MIDI Express XT - Future Compatibility

[thracks]

As a testament to MOTU quality, I've been using the original USB Express XT for a very long time. My MOTU product registration says I registered in 2000 Any word on if this model will survive into 10.15? Looks like the current drivers kill it. I had to revert to the 2017 drivers. Kinda confusing that MOTU doesn't differentiate the products from the current Express XT interface with a "MK2"

I have not upgraded my Mac to Catalina yet. Just looking at my list of devices to watch for.

[JMVideo]

I have the same box and wondering the same thing. Lots of big decisions to make. I want the new MacPro but hoping I don't have to buy all new interfaces and MIDI boxes as well.

[Michael Canavan]

I have an MTP AV and it's still supported. MOTU with hardware anyway seem to be pretty good about supporting it for future OS versions.

[monkey man]

I've been worried about this too 'cause I rely on 2 Express XT USB boxes.

Thank you for the reassurance, Michael.

[toofar]

Me too. I've been using one for years, and it seems to be fine on 10.14. It's complicated by the fact that the firmware on this model is not updatable, being that the serial number starts with 'MEXT'.

[monkey man]

Yup, mine's not-updatable too, Bill.

If it were I'd not have been worried.

[mikehalloran]

have an MTP AV and it's still supported

Mine too and it uses the same drivers. MOTU says that the drivers released Oct 22, 2019 support Catalina

https://motu.com/techsupport/technotes/driverlog

MIDI Express XT

Mac

All versions compatible with Mac OS X 10.13 - 10.15.x

MOTU MIDI Installer v1.6.82544 (Release Date 2019-10-22)

Adds support for macOS Catalina

[bubo]

Hi Everyone,

Can anyone help me with a puzzling problem, been searching the forum looking for a thread that sort of applies, lot's of others discussing similar issue's with installing drivers, updating firmware on the MIDI Express XT (MXT serial) with Catalina.

I have just got a MacPro (late 2013) - it's new to me and came with a fresh install of Catalina (going to be a dedicated music computer to replace a PC system to better run my MOTU products :/), I have since done a couple of clean install's of Catalina, firstly to delete a .data disc that was present in Disk Utility when the machine arrived, and once again after much trouble trying to simply load the latest Catalina Motu MIDI Driver (10.15.7) with no success, ie; the XT will not show up in the MIDI Studio window!

I had other devices running at this stage, my Interface/Mixer MOTU 1248 via thunderbolt - a MOTU 16A via Cat5e to the 1248, a USB hardware sequencer, a Lexicon USB Efx unit, and USB hardware synths - All of which showed up in the MIDI Studio window with their own icons - I think this goes someway in saying the computer or the OS X install isn't faulty, but I'm not the best tech guy, I'm hoping this new Mac is a good machine??

(Tried this twice now ) If now, I start with a fresh Catalina install (no other 3rd party drivers added) w/ the only peripherals attached to the Mac being a USB Hub for a usb wireless mouse. I go and download the Motu MIDI Driver (10.15.7) and try an install it, as the install progresses a window saying I need to go to System Pref Security & Privacy to 'Allow' the Motu product - I click Allow and the install complete and the computer re-starts. But still the same thing happens - the XT will not show up in the MIDI Studio window! If I press the rescan button the Computer In/OUT and MIDI Out LEDs all flash a couple of times on the XT front panel. I have deleted presets, made new config'd in MIDI Studio etc, nothing changes, If I start Clockworks a window states that I need to connect the device USB cable and Clockworks can't start.. or something similar.

I have opened a Tech Link with MOTU regarding these matters and have had a couple responses but nothing is working still.

Also, as I had previously been running the same XT on a Win10 PC system I have, (with all the gear mentioned above) only a few day's before receiving the MacPro trash Can, I thought it might be worth trying a Firmware Update on the XT. If I go to MOTU Downloads and dl the latest Firmware (v3.1.0 | Jul. 20, 2017), its not openable, it won't execute and a dialogue window with a Yellow warning triangle and the following text opens:

“MOTU MIDI Express XT Updater 3.1” needs to be updated.
The developer of this app needs to update it to work with this version of macOS. Contact the developer for more information.

I since tried downloading all the other legacy MidiExpressXT Mac Firmware updaters, and they all behave in the same manner?

v3.1.0 Mac / Win (Release Date 2017-07-20)
v3.0.28 Mac / Win (Release Date 2015-02-10)
v3.0.26 Mac / Win (Release Date 2014-06-11)
v3.0.25 Mac / Win (Release Date 2013-08-08)
v3.0.24 Mac / Win (Release Date 2012-06-28)

Would be amazing if anyone could suggest something that might FIX this!
Best
Dom

[mikehalloran]

“MOTU MIDI Express XT Updater 3.1” needs to be updated.
The developer of this app needs to update it to work with this version of macOS. Contact the developer for more information.

Means it's a 32 bit app. It is an info message and not an error. All 32 bit apps will give this info message since none are compatible with MacOS 10.14.x.

There is a v3.1.0 Mac / Win (Release Date 2017-07-20) available for download. Because of the release date, I'm guessing it's the 64 bit version. It is a Firmware Updater only, not the driver. If you have run it before, no need to do so again. If your unit has Firmware 3.1 installed, you're good.

The v1.6.82544 driver supports Catalina and is the one you need to download and install. Also read this:
https://motu.com/techsupport/technotes/ ... igh-sierra

You have less than 30 minutes to do this after a driver install. If you miss the window, you have to reinstall and try again.

But still the same thing happens - the XT will not show up in the MIDI Studio

MIDI Studio is not a MOTU issue. If your XT shows up in Apple's Audio MIDI Setup.app when the unit is on and you click on the MIDI tab, then it's working and can be seen by the Mac. If not, that's an issue MOTU Support can help with. Once it does show up in Audio MIDI Setup.app, Apple is where you go for further support.

https://support.apple.com/guide/audio-m ... ms1001/mac