk Mini Garageband Ipad Mini
Hi guys,
Akai Pro MPK Mini MKII - Downloading, Installing And Using The Sample Content
My Akai MPK 25 works perfectly well with Garageband, but is not working with Mainstage 3. Actually, the knobs work with Mainstage, but the keys and pads do not. The firmware is up to date and I have reset to factory defaults. When inserting the usb I get a prompt from Mainstage to turn to preset 1, which I do, but nothing comes out of the keys. I see that the midi signal is reaching the computer, but no output from any device. This is on a brand new MBP Retina.
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Thanks for your help.
MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Late 2013), OS X Mavericks (10.9.1)
Mapping Akai 25 Mpk Mini Garageband Ipad Pro
Posted on Jan 10, 2014 10:52 AM