Recording/playing my Roland JD-Xi into Logic

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Level 1

4 points

Recording/playing my Roland JD-Xi into Logic

Only by desperate measures am I here...

I'd love to play my JD-Xi sounds and record them in tracks in Logic. I have an audio interface, midi in/out cords, and the USB hookup with the correct Driver installed (and reinstalled after the recent update as well, to be on the safe side)

Apparently all I really need is to hook up the JD-Xi with USB to my computer to send MIDI and audio (so MIDI cords unnecessary after all?). I've set the USB mode to "Vendor" per Roland's instructions as well. I've set my output/input sound devices to JD-Xi. When I look at tutorials on setting up hardware synths in Logic, I see them do this via an External Instrument track, where they select their device in the Midi Out setting. But I don't see my JD-Xi here and I'm wondering why?

If anybody can help provide guidance I'd be so grateful. I'm new to hardware in DAWs and am beyond confused. It's been a month that I say "this weekend, I'm figuring this out..." Still... diddly squat.

I also read that the easiest way to do this is hook up my output on JD-Xi to my interface with 1/4" TRS cables. That way I can still use my studio monitors. I might try this next but for godssake I need to understand what is happening 😂

Thanks.

MacBook Pro 16″, macOS 12.1

Posted on Jan 16, 2022 4:23 PM

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Answer 1

Radarhus

Level 4

3,048 points

Jan 17, 2022 5:12 AM in response to yerazmusic

Hi there, welcome to the confusing world of software DAWs and MIDI! As with any sophisticated piece of software, there is a number of ways you could skin the proverbial cat. And just to encourage you, Logic Pro X is the right choice, because it was conceived back in the day with external MIDI instruments in mind from the very start.

Now, what you read about the easiest way of hooking up external synths to audio interface via audio cables is actually correct. I'd suggest trying that first, in fact.

The screenshot you attached refers to creating a new External MIDI instrument track. I suppose you don't see your synth there, because it is currently set up as your primary MIDI port and also the primary audio interface, if I understand the situation correctly. Setting up external MIDI sound modules via "External Instrument plug-in" is designed for hooking up MIDI equipment to your DAW via audio / MIDI interfaces, where MIDI cables are connected to a MIDI port of that interface (which would be a separate piece of equipment than your synth / sound module), and audio outputs are connected to its audio inputs.

But you have stated above that you already connected JD-Xi to your Mac with USB cable and it is capable of sending both MIDI and audio into Logic, correct? If so, your JD-Xi synth does not really need to use "External Instrument plug-in", because it's already set to send and receive MIDI data and audio to / from Logic. That's the reason why you don't see your external synth in that dialogue box. So, "External Instrument plug-in" applies to a situation when your synth doesn't have a capability to be connected to Logic directly.

For instance, that might be useful if you'd like to use a vintage synth which doesn't have a USB port with Logic. That all being said, you may still use JD-Xi as "External Instrument", but you will have to hook it up to Logic via, say, your Scarlett audio interface.

Hope this clarifies it a bit. Cheers!

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Recording/playing my Roland JD-Xi into Logic

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