Focusrite 18i8, iMac High Sierra, Midi keyboard
 

I am setting up a new PT config. I have a Yamaha P-105, iMac Late 2013 running MacOS 10.13.6, and a Focusrite 18i8 2nd gen. I would love a link to step by step instructions that takes me from the MacOS set up for midi connect, through PT setup of hardware and Peripherals, and on to the I/O.

I have found set up vids for various parts but I am still missing a connection somewhere*.

The Focusrite software is installed and the USB connection light on the front indicate the computer knows about it.

I can see the keyboard and IAC in the Audio Midi Setup.

But... I don't get how to hook that to PT and test recording.

All help greatly appreciated.

*As aside, hopefully humorous for some, I got through this on my other system that is currently sidelined due to the Catalina update. This makes me feel like a real Homer Simpson... I just failed to take good notes.

Re: Focusrite 18i8, iMac High Sierra, Midi keyboard
 

What version of PT?
Are you using an instrument track and a VI, or trying to record the keyboard output?
Help Us Help You

Re: Focusrite 18i8, iMac High Sierra, Midi keyboard
 

Thanks for the link to "help us help you". I will read through it. The "troubleshooting for Mac" looks like fertile ground to dig into.

I am using PT 2019.10.0.

Hardware Setup is set to Scarlett 18i8. When I open the Setup app, I see the Scarlett device. Not sure what to pay attention to there.

Playback Engine is set to Scarlet 18i8 USB, 512k samples, the rest default.

Peripherals MIDI controllers is set to HUI and Yamaha P-105 for input and output.

I/O has 4 stereo lines (eight total), one for SPDIF and four ADAT pairs for input, and 4 pairs for output.

When I open a test project, after a moment PT presents an alert that says PT cannot communicate with the HUI.

Re: Focusrite 18i8, iMac High Sierra, Midi keyboard
 

To follow up on this: I still haven't established the "right" way to connect the Yamaha digital piano P-105. I wrote to the folks at Focusrite, who replied that I need not connect the piano to the interface. Rather, set up midi on the Mac and Pro Tools should see it.

After a bit of fussing about I can see the piano listed in the Peripherals. So I set Midi Control #1 to HUI and selected the piano for send and receive. When I click Ok, Pro Tools says the device cannot be found at the path given. I tried M-Audio, too, with a similar result.

So... I followed instructions to reset the default I/O but no joy. I then searched for info about the P-105 and MIDI on Mac. Some articles said it doesn't work, so I wrote to Yamaha asking if the P-105 was compatible and if so how to connect. No reply yet.

Any tips, hints or wags warmly accepted. :-)

Re: Focusrite 18i8, iMac High Sierra, Midi keyboard
 

First, the keyboard is not a HUI controller, it's a midi device and it should be connected to the computer (not the interface) by USB.

PT should detect it automatically, and if you create a instrument track with a virtual instrument plugin inserted, it should make sound when the instrument track is selected and you press a key.

So deselect it in peripherals.

Re: Focusrite 18i8, iMac High Sierra, Midi keyboard
 

Thank you! I am slowly getting my head around this.

Will any virtual instrument do? Any suggestion for one for a newbie? Sounds silly to ask but I was thrashing and that is rarely fun or satisfying.

Re: Focusrite 18i8, iMac High Sierra, Midi keyboard
 

Just insert one of the plugins you find under the "Instruments" sub-menu. Like XPand.

Re: Focusrite 18i8, iMac High Sierra, Midi keyboard
 

Doesn’t the Focusrite Interface have midi in and out? If so just get 2 cheap 5 dollar midi cables and connect to the keyboard and if it doesn’t have midi in and out and you dont have USB Midi on the yamaha you need 2 cheap 5 dollar midi cables.

Does it look like this on the back?

Re: Focusrite 18i8, iMac High Sierra, Midi keyboard
 

The Yamaha P-105 has USB out, i think.

Re: Focusrite 18i8, iMac High Sierra, Midi keyboard
 

Ok then PT should find that keyboard if connected correct and setup correctly in PT and the Mac. No drivers or HUI or anything like that.