Dumb MIDI questions..

Hi all,
After  trying the "forum-reading/googling/trial-and-error" approach, I'm left too tired and frustrated to think straight... so I'm hoping some patient, kind individual here can at least point me in the right direction. First, my gear:
CPU= i7 970
RAM= 16GB
OS= Win7x64
internal sound= ALC889
external interface= Focusrite Saffire Pro 14 (Firewire, 1xMIDI-in, 1XMIDI-out)
MIDI controller= M-Audio Axiom 61 (USB, 1xMIDI-in, 1xMIDI-out)
external synth= Roland XV5050 rack module (USB, 1xMIDI-in, 1xMIDI-out, 1xMIDI-thru)
DAW= SONAR X1b

Here's my question: What's the correct MIDI routing for SONAR to be able to trigger the external synth? The Axiom is USB-powered/connected, and controls the XV5050 just fine per the usual DIN5 cable, and SONAR happily records MIDI from the Axiom... but using two DIN5 cables (Axiom-out to Saffire-in, Saffire-out to XV5050-in) gives no joy (no message at all getting to the XV5050), nor does trying to bypass the Saffire and route using just the Axiom and XV5050 in/out/thru possibilities.

I tried using LoopBe (a software-based internal MIDI port) with no luck...  Focusrite's software is concerned only with audio routing, and there is nothing about MIDI issues in their support DB or user forums (other than the MIDI-in and -out labels being switched on the Pro 24's case.. which I tried anyway with no success). Win7 lists Saffire MIDI-IN (8851) and Saffire MIDI-OUT (8851) as "Unspecified" under "Devices and Printers" but everything other than "audio device" is "unknown" according to their properties... SONAR sees them, but again- I can't even seem to pass MIDI from the Axiom directly to the XV5050 through them, and selecting them in SONAR gives no joy.

Sorry for blathering on, but I'm just confused... I never ran into this degree of muddlement when I was using the old Keystation 61 and the XV5050 with CWMC 2003 two years ago... I first got into the wonderful world of MIDI with Opcode's EZVision, a Korg M1, and a Mac LC- so I'm not a total MIDI/DAW dummkopf; just easily bewildered by all the bells and whistles surrounding me after a hard bout of "upgrade-itis"... Sigh and roll your eyes if you must, but please dust me off and shove me in the right direction! Thanks in advance...

Hi ccDuck,

Another thing you can check is the MIDI receive settings on the XV5050.  You may need to match channels.

Gregg

MIDI controller= M-Audio Axiom 61 (USB, 1xMIDI-in, 1xMIDI-out) external synth= Roland XV5050 rack module (USB, 1xMIDI-in, 1xMIDI-out, 1xMIDI-thru)

The Axiom and XV5050 both have MIDI USB as well as DIN connectors. You should think of these as alternative connection methods, and use only one of them for each device. USB is probably easiest, and will let you do patch dumps from the XV5050 if needed.


Disconnect the keyboard and synth from the Saffire's MIDI ports, Make sure you can see the Axiom and XV5050 ports in MIDI Devices in SONAR, and that the both are configured to use their USB ports, and then do as described in post #2.


Then, in order to record and monitor the XV5050's output through SONAR, you will need to have its audio outputs connected to the Saffire, and have an audio track with input echo enabled to echo the XV5050's audio back out to your monitoring system (preferably via a Master bus in the project).


For reference, if you were to use the the DIN connectors, you would want to have the Axiom connected to both the Saffire's In and Out ports, and have the XV5050's MIDI In connected to the Thru of the Axiom. This setup is more necessary where your controller is a keyboard synth itself, but it still makes sense for a controller-only keyboard, too. The main downside with this setup is that you don't have the XV5050's Out connected to the DAW for doing patch dumps, which is why the USB connection is probably preferred.

Thanks to all of you who replied; yes, I seemed to have missed the "input echo" portion of things (cough)... I will give all suggestions a whirl, and see what happens (and of course will update to describe what works). One tidbit I forgot to mention: I'm waiting to hear back from a wonderful soul over on the Roland forums who offers a Win7x64-compatible driver for the XV5050 to those who PM him... until THAT happens, my system will mark the XV5050 (as "seen" from the USB port of the Roland) with the dreaded Yellow Triangle Of Confusion.

Also, @brundlefly: the XV5050 has THRU, but not the Axiom (IN, OUT, and Ext IN (as well as the DirectLink... but I'm not even worrying about ACT/mapping right now, I'm used to pitch/mod/velocity being all that's tweakable from the controller anyway, heh.))

Again, thanks for such intelligent, friendly, and fast replies all!