My Keyboard Is Not Responding in MainStage

If your keyboard is not responding in MainStage, MainStage may not be receiving MIDI from your keyboard, or the on-screen keyboard may not be assigned correctly.

Use this article to confirm your physical connection, audio/MIDI settings, and Layout mode assignment.

Table of Contents

Confirm the Keyboard Is Powered On

Check Your MIDI or USB Connection

Confirm MainStage Is Receiving MIDI

Assign the Keyboard in Layout Mode

If You Are Using 5-Pin MIDI

If You Are Using USB MIDI

If the Keyboard Still Does Not Respond

Confirm the Keyboard Is Powered On

Before changing settings in MainStage, confirm that your keyboard is powered on and fully started up.

If your keyboard has different modes or presets, select the setup you normally use for MainStage before opening or assigning the concert.

Check Your MIDI or USB Connection

Your keyboard must send MIDI data to the computer running MainStage.

If you are using 5-pin MIDI, connect:

Keyboard MIDI Out > Audio Interface MIDI In

If you are using USB MIDI, connect your keyboard directly to the computer with the appropriate USB cable.

A loose cable, incorrect MIDI direction, missing driver, or disconnected interface can prevent MainStage from seeing the keyboard.

Confirm MainStage Is Receiving MIDI

Open your MainStage concert and look at the MIDI In display near the top of the MainStage window.

Play a few notes on your keyboard.

If MIDI data appears in the MIDI In display, MainStage is receiving information from your keyboard.

If no MIDI data appears, MainStage is not receiving the keyboard. Check the physical connection, keyboard power, audio interface, USB cable, and any required drivers.

Assign the Keyboard in Layout Mode

If MainStage is receiving MIDI but the on-screen keyboard is not responding, assign the keyboard in Layout mode.

  1. Click Layout in the upper-left corner of MainStage.
  2. Click the on-screen keyboard in the workspace.
  3. A blue box should appear around the on-screen keyboard.
  4. In the Screen Control Inspector, click Assign so it turns red.
  5. Play a few notes on your physical keyboard.
  6. Confirm that the on-screen keys move.
  7. Click Assign again to turn assignment mode off.

You may not hear sound in Layout mode. Layout mode is used to assign hardware controls. After assignment, go to Edit mode and select a patch to test sound.

When assigning buttons or foot switches, press the control three times at a steady pace. Do not press too quickly. This helps MainStage correctly learn the MIDI message being sent.

When assigning a knob, fader, or expression pedal, move it through its full range of motion so MainStage can learn the full control range.

Do Not Change Keyboard Presets After Assignment

Some MIDI keyboards have presets, scenes, or modes that change the MIDI messages sent by the keyboard, knobs, faders, or pedals.


After your keyboard and controls are assigned in MainStage, do not change the keyboard’s preset or scene unless you are prepared to reassign the controls.

If You Are Using 5-Pin MIDI

Check the direction of the MIDI cable carefully.

The most common mistake is connecting MIDI In to MIDI In or MIDI Out to MIDI Out.

For MainStage to receive your keyboard:

Keyboard MIDI Out > Audio Interface MIDI In

If you also need MainStage to send MIDI back to your keyboard, such as when using internal keyboard sounds, connect a second cable:

Audio Interface MIDI Out > Keyboard MIDI In

You do not need the second cable if you are only using MainStage sounds.

If You Are Using USB MIDI

If your keyboard is connected by USB, make sure the keyboard is connected directly to the computer or through a reliable powered hub.

Some keyboards require a manufacturer driver before macOS and MainStage can recognize them. Check the keyboard manufacturer’s website for the correct driver for your macOS version.

If the keyboard does not appear, try restarting MainStage after connecting and powering on the keyboard.

If the Keyboard Still Does Not Respond

Try these steps:

  • Quit and reopen MainStage.
  • Restart the keyboard.
  • Restart the computer.
  • Try a different MIDI or USB cable.
  • Try a different USB port.
  • Confirm that your audio interface or MIDI interface is connected and powered.
  • Confirm that any required drivers are installed.
  • Test whether another app can see MIDI from the keyboard, if available.

If the on-screen keyboard still does not move in Layout mode, the issue is likely with the hardware connection, MIDI driver, or keyboard setup rather than the KeyboardTEK programming.

Apple MainStage Help

For general MainStage questions not specific to KeyboardTEK programming, you can also use Apple’s built-in MainStage Help. In MainStage, choose Help > Quick Help or Help > MainStage Help.

Still Having Trouble?

Contact our Support Team if MainStage is receiving MIDI but the KeyboardTEK concert still does not respond correctly.

When contacting support, please include:

  • The name of the show
  • Your keyboard model
  • Your Mac model
  • Your macOS version
  • Your MainStage version
  • Your audio interface model, if using one
  • Whether you are using 5-pin MIDI or USB MIDI
  • Whether the MIDI In display changes when you play notes
  • Whether the on-screen keyboard moves in Layout mode