M1 Mac Studio Max issues

[HCMarkus]

Right and that is a temporary work-around but I have another hardware synth that needs to be on the MIDI network.

So I’ll need at least 2 ports of MIDI I/O at some point to fully-utilize my optimum setup.


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How many keyboards in total?

If the total number is 2, including the Motif, the Motif will connect both keyboards, independently, to your computer. The Motif is actually a USB MIDI Hub. So if you connect the Motif via USB, the second synth can be connected to the Motif's MIDI I/O ports and accessed via any/all of the 16 MIDI channels available on those ports without impacting the USB MIDI connection to the Motif sound engine.

I've utilized that approach from time to time with a Motif ES6 and an S90ES. Works perfectly!

The Motif series is not the only controller to offer this functionality; I've got Korg and M-Audio drum pads that do the same thing. As does my 828ES audio interface.

[sayatnova]

I am still waiting for my Mac Studio to ship. In the meantime I have been still working on my trashcan 2013 Intel Mac. I recently upgraded the OS to Monterey 12.3.1. Last night, I went to use the M7 link plugin that allows control to my Bricasti via MIDI connections on my original MIDI Express USB. This has been the same working set-up of the past 8 years and several Mac OS's... It did not work, and did not see the Bricasti... It showed up in my MIDI set-up, but the MIDI Express USB was faded and not active. I had to go to MOTU and download the "latest" driver of the MIDIU Express USB, then reinstall it. I now had a double of the MIDI Express USB called "MIDI Express USB #2" that was active and seen by the computer. I had to re-connect all my devices and routings, but once I did that it all worked again... I deleted the original, not active one after that.

Do we know if there are actual updated drivers for the older MIDI Express USB for AS / Mac Studios? Are these already updated but not working correctly, yet. Or, are they not even updated, yet? Is the issue with older MIDI MOTU interfaces a Monterey OS one, or specifically a Mac Studio one? Just want to understand what I may be looking at when my Mac Studio arrives!

Thank you for any info!

[Black-Man]

I've had an open ticket w/ MOTU regarding the Micro Lite not working for a month. Micro Lite seems to filter events... note offs (hung notes), note ons, clock is bizarre. Get one clock event per measure. I think they are just running out the clock on me - especially when I told them my iConnect mio works fine thru USB-A.

Mine are older Micro Lite's (newest one purchased in 2016), though my iConnect was purchased in 2015 so there's that. But someone on Gearspace insists he has a Micro Lite which works w/ Logic. I've tried my Micro Lites with other apps than DP. It does not work, period. Maybe the newer ones have a different chip set?? A friend of mine ditched his MOTU MIDI interfaces for the RPT-MIDI on the mioXM and loves them.

[sayatnova]

Ugh, not what I wanted to hear. Is the newest MIDI Express an option? I have used MOTU for my MIDI interfaces for so long it seems strange to go with another option... I need an interface with 4 in and out. The MIDI Express USB was/is truly perfect for my needs. I hope they can solve it ASAP.

Thank you.

[mikehalloran]

MOTU has acknowledged issues with the Studio and current MIDI devices. They have a very good record on getting such things fixed.

I remember it took a couple of months to fix USB over Yosemite (or was it El Cap? but every one had a problem with that. OTOH, MOTU was one of very few companies that did not have a problem with Mojave 10.14.0–3. MacOS 10.14.4 fixed that for everyone.

Otherwise, the current Monterey driver is fine on the M1 and Intel Macs.

[Black-Man]

MOTU has acknowledged issues with the Studio and current MIDI devices. They have a very good record on getting such things fixed.

Quite the opposite in my experience. They insist they have a Mac Studio and it works with the Micro Lite. And things are entering the absurd stage with them. I get an update like every 3 days with... "well... did you try port 3 on the Micro Lite?'. Another couple days... "try a USB-C to USB-A adapter". I have an adapter and it doesn't work at all with the Micro Lite. I'm not about to go out and purchase another adapter which may or may not work.

Time is money. And this issue has dragged on for a month. Everyone tells me to ditch the MOTU MIDI devices and go iConnect via RTP. I think I'm just going to have to do it.

[sayatnova]

Been looking at the iConnect via RTP. One thing I like is the ability to have it be up to 100" from my studio computer! I am interested, now... Do your friends have it working with a Mac Studio? Do you know if it can be connected via an ethernet port on a CalDigit TS3+ dock?....

[Black-Man]

Got an update from MOTU today - they can reproduce the issue with the Mac Studio and have been in contact with Apple engineers. A beta driver is in the works. Apparently there are audio issues with the Mac Studio. I don't know if those are USB-specific. I have not encountered any audio issues but I am using Thunderbolt.

I have no idea if the RTP MIDI works with Mac Studio (my friend has a Mac Pro) but since it is based on ethernet, there is no logical reason it wouldn't. Unlike USB, which seems to have subtle changes with every new Mac release, ethernet is stable.

[sayatnova]

Excellent info, all around. Thank you.

[Black-Man]

Got my hands on the beta-release of the new MIDI driver this afternoon. I have not done a complete test - but the MIDI trace logs show the clock events are normal and the MIDI on/off events are normal as well. I will do more extensive testing this weekend and put it thru its paces, but preliminary results are encouraging.

[sayatnova]

Just got my Mac Studio yesterday and am setting everything up. Any news on this MIDI driver working? Kind of important to know, now!...

Thank you.

[sayatnova]

Just to report back, I have the latest Motu drivers for the Micro Express USB and it seems to be working for me. I have only used it to move patch banks on one synth, and also played a VI with another controller. Both worked as before... Not sure if there were other issues, but for my situation and what I do, it seems to be working as it was before the computer upgrade.

[greg328]

Good to know, thanks for sharing---hoping the same will be true for my MOTU MTP AV USB---
Greg

[Black-Man]

The new driver landed on MOTU's download site on May 17th. Identical to my beta driver and works as advertised.

[soulbill]

Just to add a bit to the thread as we patiently wait for an update from MOTU:
Like others, my Mac Studio Ultra is still not working yet with a new MOTU Midiexpress XT.
When I go to About This Mac/System Report/Hardware/USB, it is listed as a device via all of the USB connections I've tried. But neither the recently updated Clockworks software nor the Audio/MIDI Setup recognize the interface, and that's a real bummer. I'm trying to record MIDI data from three separate hardware synths and then transmit back again. But this MIDI interface isn't being recognized and that's a bummer. I just purchased this new Midiexpress XT to replace my old Midiexpress because on the MOTU site it says the new version will work with Apple Silicon.

The computer works very well in every regard with my MOTU 828ES, and even works with my Studiologic SL88 grand through the MIDI In port. The computer also allows for direct connection from my hardware synths (Moog, Korg, and Novation) via USB. The Mac Studio with M1 Ultra is the fastest computer I've ever had and has already saved me a lot of time.

I just wish I'd seen this thread earlier, I may have looked for a different solution instead of purchasing the new MIDI interface just last week. Whoops.

Anyone with a similar setup got a work-around that's working for them?