Help with XP30 (MIDI)

  • Thread starter Thread starter A1A2
  • Start date Start date
A1A2

A1A2

New member
So, before I drive 3-4 hours to a music shop and have it checked, I want to try if I can figure this out myslef.

1) I have set my Roland XP30 back to factory preset, plug the midi out to the midi in on the MOTU midi XT (interface) and it reads nothing.

2) Unplug the midi cables from XP30, plug it into POD, MOTU reads it perfectly.

Anything else I can do to see if the midi function still works in my XP???

Thank you

AL
 
I have no way of knowing how much you understand about MIDI, but one of the most basic criteria to have MIDI communications is to make sure that the MIDI ports match up (port 1 vs. 2, etc. etc) and to make sure the MIDI channels match (1 through 16).

Is the POD transmitting on the same MIDI channel as the XP??? If the MOTU is looking for a signal on MIDI channel 1 and the XP is transmitting on MIDI channel 2 - they ain't gonna talk.

So first - confirm which channel the POD is transmitting on (since that works) and set the XP to transmit on that channel - that should be an easy way to confirm the XP is indeed sending a MIDI signal.
 
mikeh:

thanks for stopping by. You brought up somehting I haven't thought of before here. I think the facotry preset on XP30 is ch1, but I really wouldn't know how to look up which ch POD is using. I guess I will have to test out all 16 chs on the XP...

I think it's pretty obvious that I know very little about MIDI, please give me a hand here. So, do I need to set each ch in MOTU to recieve different chs (like, MIDI in/out 1=ch1, midi in/out 2=ch2, etc)? Then set, say, POD to use ch1, XP ch2??

Thank you very much, mike

AL
 
man, i am crossing my fingers here, where are you mikeh? Can't wait to sort out this midi problem

AL
 
As much as I would like to help you out - I'm sure you understand that I can't give you a MIDI tutorial (in particular with multiple devices) - I can try to answer specific questions - be you need to decide what those questions should be.

I have not actually used MOTU software (other than an ADAT interface) - so I can't give you specifics - but as a general rule - every "track" in a software sequencer has to understand what MIDI channel to look for. There must be some "global parameters" on the MOTU to set - and if the MOTU does receive MIDI from the POD - that if the place to start.

I don't have a POD or an XP30 in front of me - but if memory serves, hit the MIDI button on the POD and a number will flash, telling you what MIDI channel you are using. I suspect you are correct that the XP30 likely uses a factory default of MIDI channel - so if the POD is on channel 1 (and if the MOTU accepts the signal) then you should be comparing apples to apples.

The XP30 functions in patch mode (basically playing a single sound) and in perform mode (which is best for useing the XP to send and receive MIDI sequence data).

In perform mode. function button 3 accesses the MIDI control parameters. Use this to adjust the MIDI transmit and receive on the XP30. I would recommend setting both the POD and the XP30 to send and receive on channel one to help trouble shoot.

A1A2 - I'll try to be as helpful as I can - but we can only achieve so much via caht room communications. You will serve youself much better by reading your manuals and learning to master the basics of MIDI (which if you have gotten the POD to transmit to the MOTU - you must be ding something right)
 
mikeh:

Thank you for stopping by again, hope you had a good weekend :)

I read thru the POD and XP30 manuals on MIDI over the weekend, and have set both of them to CH1 (in fact, MOTU reads POD fine from POD's CH1-CH16). Any a weird thing occured:
As soon as I connect XP30's(when it's on) MIDI out to MOTU's MIDI in, the red light on MOTU (right above the port number at front) starts to blink. This doesn't happen with POD. And this makes worry about XP30's MIDI Out functionability....
I just bought the MOTU piece, and don't have a user's guide, so, I really can't ask anymore question until I find out what that blinking red light is telling me...

But, thank you very very much for taking the time and helping me out here.

AL
 
A1A2 said:
As soon as I connect XP30's(when it's on) MIDI out to MOTU's MIDI in, the red light on MOTU (right above the port number at front) starts to blink.
Click to expand...

That is a normal thing for the XP30. Mine does that with my MIDISport 2x2 interface. It is probably the XP30 transmitting MIDI clock info.
 
Most MIDI devices do have some kind of LED light which flashes when it receives a MIDI signal. If the MOTU is indeed flashing it must be "recognizing" the XP30 (which at least confirms that some type of MIDI data is leaving the XP and reaching the MOTU).

Also, if the MOTU is receiving POD MIDI data on 1-16 then the MOTU is set to receive on any channel - which in theory means no matter what channel the XP is transmitting on the MOTU should receive.

