I have a niche project going on where I'm trying to run .mid files through a Roland XV5050 or XV5080 and arrange them inside the box, but the DAW I've been using for 15 years giving me timing issues with both synths. I use FL Studio 11 for ALL my audio stuff (beyond this niche project), but for some reason when trying to have it run .mid data into the Roland XV units, it frequently gives slow down or short, fast starts to a track that are unsuitable for recording.

So far I have not been able to figure out if it's the synths or the DAW that is creating that problem, but as I only have a Roland XV5050 and XV5080 as my hardware synth, it would be easier to try a different DAW to see if it has proper MIDI timing on it.

Have any of you run into this problem with the Roland XV stuff or have used a DAW or .mid playback program for something similar that has been reliable for playback without timing issues? For further context, I am interested in getting the Roland Cloud version of the XV5080, but not as a full replacement for my hardware - arranging .mid instrumentation inside the box is still the central tenement of my niche project.

Thank you!

 

You could use this one:

Roland XV-5050 Editor Librarian
Midi Quest for Macintosh and Windows
https://squest.com/Products/MidiQuest12/Instruments/RolandXV-5050/

Roland XV-5080 Editor Librarian
Midi Quest for Macintosh and Windows
https://squest.com/Products/MidiQuest12/Instruments/RolandXV-5080/

 

https://www.bandlab.com/products/cakewalk

 

A couple of questions, if you don't mind... is it only the Roland's that are acting up? I've not got these, but a friend does if so.

If not, are you using MIDI Clock or timecode? Some MIDI interfaces like MOTU only properly send clock data to the first port of the interface.

Perhaps try Reaper (since it takes like a minute to download and run) to see if it occurs there?

And for the love of god, don't use Ableton for accurate clocks (or even heavy MIDI data streams), that way lies madness. Speaking from experience.

 

Are you tied to the Roland gear? If not.
Have you tried the XG VST soft synth? I use Reaper / Cubase to play back midi file. Cubase will load the midi file with tracks with Halion SE where are reaper you have to load and point track to the midi instruments.
I also use a MU90R via a MOTU XT USB I have no issues with reaper or Cubase.
I prefer the XG over the GM since the XG has more variations for sound. Also it can do GM files also.

 

If you need a DAW as a utility device you may as well use one that uses very little resources, one that comes to mind is... I'm not even going to say it's name, it's just so obvious. Oh, alright then...

I used to use Reaper on a netbook to play backing tracks, worked perfectly. Ableton would barely load.