How to make the most out of the Roland MX-1 audio inputs

Thew MX-1 is unique and has many great things going for it. There are also limitations and in this video i explore how to get the most out its audio inputs by demonstration how i connect it in my dawless setup.

[@TomasDiez]

I jumped from my seat when I saw the Digitakt and Digitone connected via USB Audio... then I woke up. Nice work around and setup in general!

[@Wildb0y]

Haha apologies if I got your hopes up!! Wouldn’t it be great if such a thing were possible. Thanks for watching:)

[@sossomuss]

Really helpful. Thank you. Some really novel routing which I shall be trying out. Look forward to the next video

[@ftlaud911]

Very creative solutions. Why the crippled the MX-1 with min inputs is the Achilles heel. I get they wanted to promote their Aira products, but they missed a golden opportunity. Even today no one has capitalized on the mixer market in a compact unit with tons of stereo channels and not ports on top. New Zoom R series is close.

[@Wildb0y]

yeah is crazy isn't it! I mean look what Paul Kabrenner does! Large live desk! I guess he has a few roadies though!

[@fatcheese5534]

I like this sort of videos! Always eager to learn from others. Thank you.

[@Wildb0y]

Thansk for watching. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@TenThousandFeetTall]

Really cool. I have a lot of Roland gear, so the USB thing works well for me, but I can see how it would annoy many others. I really feel that this is such an underated mixer. If Roland perfected this in a revised version I'd be in love.

[@Wildb0y]

Totally agree

[@volt7cooltangs701]

Great vid. Planning my own simpler live box based around two Roland boutiques, 2 Korg volcas, a TB3, an Arturia Microbrute and a simple mutable mixer.

[@Wildb0y]

Very cool. Hopefully you will grace us all with the fruits of your labour one day. Would be interested to hear your music.

[@seven7sseven7s83]

Really liked this mx1 video thank you subscribed

[@Wildb0y]

Cool, glad you found it helpful.

[@FuZZbaLLbee]

Didn’t know that the TR-8s could route just the external in to the USB out. I would check if the MC-707 or TR-8 can also do that.

[@Wildb0y]

yeah, but on ly the stereo left and right. This is where the fx of the unit come out, so If you need to seperate the channels you would route the kick and drums on the other outs and usb coudl be just the fx!

[@_B.C_]

Very cool setup. I have a similar setup and we have a lot of the same gear. MX1, TR8S, VT3, Blackbox, Virus. Subscribing to see your tips and tricks using those. Tips for you - that case looks like it’s sagging from weight in the middle. When I put all my gear in my case, I reinforced the case itself first by gluing in hardboards on the bottom and top. The 3M dual lock works really well with it too. Also look into “Pro-pedalboarding” videos for ideas on how to cable manage those power cables and wires neatly. They use rows of 3M zip tie anchors to neatly rout wires.

[@Wildb0y]

Hi, thanks for the tips, that’s great. Getting those cable tidy is a tricky job! If you have anything in particular you would like me to do a video on please let me know. I’m gearing up to do them in a regular basis.

[@teckno_senpai]

my guy.. I've been binge watching your videos and getting inspired a ton! recently discovered MX-1 and it was just the piece of gear i was looking for in my dawless setup. thanks for all the work you've been putting in for years. I have a quick question on Torcido. I've read on forums that the USB causes a lot of noise. I want to get AIRA Demora to hook up my MicroFreak and utilize the aira usb link to plug into mx1. but im afraid about the potential noise it creates

[@Wildb0y]

Hi dude, thanks for the bingeing! Good to meet you. I haven’t had any noise issues with the Toricido. I used its own power supply rather than powering it by usb from the mixer so perhaps this was an issue others had? The problem with noise is it could be to with power in their studio rather than the units themselves. I would say go for it!

[@teckno_senpai]

@@Wildb0y thats what i was hoping to hear. thank you for your prompt response. again you're a true inspiration and your work and knowledge is heavily underrated! i aspire to be like you soon

[@Wildb0y]

@@teckno_senpai ahh thanks for the kind words, have fun!

[@_fig.8]

resourceful af

[@Wildb0y]

Lol thanks!

[@N1h1L3]

Nice setup ! I wonder If you can also use a TR-8 (not the TR-8s) for its usb audio through capabilities. I just bought one with broken faders (all open or all closed, no option in between) for 1/3rd normal second hand price, incl. 7x7 extension.

[@Wildb0y]

Thanks N1hL3. I tell you what, i can check for you as i have the tr-8 as well. Im pretty sure it will work in the same way. You got a sweet deal there. You pretty much on y need them on or off anyway!

[@lepeere1775]

Very nice setup man! And crystal clear explanations :) How did you attached all the gear to your front panel?

