Chris Sangster’s MIDI Survival Guide: Logic Pro Troubleshooting That Actually Works

Let’s be real—MIDI issues in Logic Pro are like that one stubborn ketchup stain: everyone’s got one, and nobody wants to talk about it. Chris Sangster kicks things off by sharing just how common these headaches are, with folks flooding his inbox looking for answers. He’s not just here for the techies; he’s talking to anyone who’s ever stared at a silent keyboard and wondered if it’s time to buy a new USB cable or just cry into their coffee.

But here’s the kicker: while Logic Pro usually plays nice with modern MIDI gear, there’s a whole mixtape of ways things can go sideways. Chris doesn’t sugarcoat it—there’s no magic bullet, just a bunch of practical fixes that’ll get you back to making beats instead of troubleshooting. So, if you’re tired of the same old MIDI drama, this video’s got your back.

Chris starts with the basics—unplug, restart, and plug it back in. Yeah, it sounds like IT support, but you’d be surprised how often it works. He runs through the essential checklist: make sure you’ve got a software instrument track, a valid plugin loaded, and that record is enabled. If you’re seeing meters light up but still hearing nothing, check your audio outputs and make sure your speakers or headphones aren’t just on mute (been there, done that).

If that doesn’t do the trick, Chris digs deeper. Sometimes it’s the plugin itself—maybe it needs a patch loaded, or you’re running a demo that’s expired. He warns against messing with MIDI routing in the Track Inspector unless you know your stuff, because one wrong move and your session’s toast. The real MVP move? Check if Logic is even receiving MIDI data by customizing the control bar to show MIDI activity. If nothing’s coming in, it’s time to reset MIDI drivers or check device recognition.

He doesn’t stop at Logic, either. If your keyboard’s still invisible, Chris shows how to use Mac’s Audio MIDI Setup to see if your computer even knows your gear exists. Sometimes it’s as simple as a bad cable, a missing firmware update, or a USB hub that’s just not up to the job. The fixes range from swapping cables to factory resets, and yeah—sometimes you just gotta try a different USB port. This section is packed with streetwise advice you won’t find in the manual.

One of Chris’s clutch tips is resetting MIDI drivers right from Logic’s settings. It’s like hitting the reset button on your old Nintendo—suddenly, things just work again. If that doesn’t bring your keyboard back from the dead, he walks you through verifying device recognition in Logic’s MIDI input list, making sure every port is checked and ready to go.

This isn’t just busywork—it’s about keeping your workflow smooth so you can focus on the groove, not the gear. Chris’s approach is all about quick, effective moves that keep you in the creative zone, not stuck in tech support limbo.

Just when you thought you had MIDI figured out, control surfaces show up and flip the script. Chris breaks down how these devices—think faders, knobs, and transport buttons—need extra setup to play nice with Logic. Most MIDI keyboards double as control surfaces, but getting those extra features working isn’t always plug-and-play.

He walks you through the process: installing your device as a control surface, setting the right input and output ports, and picking the right preset for your DAW. There’s a whole world of customization here, but Chris warns that it’s easy to mess things up if you get too wild. Luckily, Logic’s got a “rebuild defaults” button for when things go sideways. If you want to see how deep the rabbit hole goes, you’ll have to watch the video—some of these quirks are better seen than read.