Step-by-step directions on how to connect a Roland FP-10 to a Mac using its built-in bluetooth functionality. Useful for connecting to your Mac for MIDI.
Dude, thank you so much. I would have never found that buried studio menu. This connectivity + Garageband piano lessons is an incredible tool. Thanks again!
Brian, you're a lifesaver. I have overlooked your video bc I have a Windows computer not a Mac, but the activation key information was PRICELESS. Not sure why Roland is not writing this on a big orange sticker in the box
Wow, i checked everywhere in the manual and couldn't find how to turn on BT through the 5th key from the right. Thanks a ton, now I can finally access touch sensitivity on my FP10.
Thank you so much my friend for posting this as I could not figure it out from instructions that came with the FP-30 (similar to FP-10) how to connect with MacBook, and like you say, I looked in BlueTooth settings, not Audio Midi Setup! That was the key. Then figuring out where to go in Audio Midi Setup wasn't exactly obvious either. Thanks again for taking the time to help us out!
Thanks so much for this video, why doesn't Roland give you this quick and easy overview. I have spent a good few hours looking at how I can connect the keyboard to my Mac, I am glad I kept searching until I found your video. Great
Happy to hear it helped! One of the main reasons I created it was that it took me way too long to figure it out. Wanted to make sure I shared it with others!
OMG thank you! Yours in the only video that actually showed how to first connect to bluetooth (hint: hold FUNCTION button and highest C# simultaneously)
I'm sorry if I missed the whole point of the video, but how can I import recordings I made on the Roland to the Mac? Anyways, thanks a lot, the connection works great.
Hi Brian, I tried to do the same with my mac on the Catalina OS. Despite showing connected in audio midi setup, the fp 10 does not turn on the function button light. However I tired connecting with Android phones on the piano partner app everything works and the function button lights up. Any idea what might be wrong?
Sorry to hear that. I'm not expert enough to troubleshoot a ton in it, but I do have one thing to try - look in your connected/available bluetooth devices in macOS. I sometimes find the FP-10 will be in the list and then it doesn't want connect. If I intentionally drop/disconnect and forget it entirely, I'm then able to re-connect properly with the steps from the video. If that doesn't help, it might need a support email to Roland...
@@brianreyman It worked for me today! I think it might have something to do with the advertised computer name. Previously it was configured to be "Someone's Macbook Pro" and perhaps the special character caused the connection to fail somewhere. I changed it to "Someone-Mac" and it is working. Possibly a software bug on Apple's side since my Android phone has similar special characters... I did try to drop the Bluetooth device entirely in the meantime, so that might be the root cause as well. Thanks for the advice Brian!
@@ZY_Tan what do you mean by drop the bluetooth device? just turning it off? I'm having the same issue and even changing the computer name nor trying to reconnect the bluetooth worked for me. =(
@@ZY_Tan Thank you so much!! I experienced the same problem as you and your solution (plus forgetting the Bluetooth setting and reconnecting it again) saves my Roland GO:KEYS!!!
Hey Brian, great video and very clear to follow but after numerous attempts I still can't connect my FP10 to my MacBook. I've followed exactly what you said but my keyboard never appears in the MIDI Studio Bluetooth scan for devices... Any idea what I'm doing wrong?
I appreciate you making this video but unfortunately not working for me! I'm on Big Sur, and for some reason it appears as a device in the window, I press connect, it waits a bit as the button is greyed out trying to connect, then seemingly nothing happens. Tried all the troubleshooting and it's just straight up refusing to connect, despite bluetooth being on and clearly the keyboard is discoverable within Audio MIDI Setup. Any help?
it wont work on mine for some reason. The light wont light up. I just read the manual and it says I should download an app called piano partner 2 but its only avaialble for iphone/ipad.. not mac. tips?
Wow, I have had a Mac since 1990 or so and never even knew about that MIID app or had forgotten about it! Thanks! Slight delay when using AirPods Pro being signal has to go to my M1 MacBook Pro 16", through Ableton Live 11 and then out to my AirPods Pro. But no delay if output to speakers. FP-10 is superb value, weighted keys and built in sounds are great if you don't have a DAW.
How do I connect my fp 10 with the wire. I prefer wire and couldn't find a way to get it to work. I plugged it in and everything but like I can find any option. I wanna use it with mini grand
I manage to connect my Mac to the piano BUT the function light remains unlit. And Logic Pro is not recognizing the instrument. Not sure what I am doing wrong?
I am stuck. Thanks for the video, everything works except it does not show up on the Bluetooth part- I am using the Roland Ax Edge however, which does support Bluetooth, but doesn’t show up on my MacBook Air. I can’t figure out what I’m doing wrong
I know there will be a tiny bit of lag, like 5-10ms or so, hope not more. When playing along with DAW out studio monitors, is it noticeable while playing?
@@brianreyman thanks. Case being I'd like to play through my DAW and monitors but hard to play along with a lag. I've not read concerning things with BT midi, in fact the opposite. have a good enough desktop to handle too. big help.
Thank you for this, but I have one question. I'm using an iPad mini and it connects via Bluetooth without any problem. EXCEPT, I practice at night so as not to disturb those sleeping, I want to use headphones. If I plug my headphones into the iPad, I can hear my Skoove lessons, but not the piano. If I plug my headphones into the FP 10, I can hear the piano, but not the lessons in the app. IS there any way I can do this with the FP 10?
