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If you’re experiencing an issue, one of the first things to check is that MainStage is receiving MIDI from your keyboard. If MainStage isn’t receiving MIDI, the issue is likely with your equipment or how your equipment is configured.

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Checking for MIDI activity

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The fox’s eye

The eye of the fox logo in the bottom right corner will light up when MainStage receives MIDI. Magic Fox Logo Fox Eye MIDI Input Gi

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The corresponding screen control

MainStage screen controls are configured to listen for specific MIDI messages and will animate and illuminate accordingly. Piano Keys Gi Sustain Pedal Gi

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The MIDI Message Monitor

Choose Window > MIDI Message Monitor to open the monitor. Note: some keyboards relentlessly send “realtime” messages that obfuscate the more pertinent messages. For our purposes, Note On/Off and Control Change messages will be the most useful to look for in this list. Main Stage MIDI Message Monitor Gi

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No MIDI input

If MainStage isn’t indicating MIDI activity, here are some things to investigate.

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Check cable

Is the MIDI cable plugged in securely? Is the MIDI cable plugged into the MIDI OUT from the keyboard and into the MIDI IN on the audio interface? Have you tried using a different MIDI cable?

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Check MIDI devices

Open the Audio MIDI Setup tool by pressing the Setup button in the Audio tab of the Settings window. You can find the MIDI devices by choosing Window > Show MIDI Studio. If your device isn’t listed, you may need to install or update software or drivers for your audio interface, and restart your computer.

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Check settings on your keyboard

Many keyboards have global settings that specify how MIDI is handled. For example, a Destination parameter can prevent MIDI from being outputted to external devices like MainStage. Different brands use different naming conventions, so consult your keyboard’s user manual for more information about MIDI transmission. Kurzweil Global MIDI Page Destination Pn

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