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I have an ancient slightly mysterious full size keyboard that I bought from eBay a while ago.

enter image description here

I want to use it as a controller for my M1 MacBook Pro running MacOS 12.6 and GarageBand.

The keyboard has no manufacturer's mark on it, other than a logo saying "2way speaker system, general MIDI, and a number "70039" on it.

Rear panel has nothing either: rear panel

I'm connecting it to my MacBook Pro via an "Otracki" MIDI to USB interface.

The Otracki has LEDs on it, which flash when I play notes on the piano keyboard, so I'm fairly confident MIDI is getting to the Otracki adaptor. (I tried reversing the In/Out cables which resulted in no flashing lights when I played, so I think they're the right way around).

Then I plug the Otracki into a Dell USB-A to USB-C adaptor.

(I've also tried an Aukey USB-A to USB-C hub to check whether the adaptor is faulty - both work fine with other peripherals)

When I open the "Audio MIDI Setup" app in MacOS, I see a "USB MIDI interface" that is active whenever the Otracki is connected using either hub.

grab

What I cannot get is any notes to play in GarageBand, or any other music app.

no play gif

I've used other external keyboards with a direct USB-Midi connection into the MacBook and GarageBand before, so it's something to do with the keyboard/otracki config I think.

The Otracki amazon page says it doesn't need drivers. The device is detected by MacOS.

In GarageBand settings no MIDI controller is detected. Resetting MIDI drivers has no effect.

Advice?

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  • Just to eliminate the obvious… have you tried the top end of the keyboard? It's an "ABC" accompaniment player, so the lower half [below some undetermined split-point] may not output, or may output something other than strict note data.
    – Tetsujin
    Apr 10 at 8:39
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    Good idea - will try at home
    – tomh
    Apr 10 at 11:04
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    Found what it is - 'Vidal XL'. Not much info on their site - vidaxl.com/e/… [slightly different number, but close enough;) - best I can come up with for a manual is 'contact customer support'.
    – Tetsujin
    Apr 10 at 12:24
  • very helpful thank you! I will try some other cables directly into my Tascam US2x2 and see if I have any more luck
    – tomh
    Apr 11 at 9:34

1 Answer 1

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It was the OTraki adaptor, or the combination of that and the keyboard. Replacing with 5 pin MIDI cables into my audio interface fixed it.

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