[@Wildb0y]

Hi Lee thanks for watching. I use this strong velcro style tape which is very strong. It works like velcro but instead of tiny hooks on one side and fuzzy loops on the other both sides have litle mushrooms that interlock with each other. Made by 3m....www.ebay.co.uk/itm/255327791631?hash=item3b72b8ea0f:g:ItkAAOSwW69h8S1b this sort of thing

[@lepeere1775]

@@Wildb0y thanks mate!

[@owensmith427]

Hi...great video... how do you split the bass channel on the tr8s from the rest of the drums...? thanks..

[@Wildb0y]

Hi Owen, I think you mean how do I split the kick from the other drums? If so, in the Kit menu (Shift+Kit) you scroll through until you get to the Output section. Here you can assign all the drum channels to the stereo out or the 6 separate out it has on the back.

[@chrisvdsvuurwerkjunky7161]

Thank you ,✨

[@Wildb0y]

You’re welcome 😊

[@yokelectronic]

Lovely set up and creative too. I have the MX-1 and I'm thinking of replacing it. I have my Roland Fantom connected thru chanels 1 and 2 set up for stereo. Though I have noticed an annoying hiss thru 1 and 2... Have you found a way to combat this? As its irritating because the MX-1 is a nice piece of kit.

[@Wildb0y]

Hi Yok, have you checked the hiss is not coming from the Fantom with the same amount gain applied. His often comes if you out put from a piece of hardware is low, so check gain staging. I haven't noticed that much hiss, nothing that would be a problem in a recording.

[@yokelectronic]

@@Wildb0y I'll check that out my good man thx 😉

[@sc_hdz]

Cool! thanks for sharing, do you know if it is possible to connect a Rode NT/1A to the MX1?

[@Wildb0y]

Hi There, the short answer is no, as the NT/1A needs +48V phantom power. You could get round this by powering it with a preamp before going into the mx-1. Or use the vt-3 or vt-4 vocal transformer which has +48v and a xlr input, these unit then can be connected by usb to the mx-1 saving your analogue inputs for other jobs :)

[@lloydvallentine2]

Can you please advise me on wheather or not should i get an audio interface with the mx 1, I recently decided to get a few sound monitors and im using mx-1 on midi usb in external mode

[@Wildb0y]

Hi Lloydvallentine, thanks for the question. If you mean you have got yourself multiple sets of monitors then that's more speaker selector question rather than interface. But you certainly can use the mx-1 as a audio interface but I have ended up recording its stereo out through a separate audio interface for when I record a jam as this worked for me the best due to having weird glitchy sounds/artifacts were printed on the recording when I used it as an interface. This coudl of been due to the usb hub on my computer but I have never been able to get to the bottom of it.

[@TheJournalismBizCoach]

Curious if you still use the MX-1's send/returns with the Virus? I've found the return to not be a fully "wet" signal and thus not quite as useful as I'd initially hoped. I've since switched to just using the send as a way to send certain elements out to my sampler, and invested time in really digging through the MX-1's built-in master effects -- figuring out which ones are the most pleasing -- as a way to simplify the set-up. 🤷‍♂

[@Wildb0y]

Hi Philip, apologies for the slow response. An interesting question. At the moment I can’t test as I’m the other side the world exploring a new setup! From memory after a bit of tweaking I had it in a good place, but I know what you mean about a fully wet signal it never exactly seems the same as a proper mixing desk, what kept me with the configuration was using the reverb, I love maxing it out in fees back then mixing in a lfo that controls the patches volume to get that sucking pumping compression effect without compression.

[@Wildb0y]

Yes, does take a bit of time finding the best but fx on the mix-1. Overall there is still nothing out there that really does what it does!

[@TheJournalismBizCoach]

@@Wildb0y Agreed. I love my MX-1! Just abandoned the send/return and put a KP3+ on the master outputs eventually. 🤷‍♂️ Love your setup! Keen to see more performances!

[@obiwanmcnobby]

Alright pal 👍 thank you for the info....I have been looking for gear to utilize the digital channel....do you know if you can link 2 MX1s via the digital inputs/outputs...dig your rig....Brilliant and inspirational, Warm regards, Alan G.

[@Wildb0y]

Hi DJ Nobby, there is only a digital input on the mx-1, not an output. A while back im pretty sure I saw somewhere on the internet its possible to use a a basic analogue to digital convertor for example like this one cpc.farnell.com/pro-signal/psg3027/audio-converter-r-l-to-optical/dp/AV27974?st=analogue%20to%20digital for 12 quid. to quote me on that particular model but I have seen it work. Im sure most basic convertors would work.

[@Wildb0y]

In a way this means if you need more inputs you can expand using a little analogue mixer going into the digital input to the mx-1

[@obiwanmcnobby]

@@Wildb0y kzbin.info/www/bejne/nWHGeZmKbJl-adk thanks for the reply....I got the idea from another lover of the groove.. hope the link works around 2:38....I believe, and as always share the knowledge and stay groovy, Warm regards Alan G.

[@ClaudePN]

You can link 2 mx1 with the digital input/output. You set one with output setting and the other with input setting.

