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Trying to use MIDI Keyboard connected to Helix to control my DAW


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Hi folks, 

 

I searched in the forums but did not find a topic specifically addressing this, feel free to point me to one if there is such a discussion.

 

I have an Arturia KeyLab Essential 61 Mk3, connected via its MIDI OUT port to the MIDI IN port of the Helix. I use the Helix as an audio interface for my Mac. With this setup, I am able to use the keyboard to play both in Arturia's Analog Lab V software (this includes using knobs and faders to control the effects of each sound patch) and while recording in Logic Pro.

 

However, I cannot get the keyboard's playback/recording control keys to work, nor the knobs and faders, in Logic Pro. Arturia's instructions talk about configuring it as a "control surface" for Logic Pro, which I did, but when doing this configuration the "input port" and "output port" parameters do not list the "Arturia KeyLab Essential 61" option which the instructions say should be chosen.

 

I am still in talk with Arturia support, but their first reaction was to ask me to connect the keyboard directly to my laptop via USB, which I would really like to avoid as it does not sit well with my setup. I tried anyway for testing purposes, and things work that way. I have inquired for more information, but in their first email they seemed to be blaming their Lua scripts for Logic integration, which would require a direct USB connection for the DAW controls to work.

 

A couple of questions:

 

- Do you see any reason why plugging the keyboard into the Helix could prevent this feature from working? As far as I understand, Helix just forwards the MIDI messages to the laptop USB port, so it should be transparent? I have never looked at the MIDI protocol though so I am not sure.

 

- If the reason is indeed missing support in their scripts, am I crazy for thinking this is unreasonable? I don't recall ever buying a product whose set of features depended on which physical port you used on it, in such a hidden way. 

 

If anyone has any ideas on how to make this work, feel free to shoot - I have of course asked the same from Arturia support.

 

Thanks in advance!

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Small update. As I suspected, Arturia doesn't provide support for it. This is their answer:

 

Hello, 
 
Unfortunately, MIDI DIN alone cannot directly handle DAW scripts. DAW scripts generally require a more advanced data protocol to interpret specific commands or macros (like those for launching clips, adjusting DAW controls, or automating complex functions) and are typically designed to work over USB MIDI, not MIDI DIN.
 
MIDI DIN is limited to traditional MIDI messages like note on/off, CC (Control Change), pitch bend, and program changes, which are typically used for playing instruments and basic control functions. DAW scripts, however, often involve more complex programming which DIN doesn’t support.
 
I'm really sorry for not having better news, but unfortunately in this case the best way is using the USB cable in order to use all the features included with your midi controller.

 

Do you guys agree this is a limitation in the MIDI cable, and there is no way of making it work? I would have thought something like that would be indicated in the product documentation, since they provide a MIDI OUT port. Also, aren't "play" , "stop" and "record", or adjusting a slider setting, fairly basic control functions?

 

I don't understand if it was my mistake to not consider this when buying the unit, or if it's indeed strange that they provide an output port which cannot carry the signal sent by half of the keys on the unit.

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