Mac keyboard on powered hub does not work initially

I sometimes have this problem with my built-in keyboard (and trackpad). It seems to be related to static electricity build-up (in me). In dry environments prone to static generation (e.g., carpeted offices, fabric-covered chairs, etc.), I always try to ground myself on something (say, a filing cabinet or a metal wall) after I sit down but before I touch the mac. If I forget and I zap the keyboard when I start to type, there's a very good chance that the keyboard and trackpad will be unresponsive. Based on my recovery action, I'm guessing that the macbook's internal USB controller has sensed the transient voltage spike as an over-current condition and has shut down (suspended) the offending devices on the associated port.

To recover the keyboard and trackpad, I either plug in an external keyboard (or vnc in via an ssh tunnel) and run the USB Prober app (part of the Developers tools, under /Developer/Applications/Utilities). Inside Prober with the Bus Probe tab selected, I then check Probe suspended devices and hit the Refresh button; my built-in keyboard and trackpad immediately start working again. My assumption is that the probe causes the suspended devices to re-negotiate their bus membership --which, if I remember the USB protocol, means that they are essentially new devices and not subject to the previous suspension -- and lets things go back to normal.

This doesn't happen often enough for me to automate the recovery, but I'm guessing there are associated system events/messages that could be used to drive an applescript-controlled probe.

I do not think it is a power problem.

Check in GarageBand if your device is showing up.

If not: I would start with getting the latest software for your MIDI device