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Roland XV5050 & Electro 6D

Postby monsterjazzlicks » 09 Jan 2022, 23:17

Hi folks,

I posted this question some years ago but my scenario has somewhat changed since. Back then I had Windows 7/8.1, and a Nord Stage Classic 88. I now have a different PC (Windows 10) and a Nord Electro 6D. I would like to use the Roland XV5050 s/w and it's Editor again.

I have installed the XV5050 Editor and have also hooked-up the XV5050 by coming out of a USB port (on the PC) with a cable which splits into MIDI IN and MIDI OUT dins. Not sure what you call these cables (USB to MIDI I guess?!). Anyway, this works fine and the PC and XV5050 communicate as they should do.

However (I'm not sure if this is possible?), I would like to be able to PLAY the XV5050 from my Nord Electro 6D. Specifically, I think I would need to configure a MIDI THRU routing (as the Nord only has IN and OUT). So, I have an (M-Audio) MIDI-SPORT (2x2) which has: IN A, OUT A, IN B, and OUT B (MIDI din ports). In addition to this it has a USB port, and the option to switch the device into MIDI THRU mode. I was thinking maybe the MIDISPORT (2x2) could come in between the MIDI OUT of the Nord and the MIDI IN of the XV5050 - but unfortunately this is not so. The XV5050 has a USB port on the front panel, but having a cable connected to the PC makes zero difference. :?

I also just d/l the most recent drivers for the MIDISPORT.

It was advised, a few years ago, that I either use Cubase, or purchase a patch-bay, in order to achieve my objective; however, I'm wondering if the MIDI spec on the Electro 6 is more advanced than on my previous Stage Classic model?

Many thanks in advance for any kind assistance offered here . . .

Best,

Paul David Seaman
Last edited by monsterjazzlicks on 10 Jan 2022, 03:17, edited 8 times in total.
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Roland XV5050 & Electro 6D


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Re: Roland XV5050 & Electro 6D

Postby StrangeAeons » 10 Jan 2022, 01:05

Hi Paul, I hope I'm not misunderstanding anything, but I take it you just want to keep your Roland module connected to your computer (either for convenience's sake or for editing on the fly) whilst playing its internal sounds from your Nord. If that's the case, you can simply connect your XV5050 to Windows via USB (with a USB Type-B cable, the ones commonly used for printers) and then hook up your Electro's MIDI out to the Roland's MIDI in with a standard MIDI cable. You should not need that MIDISPORT interface at all.

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Re: Roland XV5050 & Electro 6D

Postby monsterjazzlicks » 10 Jan 2022, 03:21

Hi Strange Aeons,

Many thanks for your swift response. :thumbup:

It sounds almost to good, and easy, to be true!; but I'll try out your kind suggestion tomorrow and let you know how I get on . . .

Cheers,

Paul
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Re: Roland XV5050 & Electro 6D

Postby harmonizer » 10 Jan 2022, 06:44

I have used a traditional 5 pin MIDI cable (with 5 pin connectors on each end) to allow my old Electro 3 to act as the MIDI controller for my XV-5050, and that worked fine.

I did not have my XV-5050 connected to a PC at the same time.

Be aware that the sound you have selected on your Electro 6 may impact the key velocity signals your Electro 6 sends as a MIDI controller to your XV-5050. I found that when my Electro 3 had an organ patch sound selected (for the sound the Electro itself would produce), then my Electro 3 sent MIDI information to the XV-5050 making it seem that the key had been pressed very hard. You probably would not want this for most of the sounds you would be trying to access on your XV-5050. This is easy enough to solve - just set your Electro to any sound such as an acoustic piano or EP as opposed to an organ.

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Re: Roland XV5050 & Electro 6D

Postby monsterjazzlicks » 11 Jan 2022, 02:33

StrangeAeons wrote:Hi Paul, I hope I'm not misunderstanding anything, but I take it you just want to keep your Roland module connected to your computer (either for convenience's sake or for editing on the fly) whilst playing its internal sounds from your Nord. If that's the case, you can simply connect your XV5050 to Windows via USB (with a USB Type-B cable, the ones commonly used for printers) and then hook up your Electro's MIDI out to the Roland's MIDI in with a standard MIDI cable. You should not need that MIDISPORT interface at all.

Many thanks StrangeAeons,

Sorry if I did not present the scenario clearly enough.

(Please see attach.).

I have the Roland XV5050 s/w editor on my PC. If I connect the 'USB to MIDI (IN / OUT)' cable from my PC to the XV5050 module then I can change/load presets on the module via the PC's s/w. The red and green LEDs on the cable indicate when MIDI traffic is being exchanged. I can also PLAY the XV5050 via the s/w virtual keyboard with a mouse/tracker-pad. However, I can only play it monophonically (ie. one note at a time). And this is the main reason as to why I would really like to trigger the XV5050 from my Nord Electro 6. To perform any programming, or auditioning of presets etc, I am not able to do so to a sufficient level via the PC's mouse/tracker-pad.

I don't think it is possible to play the XV5050 module via a USB cable?

Personally, I would have thought that the USB port on the front panel of the module is for loading/saving data (and does not transmit/receive MIDI info); and the MIDI IN/OUT dins are for performing MIDI tasks (inc. loading/saving Sys.Ex).

Hope the above helps.

