Roland TD-15 module not sending MIDI data over USB? Help!

MrWriter

MrWriter

Active Member
My TD-15 is not transmitting MIDI data to my computer via the USB out. I'm using the computer USB out on the TD-15 (not the memory stick socket) and I've tried two different USB cables and I've done a factory reset on the TD-15 itself also, and it has the latest firmware. I did all this on the advice of Roland's 'Backstage' online help, which thus far has proved terrible every time I've had to contact them, they never have the answer for anything.

On my iMac (Intel machine, but I've tried it on two other laptops too) if I go into Addictive Drums II, Logic, or even Quicktime and create a new Audio recording, they all see the TD-15 as it is there in the 'recognised' list and thus my computer is seeing the Roland module. However, when I hit the pads on my TD-15KV kit no MIDI data is being transmitted out of the module to the computer at all.

Again, I've done factory reset and tried different cables and can't think of anything else to do. There is nothing in the TD-15's menu that I can get my head around that would fix the problem and I could not find any sort of 'Allow MIDI data out On/Off' setting or anything that hints at it, just a MIDI channel that seems to be set to 10, I've trie changing that to a few random settings, to no avail.

For the record, I've tried a Yamaha DTX-Multi12 and Alesis Strike Pad on these computers and they work just just fine when I play them into Logic Pro X with Logic's own drums and with Addictive Drums also and I don't have to set anything up either, they just worked. I just plugged them in, opened Addictive Drums and hit the pads and there was sound, great. It is just the Roland TD-15 that has the issue so I know the issue is coming from the Roland Module with regard to it is not outputting MIDI data down the USB cable.

As per Roland's Backstage advice I have also downloaded the relevant USB driver, which I'd told them I did already and I know that works as m y computers are seeing the TD-15.

Hopefully somebody can tell me what's going on and if there is a setting in the module that I have to activate or turn on to get MIDI data to stream down the USB cable? Other than that, I'm at a loss and I have no idea how to get it two work.
 
I am very new to midi so I can only give two recent experiences I personally came across:

1. I bought an Akai MPK Mini MK3 which came with a bundled software program called "MPC beats". MPC beats automatically recognizes Akai midi controllers (as well as others such as alesis, novation, etc) by simply plugging them in and automaps everything. I tried plugging my alesis crimson 2 in and while it was picking up the midi notes... They were all over the place and I had to go in an manually assign everything for it to work properly.

2. My cousin uses logic and I had a similar issue as above where it wasn't placing the notes properly and I had to manually reassign everything.

It is a colossal PITA but it simply may be a case of you having to manually assign everything the first time. I don't know if that will help or not, hopefully there is a better/easier way, but maybe that helps.
 
MrWriter said:
On my iMac (Intel machine, but I've tried it on two other laptops too) if I go into Addictive Drums II, Logic, or even Quicktime and create a new Audio recording, they all see the TD-15 as it is there in the 'recognised' list and thus my computer is seeing the Roland module. However, when I hit the pads on my TD-15KV kit no MIDI data is being transmitted out of the module to the computer at all.
Click to expand...

MIDI is not audio. You need to open a software instrument track. On the Mac you can use Midi Monitor to check on incoming data, too.
 
Doraemon said:
MIDI is not audio. You need to open a software instrument track. On the Mac you can use Midi Monitor to check on incoming data, too.
Click to expand...
I was initially thinking this was the problem as well but I noticed OP is able to use Yamaha and Alesis multi pads via midi in the same software without issue.
 
Hi Doraemon. Yes, I know MIDI is not audio. I run a small recording studio at home so I'm well aware of the difference. But, I thought I'd clearly stated that the TD-15 is not transmitting MIDI 'DATA' not audio, down the USB cable. When I hit drums I don't get any MIDI 'Data' coming through. Again, my Yamaha DTX-Multi 12 and Alesis Strike Pad Pro both transmit MIDI data to my computer into Logic and Addictive drums, but the Roland does not.
 
