You can use a Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) keyboard that connects to your Mac through a USB connector cable. In iLife ’11, GarageBand can apply the MIDI information to any Software Instrument, effectively turning your Mac into a fully functional music synthesizer. This functionality in iLife ’11’s GarageBand greatly expands range of sounds you can create.

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TheMIDI specifies how musical instruments with microprocessors can communicate with other microprocessor-controlled instruments or devices. Two popular models are the M-Audio Keystation 61es, available from the Apple Store, or the Keystation Pro 88, available from M-Audio.

A USB MIDI keyboard is literally a plug-and-play keyboard. Just plug it in and start GarageBand. You can play your piano and organ riffs and have them translated into Software Instruments. Just follow the same instructions as though you were using the onscreen music keyboard.

If you don’t hear music from your USB MIDI keyboard, try these tricks to troubleshoot the problem:

The MIDI cable plug contains five metal pins set in a semi-circle that connect to the five holes in the MIDI port on an instrument. The MIDI cable can be linked with an adapter to connect a keyboard to work with GarageBand, an audio software program designed for Apple Mac computers. Connect the MIDI socket on one end of the adapter cable to the other end of the MIDI cable attached to the keyboard. Insert the USB plug on the other end of the adapter into any unused USB port on the Mac. Double-click the GarageBand icon on the Mac desktop to start the audio software on the computer.

• Make sure that the keyboard is connected to the USB port and the keyboard is turned on. When you first start a new song in GarageBand, a Software Instrument track labeled Grand Piano opens automatically — make sure that this track is still selected by clicking the track header.

• Check to see that your system has detected the MIDI device. If you still don’t hear music, choose GarageBand→Preferences and click the Audio/MIDI button to see the Audio/MIDI pane. The MIDI status should indicate that your system detected at least one MIDI input; if it didn’t, you may have to troubleshoot your connection by using the Audio MIDI Setup utility.

  The Audio/MIDI pane detects the MIDI keyboard and lets you assign sound input and output.

• See whether your USB MIDI keyboard is playing by watching the LCD display in GarageBand as you play. The tiny green MIDI status light in the lower left corner of the LCD display should flash every time you play a note. If you still aren’t hearing music, make sure that the Volume slider for the track isn’t positioned all the way to the left and turn up the output volume for your computer’s speakers or your external speakers.

In this feature I ditch the recording studio and take a look at the best portable interfaces for GarageBand musicians who want the freedom to record anytime, anywhere.

The beauty of an app like GarageBand for iOS is that you no longer need to spend ludicrous amounts of money renting studio time or wait until your ‘big break’ to write, record and release your own music.

If you want your DIY music to sound its best however, you’ll need to ditch that inbuilt mic on your iOS device and invest in an audio interface of some kind.

There’s tons of choice out there and it can be hard to work out what interface is right for you. I’ve brought together 3 of the best portable recording interfaces on the planet to help you narrow down your options.

Let’s take a look.

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£74.99/$99.99

Compact, portable, and easy to use, the Roland GO:MIXER makes it simple to record high-quality audio with your iDevice.

With multiple inputs available, you can connect a mic, musical instruments, and media players and mix them all together at the same time.

The unit features the ability to combine five sources at once via inputs for a ¼” jack vocal mic (no XLR input or +48 V Phantom Power here), guitar, stereo keyboard, and two stereo line-level devices (such as music players, drum machines, etc.).

The quality is great, assuming you don’t clip/peak the audio. There is a dial for each main instrument input as well as a master volume dial to adjust as appropriate. The GO:MIXER also has a peaking LED which is useful to have.

All in all this little box is incredibly versatile, though the lack of XLR input or 48v Phantom Power would definitely prove limiting for some. How to get garageband on mac.

