There is sadly a big problem that is preventing any form of MIDI access on OSX Lion for my Java applications. You can still use an x.factory application to perform file operations on the computer, but you cannot currently access any synths via MIDI. After an initial investigation, it doesn't look like a five minute fix, and right now I am extremely busy on some music projects!
The OSX Java implementation has always had trouble accessing external MIDI devices, which is why either the Plumstone (PPC) or Mandolane (Intel) Service Provider Interface (SPI) was needed to make the external MIDI devices visible to Java applications.
Mandolane will not run on OSX Lion, and the company involved in it is being wound up, so an update is unlikely. There was a general view that Mandolane was not required on OSX Lion because Apple have finally "fixed" this external MIDI problem for Java programs. Sadly it looks like they only did half a job(!!!) and whilst basic MIDI comms with external MIDI devices now does work, Apple neglected to add support for MIDI System Messages, and specifically System Exclusive messages, which are of course required for transmitting and receiving patches.
I have tried using an alternative SPI, called MMJ, but that is currently crashing on my computer. That might be my problem of course. But I needed to look further into this.
I have also tried downloading Java 7 to see if that fixes the issue, but with the quick time that I had with it, I am getting other crashes, and external MIDI does not appear to be working, or at least not with my applications.
So right now, there is a big issue that needs looking at, and until sorted then no MIDI access in my applications is possible on OSX Lion.
I do plan to resolve this, but as mentioned, I have some music projects taking up most of my free time, so time to diagnose the problem is very scarce.