Why an AKAI MPK249 Might Not be Recognised by OSX

I recently received an email from a client asking for some advice about an AKAI MPK249 MIDI controller keyboard not connecting to Logic Pro. I didn’t think my client needed another remote support session and advised him to purchase a new USB Hub. This was our email exchange:

Hi Paul. Hope you are well. You helped me remotely last year getting my MIDI keyboards set up in Logic Pro for my live tour. I have another problem: My AKAI MPK249 is not recognised by my brand new D-Link USB hub. I have two keyboards connected to it. A Roland System-8 and an AKAI MPK249. The Roland works fine, however the MPK isn’t seen by Logic or OS-X. Is there something in the ‘hardwiring’ that has assigned the AKAI to the old USB hub only? Is that possible? Hope you can help me. – SR

I received the above message from SR and sent him this reply:

Hi S. From your description, it sounds like there’s not enough power to run the MPK249 through that new USB hub. I would recommend a powered hub. My estimate is that will solve the problem. We could connect for a remote support session, but I think the outcome would be recommending a different hub. Try that first and let me know if that helps. – Paul

I received this response from SR a week later:

Thanks so much Paul! New powered hub has arrived and everything now working perfectly. – SR