Tech Specs

• Inputs: 8 channels
• Outputs 2 channels
• Connectors INSTRUMENT (L/MONO, R) jacks: 1/4-inch phone type
• LINE IN 1 jack: Stereo miniature phone type
• LINE IN 2 jack: Stereo miniature phone type
• MIC jack: 1/4-inch phone type (no plug-in power)
• GUITAR/BASS jack: 1/4-inch phone type (high impedance)
• MONITOR OUT jack: Stereo miniature phone type
• USB port: USB Micro-B type USB Bus PowerCurrent Draw40 mA
• Accessories: Lightning to USB Micro-B type cable (50 cm, 1 ft 7 inches)
• USB OTG Micro-B type to USB Micro-B type cable (50 cm, 1 ft 7 inches)

£81.99/$119.99

Focusrite has a great track record for producing extraordinarily high quality USB and Thunderbolt audio interfaces for Mac and PC. With the iTrack Solo Lightning, they’ve packed most all of the killer features from their range into this little box.

While it is smaller and lacking a few of the features of some of Focusrite’s more expensive units , the iTrack Solo packs enough of a sonic punch to hold its own against most other interfaces at this price range.

The mic preamp used here series are nothing short of phenomenal, giving you clean and clear recordings every time. There’s also +48 V Phantom Power available, so you can use a studio quality condenser microphone to really push the quality of your recordings to the next level.

Super-low latency brings confidence to your performance, letting you record and monitor with software effects in real time.

New gain controls and a sleek metal chassis underscore its industrial design – this thing can take one hell of a beating!

Tech Specs

• 1 microphone input – XLR, 1 Instrument input ¼’ unbalanced, 2 Gain knobs,
• 48V Phantom power switch, Direct monitor switch
• 2 unbalanced monitor outputs – RCA Phone, DEVICE LINK port (to connect iTrack Solo to iPad)
• USB 2.0 Port, Kensington Lock slot
• Supported sample rates 44.1 KHz, 48 KHz, 88.2 KHz, 96 KHz – Mac and PC 44.1 KHz, 48 KHz – iPad
• In the box: iTrack Solo, 1.2m USB cable, 1.2m “DEVICE LINK” cable (to connect to a Lightning iPad), Getting started guide, Registration card, USB power supply (US only)
• Compatible with: iTrack Solo Lightning: Any iPad with Lightning connector, Standard iTrack Solo: iPad (1st gen), iPad (2nd gen) and iPad (3rd gen)

£127.99/$149.99

iRig Pro I/O is a pocket-sized full-featured audio and MIDI interface that gives you 24-bit/96kHz recording studio quality sound everywhere you go with a few additional essential features for mobile recording.

Its designed to be “plug and play” and easy to use with all of your gear — studio mics, vocal performance mics, guitars, basses, keyboards — whatever it is, iRig Pro I/O can probably handle it.

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It features a new 1/8″ stereo headphone out with preamp and level control, making it compatible with even the most recent iOS devices. Plus, when used with the optional DC power supply, the unit will charge your iPhone or iPad while in use for unlimited playing and recording time – super handy!

The Pro I/O also features a new MIDI Out jack that gives you even more flexibility and control over your outboard MIDI gear.

Despite it’s small size the iRig Pro I/O has it where it counts, packing the features you’d expect from a full scale audio interface into it’s sleek form factor.

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Tech Specs

• High definition 24-bit/96kHz audio plus MIDI interface for iPhone, iPad, Mac, PC and Android devices
• Connects to everything, yet easily fits in your laptop bag, gig bag or pocket
• Neutrik™ combo input for guitar, microphone or other instruments with a professional quality preamp, phantom power and gain control
• iPhone 7 ready with integrated headphone output with volume control
• Powered via USB bus, two AA batteries or the optional iRig PSU 3A (PSU simultaneously charges iOS device)
• Detachable Lightning and USB cables included for connection to iPhone, iPad, Mac and PC (MFi certified)
• Comes with a Velcro strip to secure iRig Pro I/O to a mic stand
• Comes with over $/€550 worth of full version Software & Apps

There you have it, that’s my top 3 favourite portable audio interfaces for use with GarageBand for iOS.

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Is your favourite on the list? What did I miss out? Leave a comment and let me know, or come and join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter.