MIDI device not found
Stab finds MIDI devices by itself while it runs: there’s nothing to restart, and a device plugged in shows up in a moment. When one doesn’t, or shows up but nothing happens when you play, work through the checks below. How devices are set up is in MIDI devices.
A MIDI device isn’t found
Available on every platform.
Where to look
Your devices are listed in Settings › Audio & MIDI and in the MIDI In tab of the Audio & MIDI pane. A light beside each device flashes as it sends something: play a note and watch it. With nothing listed, the pane says “No MIDI devices: plug in a keyboard, a pad controller, an e-kit or a MIDI guitar.”
The device isn’t listed
- Check the connection. Use a data cable, not a charging-only one, and turn the device on. A device behind a MIDI interface needs the interface connected and its driver installed, if it has one.
- For Bluetooth, pair the device first in the Mac’s Audio MIDI Setup (Window › Show MIDI Studio, then the Bluetooth button). Once paired, Stab lists it. Close other music apps. On Windows, a MIDI device can usually be open in only one app at a time: if a DAW, a synth or a driver’s own control panel has it, Stab can’t open it, and doesn’t list it (or shows it as “Not connected”). Quit that app; Stab looks for devices every two seconds, so it shows up by itself. Turn MIDI on in the browser. A page can use MIDI only once you allow it. Choose Settings › Audio & MIDI › Turn On MIDI, or Turn On MIDI in the Audio & MIDI pane, and allow it when the browser asks.
- Forget old devices. Stab remembers up to 16 devices, including those that aren’t plugged in. If it’s full, a new one isn’t added: Forget a device marked “Not connected” to make room.
On the web
- “MIDI is off in this browser”: MIDI hasn’t been turned on for this page yet. Use Turn On MIDI beside it.
- “MIDI wasn’t allowed. Allow it in the browser’s site settings, then turn it on again.”: you, or the browser, said no. Allow MIDI for the site in the browser’s settings (the icon left of the address), then choose Turn On MIDI again.
- “No MIDI in this browser”, or Settings › Audio & MIDI reads “MIDI needs Chrome, Edge or Firefox on a computer.”: the browser has no Web MIDI. Safari and every browser on the iPhone and iPad lack it. Use Chrome, Edge or Firefox on a computer, or the Stab app.
Once MIDI is allowed, Stab turns it on by itself the next time you open the page.
It’s listed, but nothing plays
- Is it on? On, beside the device, must be lit: off, Stab ignores the device.
- Is it a Controller? A device of the kind Controller only controls Stab through what you’ve learnt for it; its notes never play. Change its kind to Keyboard, Drum Kit or MIDI Guitar to play.
- Does another song take it? The song in front takes the devices. If the card says “Another song takes it”, bring the song you want to play into to the front.
- Which track hears it? What you play sounds on the armed tracks: the track you’re working in, unless you armed others. A drum kit plays the armed drum tracks, a keyboard the others. A track set to one device under MIDI Input in its menu hears only that device. See MIDI devices.
- Does the track make sound? If the device’s light flashes but you hear nothing, the track itself may be muted or silent: see No sound.
It plays, but isn’t recorded
Recording takes only devices that are Armed (in the Audio & MIDI pane). One that isn’t armed still plays, but isn’t recorded. See Playing and recording MIDI.