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Connecting Your MIDI Controller To Musio

  • Updated

Musio contains thousands of virtual instruments, and these sounds are controlled by MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface). MIDI sends digital messages that describe musical performance—such as which notes are played, when, and how loud. You can use a MIDI controller keyboard to play the notes, sending MIDI data to Musio. In this article, we’re going to show you how to connect your MIDI controller keyboard to Musio:

 

Step 1: Ensure Proper Connection

  1. Turn on your MIDI controller keyboard.
  2. Check that all cables are properly connected between your controller and computer.

Step 2: Access MIDI Settings

  1. Open Musio (Standalone Mode).
    • Note: This process must be done in Musio standalone mode (outside of your DAW). MIDI settings cannot be changed inside Musio when used as a plugin, as the DAW handles MIDI input.
  2. On your computer desktop (not inside Musio) at the top left, navigate to:
    • Settings → Audio/MIDI Settings

Step 3: Enable Your MIDI Controller

  1. In the Audio/MIDI Settings window, locate the Active MIDI Inputs section.
  2. Find your MIDI controller in the list.
  3. Check the box next to your MIDI controller to enable it.

✅ Your MIDI controller is now connected! You should now be able to press the keys and hear sounds when an instrument is loaded in Musio.

 

Troubleshooting: No Sound from Your MIDI Controller

If you’ve followed the steps above but aren’t getting sound when you press keys down on your MIDI controller, try these steps:

 

Step 1: Check Basic Settings

  1. Ensure an instrument is loaded in Musio.
  2. Make sure the instrument is not muted and the volume slider is up.
  3. Check for a mute button on your MIDI controller (some keyboards have one).

Step 2: Adjust MIDI Channel in Musio

  1. Open Musio and load an instrument.
  2. In the instrument panel (left side of the screen), locate the MIDI Channel setting.
  3. By default, it’s set to "01". Try changing this to "All" and see if it helps.

Step 3: Update Musio

  1. Open Musio Connect (Musio’s companion app).
  2. Look in the bottom left corner for a red update link.
  3. If an update is available, click the link and install the latest version.

Step 4: Test MIDI Signal with MIDI Monitor

If you’re still having issues, test whether your MIDI controller is sending data correctly:

  1. Download MIDI Monitor.
  2. Open the program from your Applications folder.
  3. Press some keys on your MIDI controller.
    • If you see activity, your MIDI controller is working, but Musio may not be receiving the signals.
    • If you see no activity, your MIDI controller isn’t sending MIDI data, which may indicate a hardware issue or incorrect cable connection.

Step 5: Contact Musio Support

If none of the above steps solve the issue, reach out to our support team at support@musio.com with the following:

  • A detailed explanation of the issue and the troubleshooting steps you’ve tried.
  • The brand and model of your MIDI controller.
  • A screenshot of your Audio/MIDI Settings page.
  • Musio log files (to send logs, follow these steps):
    1. Click the three-line menu (☰) in the top right of Musio.
    2. Select "Submit Feedback".
    3. Check the box for "Include Log Files", then submit.

Our team will get back to you as soon as possible!

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