MrWriter said:
Hi Doraemon. Yes, I know MIDI is not audio. I run a small recording studio at home so I'm well aware of the difference. But, I thought I'd clearly stated that the TD-15 is not transmitting MIDI 'DATA' not audio, down the USB cable. When I hit drums I don't get any MIDI 'Data' coming through. Again, my Yamaha DTX-Multi 12 and Alesis Strike Pad Pro both transmit MIDI data to my computer into Logic and Addictive drums, but the Roland does not.
Click to expand...
If I remember correctly (on the TD-11 there is a menu option to send midi or audio via usb, you should have the same exact option on your TD-15.
 
If I remember a similar problem correctly, TD-15 sends both MIDI and audio over the USB connection.
The USB driver is needed to select the correct audio device, either 'TD-15 midi' or 'TD-15 audio' (or something like that).

Did you check the vdrums.com forum as they primarily focus on e-drums?
 
The problem might be that the driver is NOT compatible with your version of Mac, you might have to downgrade Mac in order to run this... also try the TD-11 driver it should work the same as the TD-15
 
Thanks guys.

Ok, doggyd, I turned the ‘MIDI Lock’ off, but that just enables you to choose MIDI channels from 1 to 16. I tried all 16 of them, to no avail.

VST (Addictive Drums 2) has no such feature to accept notes as ‘omni’ that I can see, but even in Logic Pro X with a drum track I’m having the same issue anyway.


Eric B, yes, I read in the manual too that the TD-15 sends both MIDI and audio over USB, but I don’t see anywhere the option for choosing TD-15 as midi or audio, not in Addictive Drums 2 or Logic or anywhere else on my Mac.

Yes, checked vdrums and nobody had any idea over there.

I was running Mac OS Monterey version 12.1 and it did not work, so I then updated to 12.4, still didn’t work.

Good idea on the TD-11 driver, which I just tried, still. Nothing.
 
Also, when it's all connected up, sometimes (8 out of 10 times) when I turn the dial on the TD-15 is has locked up and frozen and I have to yank the power cord out, unplug the USB and then power it back up again so it is very 'freeze' and crash happy at the moment.
 
MrWriter said:
Hi Doraemon. Yes, I know MIDI is not audio. I run a small recording studio at home so I'm well aware of the difference. But, I thought I'd clearly stated that the TD-15 is not transmitting MIDI 'DATA' not audio, down the USB cable. When I hit drums I don't get any MIDI 'Data' coming through. Again, my Yamaha DTX-Multi 12 and Alesis Strike Pad Pro both transmit MIDI data to my computer into Logic and Addictive drums, but the Roland does not.
Click to expand...
I see. If you check with Midi Monitor, does anything happen at all? Can it be a mapping issue?
You could also make sure to have the latest firmware and drivers (from here).
 
The sequence should go like this:
1 enable midi out on the module
2 create a midi track in logic
3 set the input of that track to the TD-15
4add the VSTi to That track as an effect (in the VSTi interface there should be a way to select Roland or TD-15 or omni for all incoming midi notes.
5 enable monitoring
6 test...

I know you know all of this but without seeing what you are doing (and without a module to tell you exactly what menus is hard to explain).
 
Last edited:
MrWriter said:
I don’t see anywhere the option for choosing TD-15 as midi or audio, not in Addictive Drums 2 or Logic or anywhere else on my Mac.
Click to expand...
You probably already checked over here: choose Apple menu > System Preferences, click Sound, then click Input
 
eric_B said:
You probably already checked over here: choose Apple menu > System Preferences, click Sound, then click Input
Click to expand...
he gets midi from other pads so he is doing that part correctly, my inclination is that the driver used is NOT compatible, he might have to literally downgrade mac for it to work...
 
Where are all the Mac users? I don't use Mac so I can't speak of the settings too much but I know in general most
DAWs (Logic included) setup pretty much the same.
 
chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.bhphotovideo.com/lit_files/89454.pdf

The manual for TD-11/15
 
Guys, I really appreciate all your efforts, but everybody seems to be missing one very big point in all this. My Yamaha Multi 12 and my Alesis Strike Pad Pro both work perfectly and they transmit midi data and it shows up in midi monitor etc and everything is fine with these so I know what I'm doing on this front. The issue is not the computer or computer settings or midi input settings on the computer. The issue is the Roland TD-15 is simply not sending any midi data out to the USB port, that's the issue. So there is a setting in the Roland TD-15 somewhere that has to be changed to allow it to send midi data out and I can't find any setting that says 'enable midi out' on the module.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top