Hope I am posting in the correct section

I am trying to record my synthesizer (Yamaha motif XS6) internal instruments on a midi track in Studio One 4. I can see the recorded midi data on the track, but hear no sounds on playback. The VST’s and Instruments in Studio One 4 are working fine when recorded and playback.

When using BandLab’s Cakewalk Sonar with my Motif XS6, midi record and playback is straightforward.

I like some of the features in Studio One 4 and would like to overcome this midi hurdle.

On the audio side, I also have a Presonus Audi-box USB 96 hooked up and is working. I can hear audio from my microphone and see inputs trigger on the mixer channel in Studio One 4 software

It is just the midi recording and playback of my Yamaha Motif’s internal instruments with Studio One 4, I am having some problems.

Would appreciate all feedback for solutions on using Studio One 4 for correct recording and playback of midi data from my Motif XS6

BTW, are there any Studio One ins instruments file available, similar to Cakewalk Sonar?

Regards.

It’s hard to diagnose your problem with the info you’ve provided so far.

Your post sounds as if you want your Motif XS to work in exactly the same way as any of the virtual synths you have installed in your DAW, which it never will.

There’s also a hint of MIDI / Audio confusion in your post:

If you record MIDI data from the Motif XS, then that’s all it will ever be and it will be data about a musical performance, but not the actual sound of it.

You don’t record the actual sound of the XS until you capture it as audio on an audio track in your DAW.  Virtual instruments installed in your DAW, on the other hand, do much of the work for you and let you record and edit MIDI data AND let you hear the sounds all in one go using a convenient kind of track commonly called an ‘instrument track’.

Instrument tracks are not applicable to the Motif XS or other hardware.  MIDI data needs to be recorded first on a midi track, then if you wish to capture the sound that the XS is making when you play that MIDI data back, you need to connect either the analogue audio outputs or the S/PDIF of the XS to a suitable audio interface to bring the sound into your DAW and capture it on an audio track.

You’ve also not mentioned how you are hearing your Motif XS, and where it’s outputs are cabled to, and that on its own could be the key to finding out why you can’t hear it when you play MIDI data back.

Thanks for your speedy reply.

Sorry for the confusion, what I meant is to record and playback midi data from my motif XS6 on (S1) Studio One 4.

Based on your response, (as an example using S1), I have a midi track with XS6 midi data, and a (blank) audio track.(I have not recorded any audio as yet). I can see the “recorded” midi data on the track, but for some strange reason I just can’t seems to properly configure the DAW for audible playback.

The analogue audio outputs (L/R) from the XS is routed to a Audio Box USB 96 interface connected to my speakers.

As previously mentioned, the S1 Instruments and other third party VST’s are working fine.(both record and playback)

I do not have this problem with Cakewalk Sonar. I can record and playback both midi data and vocals on separate tracks easily.

Based on your experience, what is the main difference between Bandlab Cakewalk Sonar and Studio One 4 regarding external synth midi data recording and playback.

I am a newbie willing to learn, and I think your answer may clarify my confusion, namely: why need extra audio track to route midi data in S1.

BTY, if you have visuals of midi/ audio routing the XS6 re: Studio One, kindly share.

Thanks again for your patience and kind response.

Regards.

philwoodmusic,

I forgot to mention, in addition to audio/interface connections re my last post,the XS6 is properly connected to my laptop via midi USB cable provided with the XS6.

I hope this may help in offering solutions.

Regards.

Thanks for the extra info.

With the analogue audio outputs from your XS connected to inputs on the interface, you’d need to create an audio track (which you’ve done, preferably a stereo one) and set its input to match the physical inputs that you are using on the interface. (Hopefully you’ve already done that, too)

If you are using USB interface inputs 1 and 2, then you need to select 1 and 2 at your audio track’s I/O section (located right at the top of each track’s fader block in Studio One).

The thing that many people either don’t know or forget when bringing the sound of hardware into a DAW to play alongside other tracks, is that in order to hear it, you need to use the Input Monitoring button, which I believe looks like a loudspeaker icon and is located just below the Solo and Mute buttons on each track in Studio One.

So, it could be that Cakewalk auto monitors inputs and Studio One does not.  Most DAW’s don’t.

philwoodmusic,

Thanks for your response.
Will try your suggestions later and let u know the results.

I have another unrelated issue.