Much appreciated,

Paul

Editor.png
Editor XV5050
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Last edited by monsterjazzlicks on 11 Jan 2022, 02:37, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: Roland XV5050 & Electro 6D

Postby monsterjazzlicks » 11 Jan 2022, 02:47

harmonizer wrote:I have used a traditional 5 pin MIDI cable (with 5 pin connectors on each end) to allow my old Electro 3 to act as the MIDI controller for my XV-5050, and that worked fine.

I did not have my XV-5050 connected to a PC at the same time.

Be aware that the sound you have selected on your Electro 6 may impact the key velocity signals your Electro 6 sends as a MIDI controller to your XV-5050. I found that when my Electro 3 had an organ patch sound selected (for the sound the Electro itself would produce), then my Electro 3 sent MIDI information to the XV-5050 making it seem that the key had been pressed very hard. You probably would not want this for most of the sounds you would be trying to access on your XV-5050. This is easy enough to solve - just set your Electro to any sound such as an acoustic piano or EP as opposed to an organ.

Evening harmonizer,

OK, thanks. So you MIDIied your Electro 3 to the XV5050 module and played/triggered it. That is basically what I intend to do during band practices, and creating my own music with Cubase etc. When I had my Stage Classic 88 back in 2010 that is what I used to do also.

But I am looking to be able to utilize the XV5050 s/w Editor in order to manipulate the module for programming, whilst being able to play the XV5050 (from the Electro 6) without restriction, like you ordinarily would on a gig.

I'll get back to you regarding tomorrow your other points because it's been a long day and I want to relay all facts to as accurately as I can.

Many thanks again, :thumbup:

Paul
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Re: Roland XV5050 & Electro 6D

Postby harmonizer » 11 Jan 2022, 03:59

I would suggest using the connection setup suggested by StrangeAeons.
You should be able to make program changes via the XV editor program running on your Windows PC.
All its program change instructions would flow over the USB cable connection.

And you should be able to press keys on your Electro 6, with your Electro acting as the MIDI controller.

One thing to keep in mind is that if your XV-5050 is in edit mode for either a Patch or Performance, if you press any keys on your Electro, the XV-5050 will read those MIDI commands and some of them will be interpreted by the XV-5050 as program change instructions. So you will think that you are pressing keys on your Electro to test the new Patch or Performance settings you just created from the XV Editor. But if your XV is still in edit mode, you might change some settings by pressing keys on your Electro. And you won't really know what settings you just changed. My typical reaction at this point is to utter a 4 letter word, and then power off the XV-5050 so that ALL changes I have made will be backed out.

To avoid this problem, make sure you leave Edit mode on your XV-5050 (you probably want to save the change) before you press any keys on your Electro to play-test it.

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Re: Roland XV5050 & Electro 6D

Postby changearound » 11 Jan 2022, 15:54

I don't think the XV5050 Usb port will work with Windows 10 - Roland haven't updated the driver.

If you have Midiox installed on your computer then this should work:

Connect your electro to your computer by usb and connect your XV5050 to the computer as before.

In Midiox, click Select Midi Devices To Open, highlight the Electro in Midi Inputs, your Usb Midi cable thingy in Midi Outputs and click OK. Keep MidiOx running.

I think this will enable the XV editor and the Electro to talk to each other. Disclaimer: I don't have an XV5050 or Electro 6 so can't test this out for myself but it makes theoretical sense.

Good luck.

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Re: Roland XV5050 & Electro 6D

Postby monsterjazzlicks » 11 Jan 2022, 17:23

harmonizer wrote:I would suggest using the connection setup suggested by StrangeAeons.
You should be able to make program changes via the XV editor program running on your Windows PC.
All its program change instructions would flow over the USB cable connection.

And you should be able to press keys on your Electro 6, with your Electro acting as the MIDI controller.

Hey harmonizer,

I appreciate your reply.

I'll respond to your latter points later/tomorrow because you are correct here.

Having ONLY the USB cable connected between the PC and XV5050 seems to produce zero communication of any kind or form, unfortunately. Hence I mentioned earlier that I think the wiring needs to be a little more tailor-made.

Upon opening the Editor please see attach. screenshot.

Cheers.

USB.png
USB
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Last edited by monsterjazzlicks on 11 Jan 2022, 18:01, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Roland XV5050 & Electro 6D

Postby monsterjazzlicks » 11 Jan 2022, 18:07

changearound wrote:I don't think the XV5050 Usb port will work with Windows 10 - Roland haven't updated the driver.

If you have Midiox installed on your computer then this should work:

Connect your electro to your computer by usb and connect your XV5050 to the computer as before.

In Midiox, click Select Midi Devices To Open, highlight the Electro in Midi Inputs, your Usb Midi cable thingy in Midi Outputs and click OK. Keep MidiOx running.

I think this will enable the XV editor and the Electro to talk to each other. Disclaimer: I don't have an XV5050 or Electro 6 so can't test this out for myself but it makes theoretical sense.

Hi changearound

Thanks for your time here.

I have just d/l MIDI-OX now, cheers. I'll test this out either later tonight or tomorrow.

Yes, I think you are correct about the Roland drivers. It definitely did work on Windows_7 (and possibly 8.1 - I can't quite remember), but sadly not on Win_10.

I fully take into account the fact that you do not own either devices as per discussion.

Regards,

Paul

ox.png
OX
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