Question - What data are you sending from the POD to the MOTU (I assume you are useing the POD editing software)? What visual indicator does the MOTU provide to confirm that it ihas received the POD data? And how does that differ from any indicator when the XP transmits??
 
brzilian:
That makes me feel better now :) Does your other MIDI device makes your MIDI 2x2 blink as well or?

mikeh:
Let me describe how I tested it last night:
1)The MOTU is detached from the PC (so, no software involved)
2)PLug POD's MIDI out into Motu's MIDI In=No blinking light
*3)twist knobs on POD, and the Red light, AND another Green light(right above the button, which says "Mac/PC, btw, I have it pressed down for "PC") blink together as I tweak POD. This is where I am sure MOTU is recieving MIDI signal and sending to my PC cuz it worked when MOTU was attached to PC.
4)Unplug the MIDI cable from POD, plug it into XP30's MIDI out=the red light is blinking now
5)Played notes, turned the patch wheel in XP30=the red light is still blinking on its own(not been affected by the playing on XP30), and the green light stays dark...
"What data are you sending from the POD to the MOTU "-----
Every knob I tweak work except for "Output), so, I think patch/program change and effects/velocity change are being sent from POD.
" What visual indicator does the MOTU provide to confirm that it ihas received the POD data"------#3 above
"how does that differ from any indicator when the XP transmits??"-------#4&5 above

mikeh:
I hope I am providing enough info for you to help me. Don't know how to thank you, but...THANK YOU!!


ps. MOTU told me that I have to order their manual(no downloadable manual)...$15!!! at least they responded to my email within a day

AL
 
BTW, I think you are correct, XP30 is sending something out, because the red light does NOT blink when I plug a MIDI cable from MOTU's MIDI IN into XP30's MIDI "IN". But, it blinks when from MOTU's IN to XP30's Out....So, something is definitely being sent out from XP30

AL
 
Why exactly do you not have the motu hooked up to the computer? It makes things alot easier if it's hooked up...
Sounds to me like everything is working fine. Quit messing around and plug both midi in and out into the motu for each piece of gear you have. The red and green lights mean it's working. But without a manual, your going to need to install the motu and software on your computer to tell it how to route signals.
 
BTW, midi in to midi in doesn't work... That's like running a piece of spkr wire between two spkrs.

XP30 midi out > Motu midi in #1
XP30 midi in > Motu midi out #1
Pod midi out > Motu midi in #2
Pod midi in > Motu midi out #2

And so on for each midi device.;)
 
A1A2 said:
brzilian:
That makes me feel better now :) Does your other MIDI device makes your MIDI 2x2 blink as well or?
Click to expand...

Nope, just the XP30. I also have 2 Korgs (M1,X5D), a DX7 and a Roland drum machine - no of them transmitt contiuous data like the XP30 does.
 
Subtractor:

"Why exactly do you not have the motu hooked up to the computer? "---
because I know programs like Sonar sometimes mess up the MIDI signal(for example, if I had POD's software running and open Sonar, it totally messes up what I previously adjusted on POD). So, I figure I will just eliminate that variable by detaching MOTU, so I can check the trasmision just between XP30/POD and MOTU without having PC interfearing.

"your going to need to install the motu and software on your computer to tell it how to route signals"----
I have installed the MOTU's software/driver, it seems that it only allows me to install it, I haven't seen anywhere to route any MIDI signals. Is there someplace I should set it up??

"midi in to midi in doesn't work"----
Yeah, I know, but I just had to test if the connector was broken or if some signal is being sent.

Thanks for stepping it, Sub. BTW, I am really digging K&D and PFM, especially Thievery Corporation Shoalin by K&D. I still need to find that Western song you were telling my about by PFM tho. Good recommendations :)

brzilian:
Thanks, man. Good to hear that
 
Goto Markoftheunicorn.com and get the "console". That is where you set how to route signals and use filters and blah, blah, blah. It won't mess anything up. It will allow you to go in and set everything just how you want it, then you close the console, and use whatever program you want... And the MOTU will stay the same. Or at least it should... I don't have any problem with mine.;)
 
Here I am again, finally managed to get a new PC that works.

Subtractor,

I downloaded that console software, but doesn't seem to install it in anyway. Tried by adding new hardware like I did for the MIDI driver for Motu, but it says something is missing. Then tried to install by clicking on the setup.exe thinggie, and that just takes me through a setup looking prcess, but then ask me to exit and reboot, and do the add-new hardware thing again, which still tells me that I am missing some file. Any clue??

Also, I installed the driver for Motu XT, I still can't use it. Sonar doesn't recognize it, checked in control panel>Sound>MIDI device, and I can't see MOTU anywhere, but it IS listed under sound device in "device manager" tho..????

AL
 
What operating system are you using?
There is a document on motu's site that tells you how to do it. Your probably going to have to uninstall the xt completely and start over. There's some order in which you must install the driver and console... I can't remember exactly what it is right now... But there is a document at motu.com that explains it.
Good luck!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top