Motu midi express XT
Posted: Mon Feb 07, 2022 3:30 am
Anyone had any luck getting the Motu midi express XT to work on linux ?
Your question kind of depends on whether you're referring to the Parallel or USB version. For the USB version there is no driver as far as I know. For the parallel XT, I don't think there is a driver either. There is a driver for the old Parallel MTP AV which is a different model.
The short answer, you are probably out of luck unless somebody knows of ways to get it working that I don't. That possibility obviously exists.
The long answer, there is a driver for the old MTP AV (Parallel) port. Whether it still works or not I have no idea. The major problem is that the parallel ports on MB's are gone, and the vast majority of adapters, converters, USB printer port adapters etc don't provide the full parallel port experience. The MOTU's are very picky about the PP mode, I forgot the details but they can be a pita to get working even on an old system with a built in PP if all the settings aren't just right in the BIOS.
I don't think there was a Linux driver for the parallel XT version.
Imo screwing around with the (parallel) XT is a waste of time, effort and money, unless you have a Windows XP PC with a built in Parallel Port that you will dedicate as your host to control it. If you have the USB MOTU XT, you're limited to Windows & Mac, unless anybody else knows better.
The MTP AV - Parallel or USB - can be used with a workaround where you sacrifice one port on the MTP and chain it to a different MIDI adaptor coming from your host computer. There are some commands that can be used via sysex, you can program the MTP AV from the front panel to do MIDI & Cable routing etc.
The great thing about the MTP AV's is that they can be linked in any combination of Parallel or USB models giving you 16 physical MIDI In & 16 Out ports. Want more? Hook up a 2nd set of networked MTP AV's. Send Linux MIDI to it from a Midisport 2x2 or UM-2 (each port goes to each bank of networked MTP AVs). The power, it is enough to get crazed with and make Greta cry.
Another thing to be aware of, there's a (I think, but cannot recall the exact details) sysex bug on one of the ports, cannot remember which, so this can cause weird problems if one isn't aware of it.
There is another potential catch with the USB MTP AV. Some of them were manufactured with firmwares that only support Mac OS. Connect it to a Windows PC and you're shit out of luck, unless you change the firmware EPROM to an updated version that also supports Windows. Hilariously the decals on the MTP AV Front Panel claims it is Windows & Mac Compatible, even on the models shipped with the MAC only firmware. Well sure... it is compatible with both, if you have the firmware that supports both and you are aware that this could be an issue. Most people have no way of knowing.
The drivers still run on Windows 10 (I think?) and probably won't run any more on MACs unless the OS on the MAC is ancient.
Anyway, the MTP AV's are quite usable with Linux but (unless you found a driver solution) you have to route MIDI to them from another MIDI interface connected to the workstation.
MOTU XT's are a waste of time in my opinion because unlike the MTP AV, your options from the front panel to change settings are very limited and they are missing crucial controls. They are of very limited use without a host computer and software.
Since the MTP AV line was killed off long ago you're probably not going to get support from MOTU either.