[@Wildb0y]

Hi Claude, thank for the question. As far as I know, the digital input is just a digital input. I have never tried to make it be an output I don't think it works like that, theres a chancei could be wrong.

[@kfccoleslaw4853]

I am currently having troubles recording off my mx-1 into Ableton live 11, cant seem to multi track record. just trying to record all channels from a live mix and cant seem to figure it out.

[@Wildb0y]

Hi coleslaw, sorry I missed this, did I leave a voice message over on messenger about this already? Or are you the second person in week to have the same issue?!

[@h-dawg969]

I have my monologue going to channel 1 and it only comes out of the left monitor. If it goes to 2 it only comes out of right monitor. I don’t have a Jack that goes to 2 Jack (y cable) How do I make channel 1 and 2 into mono channels in stead of being stereo? (& is it same with 3 & 4 as well?)

[@h-dawg969]

It’d be much more useful for me to have channels 1 to 4 as seperate mono channels as at the mo I can only jam with my monologue coming tjrough 1 side. I know it’s possible to do it, I just dunno how. I have 3 usb channel going from tr8s, tb3, JU06a, and that 5/6 input from Maschine. (Maschine sends midi out to mx1 midi in so it’s all synced, but I’m often not using Maschine recently as I’m trying to not need to use computer, it’s just ideal that it’s all in sync when I do want to include Maschine, and it doesn’t affect anything when not in use.) I’m pretty new to the mx1 and to Dawless jamming in general. Any info on how to change that channel 1&2 setting will be so helpful.

[@Wildb0y]

I have replayed on the wrong post woops! Go check it out where you commented. There is link you the cheet sheet.

[@jeffcleveland2268]

I would be nice if someone managed to reverse engineer Roland's Aria Link USB protocol. I have to imagine that if we had the protocol figured out you could homebrew a box with a pair of ADCs, a microcontroller, and a USB port that did what you're doing with the Torcido for a fraction of the price and way less desktop real estate.

[@Wildb0y]

Yes Jeff, that would be great. Know anyone?!

[@martiaksesuar4490]

HALLO /Way did you connect the Tb 3 to the port, not via USB?

[@Wildb0y]

I put it though the strymon deco first for a bit of saturation

[@nu-sanbain5348]

stupid question output sound from it how do i set it up into my audiobox usb ??/cheers

[@Wildb0y]

Hi There, apologies of rite slow response. If you are recording just the stereo out of the mx-1, you can either use two jack to jack and connect via the inputs or you can just plug the mx-1 straight into the computer via usb and record the stereo out or all the channels separately in your daw. hope that helps :)

[@beesting6135]

Im about to get one since i have all Roland gear

[@Wildb0y]

sorry of the late reply. ...do it!.....did you?

[@beesting6135]

@@Wildb0y yes sir I bought two

[@Wildb0y]

@@beesting6135 sweet!

[@ACCOUNTANTB]

What istruments can be used into USB channels ?? - only aira gear ou something else ? - can TR-8 and MC 707 be used ?

[@Wildb0y]

hi there, tr-8 yes but I don't know about the 707. I work ardour is to use the Roland modular series such as the "torcido" distortion unit that has usb out which can plug int the usb of the mx-1. This mean then you can plug anything you like into it via the Torcidos audio inputs.

[@ACCOUNTANTB]

i Got it...but have you tried to plug Digitone it self directly to the MX-1 ? - Have you tried to set digitones output via usb and its detecting MX-1 as destination option ? - theres a video with the guy wich figure a way to use akai MPC one into these USB ports and he did it......

[@Wildb0y]

I haven got any of the elektrons to work, I imagine its complete different syntax @@ACCOUNTANTB

[@ACCOUNTANTB]

I think into the PC (usb) port..with a USB hub..you can run every gear...Im not shure....lets try out....If this port does get muti-channel input (from Ableton / example) - it might be able to.....

[@studioviper3016]

Interesting that all the Roland gear is going into the MX-1 via analogue input and the non-Roland gear is going in via the usb!

[@Wildb0y]

The decision process comes down to what you want to do with the audio signal pre mx-1 and what sounds need to be super tight as there is a very slight amount of latency introduced.

[@andrewverran3498]

sounds like you could do with another MX1..

[@Wildb0y]

😂

[@yanickborg3118]

Why does recording using the mx-1 produce such a low level ?

[@Wildb0y]

Hi, apologies for the slow response. I haven't noticed the mx-1 being a low level. perhaps could you expand what you mean, do you have hardware going into it? have you setup the gain on the mx-1 channels on the way in to get the levels up? you do this by going into gain mode and selecting a channel then using the meter to get the right level.

[@yanickborg3118]

@@Wildb0y Thanks. I'll give that a try. Seems to be the case, whenever recording into windows, the recorded levels are very low, below -12db.

[@djjammindave]

OH SHIT !!!!! THE GUY FROM HOT FUZZ, THE MOVIE.......

[@Wildb0y]

lol