Connection for IPad and prs s900

[Claude]

I have been trying to connect for a long time my prs s900 to my IPad without success.
I went on the internet and look at a lot of videos, it looks so easy but I am not successful.
I bought all the necessary wires and the Apple mirror and charger (together) and followed the videos and nothing.
Could someone help me to connect my keyboard with the IPad.
Do I have to do something extra with my keyboard and IPAD?
Thank you in advance for your help!

[overover]

Hi Claude,

please answer the following questions first:

- What exactly do you want to do with the iPad (in connection with the S900)? Would you like to use an app to display text / sheet music (e.g. "Songbook+")?

- Which iPad model do you have? Does it have a 30-pin connector, a Lightning connector or maybe a USB-C connector?


Best regards,
Chris

[Fred Smith]

Also, let us know what software (app) you're trying to use.

Cheers,
Fred

[Claude]

Thank you for your questions. With IPad, I am trying to use the Yamaha mobile sequence app. or the GarageBand to play on my IPad and for the sound to come out on my keyboard.
For my pc I bought the Roland UM-One MK2 but nothing is coming out on the keyboard.
I don't really know what to do to get the sound coming out of the keyboard.
Thank you

[Fred Smith]

Thank you for your questions. With IPad, I am trying to use the Yamaha mobile sequence app. or the GarageBand to play on my IPad and for the sound to come out on my keyboard.
For my pc I bought the Roland UM-One MK2 but nothing is coming out on the keyboard.
I don't really know what to do to get the sound coming out of the keyboard.
Thank you

And what kind of iPad? I particular the connector — 30-pin, lightning or USB-C.?

Cheers,
Fred

[Claude]

My IPad is the new Apple air with 8 pins

[overover]

My IPad is the new Apple air with 8 pins

Hi Claude,

so, your iPad obiously is an "iPad Air (third generation)". This model has a so called "Lightning" interface.

For USB-MIDI connection with a Yamaha keyboard, the easiest way is to use a Apple "USB 3 to Lighning Camera Adapter":




You will also need a standard USB type AB cable ("printer cable") to connect the USB-to-Host terminal of your keyboard to the USB-A socket of the Camera Adapter mentioned before. This adapter has also a Lighting socket to connect the original Lightning charging cable simultaneously, if needed.


Note: I can NOT guarantee, that this method works with the PSR-S900, because this model was launched in 2007, and I'm not sure if it is already "USB-MIDI Class Compliant" (which is absolutely necessary for a USB-MIDI connection to work "driverless"). All newer models have this specification, but as I said, I'm not entirely sure about the S900.

If it doesn't work, you should get an external MIDI interface. There are different ways. But I would first try the method described above.


Please also download the Yamaha "iPhone / iPad Connection Manual":

>>> https://uk.yamaha.com/files/download/other_assets/6/725646/iphone_ipad_connect_en_om_j0.pdf

The method I described is "Connection A" on page 5 in this manual.


On the S900, press "[Function] > MIDI" and make sure that the Preset MIDI template "All Parts" is selected. Press [Exit] to close the MIDI display. This template will most purposes. If you need special settings you can of course change everything as desired (and then save it as a user MIDI template). Please refer to section "MIDI Settings", starting on page 204 in the S900 Owner's Manual:

>>> https://uk.yamaha.com/files/download/other_assets/5/322645/psrs900_en_om_b1.pdf


P.S.
In conjunction with an iPad, you can only use the MIDI Port 1 of the S900. (Internally Yamaha keyboards have TWO MIDI Ports. But you can easily re-route Parts that are on Port 2 by default to Port 1, if needed.


Hope this helps!

Best regards,
Chris

[Claude]

Thank you Chris, so you think that it will not work with the IPad?
I just downloaded the FL Studio but this one doesn't work.
I will try my iPhone and see.
I tried all of the connections including the Apple camera, I checked also the midi in the keyboard,all on.On page 198 I can connect a computer But I have a pc. I cannot connect to my pc it doesn't work.
Thank you for your help!

[Bill]

Hi Claude

To get the audio into your kwyboared you will need to connect a cheap lead from the headphone socket on the IPad to the Audio In on the keyboard.

Bill

[overover]

Thank you Chris, so you think that it will not work with the IPad?
I just downloaded the FL Studio but this one doesn't work.
I will try my iPhone and see.
I tried all of the connections including the Apple camera, I checked also the midi in the keyboard,all on.On page 198 I can connect a computer But I have a pc. I cannot connect to my pc it doesn't work.
Thank you for your help!

Hi Claude,

there are basically two ways to establish a MIDI connection between the S900 and a PC:

1. USB-MIDI:
- Connect a USB "type AB" cable to the "USB-to-Host" terminal of the S900 and connect the other end of the cable to the PC.

- Download and install the "Yamaha USB-MIDI Driver" on your PC. (There are separate versions for 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) Windows versions. For Windows 10 you usually need the 64-bit version.)

>>> https://uk.yamaha.com/en/support/updates/index.html?c=keyboards&k=usb-midi+driver+v3.1.4

- On the S900 select the MIDI template "All Parts" (as mentioned above).

- In the MIDI compatible App used on the PC select "Digital Workstation (1)" for both MIDI Output and MIDI Input.


2. External MIDI Interface:
- You can alternatively use an external MIDI Interface (like your "Roland UM-One Mk II"). With many of these MIDI Interfaces it is NOT necessary to install a special driver on the PC. Please check the Manual of your "UM-One" to find out.

Important:
- Connect the DIN-MIDI connector that is labelled with "IN" (the Input of the MIDI Interface) to the MIDI OUT socket of the S900, ...
- and connect the DIN-MIDI connector that is labelled with "OUT" (= the Output of the MIDI Interface) to the MIDI IN socket of the S900.

- In the MIDI App used on the PC select the "UM-One" as MIDI Input and Output Port. (The displayed Name for the MIDI In & Out Ports may be different.)


Note: Only MIDI data can be transmitted via the USB connection on the S900 (no Audio data).


On the subject of "iPad":

Do you already have an Apple "USB-to-Lightning Camery Adapter" cable? Did you already try the connection to the S900 using a standard USB (type AB) cable?





IF the USB-MIDI connection from the S900 to the iPad does NOT work, you could try your Roland MIDI Interface:

Connect the DIN plugs to the MIDI sockets of the S900 as described above (IN to OUT and OUT to IN !) and connect the USB-A plug of the Interface to the USB-A socket of the USB-to-Lightning Camera Adapter (instead of to the PC). (And connect the lightning connector to the iPad, of course. )


Please read all the instructions carefully and several times if something does not work!


Best regards,
Chris

[Claude]

Thank you Chris. I will try all this today and see.
My understanding is that audio will not come out of the keyboard. Is there a way to get audio to work on the keyboard?
Thank you

[Fred Smith]

Thank you Chris. I will try all this today and see.
My understanding is that audio will not come out of the keyboard. Is there a way to get audio to work on the keyboard?

Claude,

It's still not clear what you're trying to do.

If you're simply trying to get better sound from the iPad (as its speakers are tinny), then connect the iPad directly to your speakers. You connect from the iPad's headphone jack to the speakers' input jacks. If you want to use the keyboard's internal speakers, connect to the AuxIn jacks. See page 193 of the reference manual.

If you're trying to get an iPad app to control the keyboard (using midi events), then give us more specifics on the app you're using and what you want it to do.

Cheers,
Fred

[Claude]

Thank you every one who tried to help me.
I finally change the s900 to a psr-sx700. Should be getting it in a week or two. Hopefully I will not have the same issue.