On the XS6 song sequencer, some midi files(songs) I downloaded keeps reverting the drums tracks (channel 10) to channel 1 - concert grand piano on song play. I am using the XS6 with Bandlab Cakewalk Sonar.

Despite changing the bank number to Stereo GM Drum Kits or Standard Drum Kits in Mix Play page on my Motif XS6, after saving changes, channel 10 track reverts to Piano Channel 1 on resumption of song play back.

It appears to be a program change configuration on channel 1 or 10 on the XS6.

Can you assist?

Again thanks for advise.

Regards.

If downloaded files are GM (General MIDI) type, they likely have a GM Reset command at the beginning of the sequence.

See http://www.motifator.com/index.php/support/view/a_short_tutorial_creating_proper_gm_files

If that command is present, removing it may resolve the problem.

Otherwise, there may be Program Change messages embedded in the file, which will have to be removed.

Where can I find the GM Reset Command, I don’t see any in Song Edit page on Motif XS6.
I see Program Change and other events type on Insert Event page. Is this where I make changes?

Where can I find the embedded Program Change messages?

I read the attached_short_tutorial_creating_proper_gm_files

but I don’t know exactly where to find and do the changes.

Thanking you for your patience and support.

Regards.

Mulzac1301 - 01 April 2019 05:14 PM

Where can I find the GM Reset Command, I don’t see any in Song Edit page on Motif XS6.
I see Program Change and other events type on Insert Event page. Is this where I make changes?

Where can I find the embedded Program Change messages?

I read the attached_short_tutorial_creating_proper_gm_files

but I don’t know exactly where to find and do the changes.

Thanking you for your patience and support.

Regards.

Use the Event List display (see pages 193-194 of the XS Owner’s Manual) to search for the messages. The View Filter can be set to select only “System Exclusive or “Program Change”, which will make it simpler to locate such messages. The GM Reset command is typically on Track 1, but check all Tracks to be sure.

5pinDIN,

I used the Program Change method in XS6 Song Edit and Insert Event pages..... it worked. Track 10 no longer changes to channel 1.

Thank you...Thank you.. all blessings to you.

Regards.

5pinDIN,

BTW, (for future reference) I see a CM -Reset Cntrls at the beginning of track 2 on the Events List Display, Is this the same as GM Reset Command.?

Thanks.

Mulzac1301 - 01 April 2019 06:20 PM

5pinDIN,

BTW, (for future reference) I see a CM -Reset Cntrls at the beginning of track 2 on the Events List Display, Is this the same as GM Reset Command.?

Thanks.

The Channel Mode Message displayed as “Reset Cntrls” is CC#121, “Reset All Controllers”. That message resets all controllers to their default values. It is not a GM Reset.

The GM Reset command is a System Exclusive message…
F0 7E 7F 09 01 F7
...and the way to easily find it would be to use the View Filter with a check mark in only the “System Exclusive” box.

Mulzac1301 - 01 April 2019 02:31 PM

philwoodmusic,

Thanks for your response.
Will try your suggestions later and let u know the results.
...

I think I know what your problem is that was in your original post. Do you have 5-pin MIDI cables connecting the XS and Studio One (MIDI out on interface to MIDI In on Motif)? Otherwise there’s no way for midi data to get back into your Motif and play notes. That would make it so that there would be no sound, because there’s no data getting to the keyboard.

Mighty Motif Max - 06 April 2019 08:32 PM

Mulzac1301 - 01 April 2019 02:31 PM

philwoodmusic,

Thanks for your response.
Will try your suggestions later and let u know the results.
...

I think I know what your problem is that was in your original post. Do you have 5-pin MIDI cables connecting the XS and Studio One (MIDI out on interface to MIDI In on Motif)? Otherwise there’s no way for midi data to get back into your Motif and play notes. That would make it so that there would be no sound, because there’s no data getting to the keyboard.

The USB “TO HOST” port, in conjunction with the proper USB MIDI Driver and correct port assignment in applications, supports MIDI communication in both directions. In fact, the USB connection provides the equivalent of multiple bi-directional MIDI ports.

While Port 3 provides a MIDI Thru port for external devices, via the 5-pin connectors, such a connection isn’t a necessity. See MIDI channels and MIDI ports on pages 43-44 of the XS Owner’s Manual. Note that in addition to what’s described there, Port 4 is used for the Yamaha Editor.