External device help kindly

[duluxdog]

Hey guys.

A quick question - I am trying to get an external MIDI device to work however am having no luck. They are a Roland MT-32 sound module and Roland U-110 sound module. I have a Mac with a Presonus Firebox soundcard interface, everything else working well using software devices and microphones. However I can't get external midi devices working. I do this:

(1) Connect MIDI out from sound card/interface to MIDI in on the MT-32.
(2) Connect the 2 audio outs from the MT-32 to the two line ins on the soundcard/interface.
(3) Arm midi track in Live to record.
(4) Set 'MIDI to' on the armed midi track to PreSonus Firebox (0294) (Plug 1)
(4) Open audio track to monitor.
(5) Set Monitor to In on both tracks.

I can't get any sound. I think the issue is that I haven't set Ableton to send the MIDI message somehow(?). On the front of the MT-32 there's a 'MIDI MESSAGE' light, but it doesn't light up at any point. I can see that, in Ableton, both the red and yellow squares in the top right light up, indicating that midi is being received and output when I press a key on the keyboard. Could it be something to do with the channels(?) I have tried changing the midi cables but no luck. I have tried both devices but neither can get their 'MIDI MESSAGE' indicator lit up at any stage. On Lives' Preferences screen I have the MIDI sync settings like this: Control Surface - None. Input - Presonus Firebox (Plug 1). Output Presonus Firebox (Plug 1). On the MIDI Ports I have both of these Inputs and Outputs set to Track 'On'. The other two, Sync and Remote, are off.

Sorry for this, i've never used an external device before. Can anyone assist please?

[Dragonbreath]

Did you check the ableton manual? I believe there's detailed instructions there

[eddiex]

what version of live do you have? if you have intro or something like that there are restrictions about external instruments.