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I am having problems using the MODX M7 as Controller for the Roland Cloud D50 software synth in GarageBand. I'm using a M4 Mac Book Pro with MacOS 15.7.4. I hope someone may have some insight or advice. The problems don’t seem to be present for the Apple and other external audio units, including the MODX M ESP, but I am still testing them.
Using the MODX M7 as a controller with the USB MIDI connection there are two problems.
The first issue is that I can get sound simultaneously from up to 4 keys across the upper and lower halves of the keyboard. I would expect at least 8 sounds at the same time based on the predicted polyphony.
Second, about 5-10% of the sounds will not play with USB MIDI input and audio output. Most of the D50 sounds are keyboard splits. In the problem patches, the left hand sounds will play, although it may take 15-20 seconds to start. But the right hand sounds will not play except for an occasional, single sound. The keys on the D50 virtual keyboard can be seen depressed in unison with depression of the MODX M7 keys and the GB sound level monitor suggests there is MIDI input. Both the D50 and Garageband virtual keyboards play both the right and left hand sounds without issue.
Even though there is no sound generated during playing, GB can record the input. When this track is played back through the MODX M7 USB MIDI connected audio interface, the sounds are played properly. In addition, the playback appears to have the correct polyphony.
When I use a 5 pin MIDI cable with an IRig MIDI box, the MODX M7 is successful of getting the D50 software to play up to 8 notes simultaneously and create sound from the Mac Book. Using the USB connection, tracks recorded using the 5 pin MIDI connection play properly with the MODX M7 USB MIDI connected audio interface.
It seems the same in Logic, but I have not investigated as thoroughly as I have only recently started to learn how to use it.
My summary is that using the USB MIDI connection, there is a universal polyphony problem with the D50 and that a small percentage of patches have sound production problems. This problem is not present in 5 pin MIDI connections. However, the missing sounds are recorded and can be correctly played back.
I’m sorry it’s complicated, but the information seems to be close to identifying the issue, if not a way to get around it. Thank you.
Jim
Posted : 17/02/2026 9:24 pm
The instrument sends MIDI only, not audio.
So if the MIDI the instrument sends can be recorded and then played sounding correctly that would suggest that the audio issue on on the mac side and not the instrument side.
Posted : 18/02/2026 5:09 pm
Topic starter
I agree it seems to be an issue with how the Mac, GarageBand or the D50 app handles the MIDI from the MODX M7 via the USB but not the 5pin MIDI connection. But, I don't know enough about how MIDI is routed or triggers playback to figure out how to fix it. Since I do not have the problem with other Audio Units, I think there is likely something in how the D50 app interacts with the USB MIDI. I will send the issue to Apple and Roland to get their thoughts, too. Thanks for thinking about this.
Posted : 18/02/2026 7:23 pm
Top line spec of the D50 VSTi says 16 "voice" polyphony (they also use "tone" nomenclature) so I had to dig to figure out why you were thinking 8 note polyphony.
Key Mode:
WHOLE: The upper tone can be played using up to 16 simultaneous notes.
DUAL: Each key you press simultaneously plays the upper and lower tones layered (up to eight notes can be played simultaneously).
SPLIT: The upper and lower tones play in separate regions of the keyboard divided at the split point that you specify; the right keys including the split point play the upper tone, and the left keys play the lower tone; up to eight notes can be played simultaneously in each region (middle C is C4).
WHOLE-S: The upper tone can be played monophonically.
DUAL-S: Each key plays the upper and lower tones layered (monophonically).
SPL-US: Divided at the split point, the upper tone plays monophonically, and the lower tone plays up to eight notes polyphonically.
SPL-LS: Divided at the split point, the lower tone plays monophonically, and the upper tone plays up to eight notes polyphonically.
... and so it depends on the key mode which are summarized above. The 8 note polyphony can happen with DUAL mode (range of keyboard) or SPLIT mode (8 in top, 8 in bottom), or SPL-US (8 in bottom with top mono), or SPL-LS (8 in top, bottom mono).
So when you say some patches were doing different things - did you look at the key mode for the patch? Just wondering, because it would change the expectation. There's not a mode that gives you 4 tones of polyphony - so I'll grant that - but there are plenty that could be monophonic. Your description seems to assume "SPLIT" mode for all - but I imagine this may not be the case. At least not in the general sense.
If I was faced with this I would be wondering if somehow the MIDI data is getting doubled somehow. An inadvertent loop or "invisible hand". And to illuminate this, I would take the MIDI routing going to the D50 VSTi and replace the D50 VSTi with a MIDI monitor. Looking at the data to ensure for every single key pressed that there's a single note on event. Not multiple and only one targeting a single MIDI channel. Beyond that, I can't say exactly what I'd look for on the monitor but there could be other "stuff" I see in the data that would either have me regard the MIDI commands as fine or start me correcting the problems I see.
In theory, there shouldn't be a huge difference between MIDI 5-pin and USB MIDI. I'm not sure how the MIDI 2.x (HD MIDI or whatever they market it as) versus legacy (MIDI 1.x) mode works for the 5-pin DIN. MIDI 2 is, in theory, agnostic to the physical connections/bus but they may have forced the 5-pin to legacy MIDI 1.x no matter what your MIDI settings are. And, that's where I would say there's a clue. Dink with the MIDI mode settings so you get legacy MIDI 1.0 going over the USB wire and see what that does.
If you've ever bought the first year model change of a new car - you'd probably wish you could swap out some of the new untested components with the last year's model that had years of production runs to refine. And this is where switching to legacy MIDI comes into play. You can get rid of the unknown new stuff where the paint is still drying between instrument manufacturers (i.e. Yamaha) and the OS vendors (Apple MacOS, Microsoft Windows, Linux ... IBM OS/2, Banyan Vines, Novell Netware, Next NextOS?, ... and other OS's that also don't apply to anyone).
Current Yamaha Synthesizers: Montage Classic 7, Motif XF6, S90XS, MO6, EX5R
Posted : 18/02/2026 7:49 pm