The default piano partner 2 app from Roland does not allow the use of rhythms. Can we do that by connecting it to MAC/ Ipad and using third party apps like GarageBand or LogicPro?
Hi @brianreyman when I connect my Mac mini M1 running Big Sur to my FP-10 via Bluetooth MIDI, I can successfully send MIDI events to the piano. But it doesn't work the other way around. The FP-10 can't send any notes to the computer...
Hey thanks you for the video if i understand i can connect with a cable too(cause i don't have bluetooth) ? my piano on a computer and use the piano like a synthesizer ? (sorry for my bad english )
@mansurk37 - Yes, you should be able to play VSTs, as long as your program/DAW (Logic, ProTools, etc.) support the VST. Details will vary, but once the FP 10 is connected into the Mac, it should be relatively straightforward.
Hi Brian, thanks a lot for the video. Do you maybe know how can I connect, play and record the FP-10 onboard piano and instruments sounds on Logic Pro X? Cheers
This is definitely possible. One of the main benefits of connecting your keyboard to a Mac is to record music. Logic Pro X does a great job at that! It's not easily explainable in a comment, but you can check out this to get started: support.apple.com/kb/PH13419?locale=en_US#:~:text=Logic%20Pro%20features%20a%20complete,the%20sound%20of%20the%20track. Or, search something like "logic pro software instrument track" in RU-vid and watch the few top results.
How much of the expression in the keys are lost when transmitting to the DAW? Is there any difference in the amount of midi information transmitted from the fp10 vs a full scale controller like the arturia keylab or the native instruments?
Most applications/DAWs will record it as MIDI data but when you play it back or export, it will play the actual audio. I’m not sure how to record directly as an audio file as I’ve always been okay having the MIDI data and then export to audio from there.
Thanks very helpful! Could you, or the chat help me with a question? I’m thinking of buying the fp10 for two reasons - 1) As a decent alternative to a “real’ piano for my daughter to practice on, she is a beginner. And 2) for me, who has v little piano skill, to use as a midi controller - I love to muck about with DAWs and other music software on Mac and iPad (classic dad dreams of becoming the next Moby!) I’m happy to pay for something like this, with a nice action for the money. So do people think this is a good choice?
@Bruce Kennedy - I'm not an expert on instrument selection, but it would do a decent job at that. The full set of weighted keys probably make it better as a real piano to practice on (I have mine for learning/playing piano). You can definitely use it as a MIDI controller - all the keys map into most audio/musical programs/DAWs. But, you won't get the pads and other features of a true MIDI controller. Having said that, a MIDI controller could be even harder to learn/play piano on for a kid than a piano would be to use as a MIDI. So, if I were you, I'd go with the Roland and use it for both. Or, consider getting the Roland for her and a cheap MIDI controller for you (decent ones can be had for $50-100).
@@brianreyman Thank you Brian. I think I'm really sold on the idea - I've seen several reviews and comparison vids on RU-vid and this keyboard really seems to shine for feel and general bang for your buck. I love the simplicity of it - clean looking, not covered in lights, drum pads and other tacky stuff. And you're right - if I need knobs and pads etc for more midi "twiddling" there are tons I can add. In fact I already own a couple that are begging to be dusted off and put to some use! Thanks again for the advice :)
Sure thing! I’m really enjoying it for sure. The fact that it can connect via Bluetooth is nice for when I want to quickly lay down some notes on the computer.
My fp-10 can work fine on my old MacBook Pro 2014 but when I'm trying connect to my new Mac m1 I can connect with audio MIDI setup but fp-10 not show the light on function key and can't do anything on Logic Pro x . Does anyone can solve this problem :(
Hi Brian, thank you for the info, i read on roland website that roland fp10 doesn't have bluetooth in all countries! is that right?! and when it doesn't have it means that you should connect to other devices for using the app by usb?!
Sure thing Cyrus. Yes, I read something similar, so it is correct. Bluetooth isn’t supported in all countries. I couldn’t find easy documentation on *which* countries, so you’ll need to refer to your local manual to know if it applies to you. All I can verify is that it is supported in US models. If it doesn’t support it, then yes - connecting via USB is the way to go. It works as simply as plugging in a USB cable (it has a port in the back next to the other inputs/outputs) and moving forward. I tried it recently and it worked perfectly.
@@brianreyman thank you very much Brian, i live in italy, on italian's manual it is just written the same thing on the site, that in some countries it doesn't support bluetooth (in italian language)! so strange and unclear! i tried to go to a music instrument shop that they had it, i asked the staff, he told me that it doesn't support but he didn't seem very sure! :) as i didn't know how it works i couldn't try it myself either! but as i know it now maybe i go there again to try it myself!
@@cyruson8883 Trying it would be the best for sure. When you turn it on, if it supports bluetooth, the function light/button blinks three times after pressing the power key to turn it on. Quick/easy to tell in person, or perhaps ask the salesperson to check and relay if it blinks over the phone.
Hello, I was able to connect thru bluetooth but my DAW (Ableton) does not catch any signals. It says its connected but nothing comes in. Does anyone know why? :(
