Chirp Virtual MIDI Keyboard ControllerPro Tools Setup Guide - Mac

This document covers how to set up the Mac version of Pro Tools to uti-lize the Chirp Virtual MIDI Keyboard Controller. Chirp comes in very handy when you want to play soft synth parts in real time and adjust the note values, velocity and other parameters in MIDI Editor later.

Step 1 - Setting Up Your Mac To Use Chirp

First - Click on System Preferences, then Accessibility, and check the box on the bottom that says “Enable access for assistive devices.” Next, set up your Mac to use the IAC Driver internal MIDI Bus. Load the Audio-MIDI Setup Utility (found under the Applications -> Utili-ties folder. View the MIDI Studio by clicking on the Window menu (you may have to click Show MIDI Window at the top too.)

Step 2 - Setting Up Chirp To Drive Pro Tools

In Chirp, select File -> MIDI Setup and in the Output Device drop-down menu choose Bus1. (Do NOT change any settings for the Input Device.) This tells Chirp to send the MIDI output over that virtual MIDI cable called Bus1 rather than the Quicktime built in synth that is on by default when you first load up Chirp. If you try playing Chirp now - you’ll hear nothing - because we need to route that MIDI data to a sound source - or in this case Pro Tools MIDI or Instrument track.

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Double click the IAC Driver red icon on the MIDI Studio page. In Pro Tools, go to the Setup menu on the menu bar, choose MIDI and then select Input Devices.

Check the box labeled “Device is online.” This creates an internal “MIDI cable” you’ll use to send MIDI data from Chirp to your DAW application or soft synth plug-in.

Make sure the IAC Driver Bus1 is checked.

Chirp Used on a Pro Tools MIDI Track

Create a MIDI and AUX Track. To make Chirp the input to the MIDI Track, go to the I/O column settings, click the MIDI Input Selector (top but-ton) and choose Predefined -> IAC Driver Bus 1.

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(If you created a MIDI track, route the output to an AUX track with a soft synth loaded and be sure to set the output of the MIDI Track to the proper channel of the soft synth you instantiated on the AUX Track.) Click on Chirp and play the keyboard - you should hear the synth playing.

Chirp Used on a Pro Tools Instrument Track

Create an Instrument Track. To make Chirp the input to the this track, go to the Instrument column settings, click the MIDI Input Selector (top button) and choose Predefined -> IAC Driver Bus 1.

One feature to be aware of - in the Chirp Keyboard -> Preferences menu, there is a box called “Send Notes Always.” Checking this allows you to keep your application focus on Pro Tools and still have Chirp play its notes without clicking over to it to play it. The CAPS LOCK key acts as an on/off control for Chirp’s MIDI output when using it this way. If you need additional assistance, feel free to EMAIL us at support@tanageraudio-works.com.

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