USB MIDI device connection - Mac Audio MIDI Setup

[jongilbertson]

I have connected an Akai MPD32 to my Mac using the USB interface. It's going to control the BFD2 plugin. I just tried out the standalone BFD2 using the MPD32 and it is working great with the included BFD preset mapping. So now taking the next step to setup in PT.

On the Mac Audio MIDI Setup, the MPD32 device shows up as a driver created device, but it doesn't allow me to connect it to anything. It's got the connectors on the bottom of the icon, so it has the appearance of a MIDI interface rather than a device. Since it is physically connected to my computer with USB, do I need to draw any connection as would be done with the 5-pin MIDI cable? Or is this indicating some problem?

I'm forging ahead with setting up my session with BFD2. I figure there is some plug-n-play magic to the USB that I don't understand yet. And I can always resort to the traditional 5-pin cable if there is a problem.

Thanks for any help you can provide!

[DigiTechSupt]

No, there's no need to connect anything to or from the Akai. It will just show up as an available input on a MIDI or Instrument track. You don't even need to necessarily select it specifically in Pro Tools, since Pro Tools defaults to 'All' for MIDI input, it will accept MIDI data from any device currently connected and route it to the selected output.

[jongilbertson]

Thank you! I hadn't been able to get back to it until tonight. I've got separate Aux tracks assigned for each BFD2 kit piece and room mics, and successfully controlling BFD2 from the Akai MPD32 via USB MIDI. I'm not sure I follow how the USB is providing the MIDI, but I'll save that lesson for another day.

Now for some recording!