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How to Use a Mac Keyboard to Input MIDI

Making a recording using MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) can involve assigning sound samples from a computer to notes that are then played on the virtual instrument of your choice. Making MIDI tracks in Apple programs such as Logic (or GarageBand, which comes standard on all Apple computers) allows you to make music anywhere without lots of equipment.

Things You'll Need

  • Mac (Apple) computer
  • GarageBand or Logic software
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Instructions

    • 1

      Open your recording software. Create a new project by selecting "New Project" under the "File" heading. In the pop-up window that appears over the recording interface, select where you want your project to be saved. Name it. Press "Save" when you are done to exit the window.

    • 2

      Create an empty MIDI track by selecting "New Track" under the "Track" heading. In the pop-up window that appears over the recording interface, select "MIDI" and click the "Create" button to exit the window.

    • 3

      Enable the newly created MIDI track to record by clicking the enable track button that is symbolized by a small circle.

    • 4

      Select "Musical Typing" from the "Window" menu in GarageBand to enable your computer's keyboard to record MIDI sounds. In Logic, press the "caps lock" key on your keyboard to enable MIDI typing.

    • 5

      Press the "Record" button and use your keyboard to record the desired musical notes. Press the "Stop" button when finished.

Digital Music

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