Hi Everyone
I’m sure this might have been addressed at one point....I can only find bits of info here and there....mostly my fault as I might not know where to look
I never owned a Mac.....I’m “upgrading” from PC....just bought a new iMac7 (it should be delivered in a few days..... but I want to setup my XS8, MR816csx, Cubase 8.5

1)As for FW connection....I hear we can use Apple adapter MD464 via thunderbolt connection....is that the way to do it or is there a better way???

2)which is the better or logic way to connect XS8 & MR816 to Mac (Cubase) so that I can either play the XS8 on its own or with Cubase.....

3)please also help me which software to download so that I don’t forget any

the help will be greatly appreciated and will save me tons of frustration

Thanks in advance
Marc

Powerful setup you have, I’m sure the experts will be with you shortly to answer your questions and resolve any issues you might have. Congrats on your new purchase, have fun while making plenty of good music!

Mix......

sobluesy - 20 December 2016 06:19 PM

1)As for FW connection....I hear we can use Apple adapter MD464 via thunderbolt connection....is that the way to do it or is there a better way???

This is the best way. You will need in addition to the Thunderbolt adapter a FW cable that has a FW400 connector at one end and FW800 at the other and a FW 400 cable.

2)which is the better or logic way to connect XS8 & MR816 to Mac (Cubase) so that I can either play the XS8 on its own or with Cubase.....

The FW 400 cable connects the XS and MR, From either one connect the FW400/800 cable to the Tbolt adapter and then to the Mac.

On the Mac go to Applications/Utility (shortcut: cmd-U) and open Audio/MIDI Setup. There you should create what is called an Aggregate Device. This makes the XS and MR appear as a single audio interface.

In Cubase route the main stereo output to Main L&R;of the XS. That way any speakers or headphones connected to the XS will play the output of Cubase, but if the computer is turned off you can still play the XS normally.

This is how I have my XF connected (I have a Focusrite interface rather than the MR).

3)please also help me which software to download so that I don’t forget any

Go here and download the following:

These are for the XS itself:
IEEE1394 Firmware Updater Ver.1.07-2 for Mac OS X
MOTIF XS OS Updater V1.60

These are for the Mac:
Yamaha Steinberg FW Driver V1.7.5 for Mac OS X 10.9.5 -macOS 10.12.x
MOTIF XS Editor Standalone / VST V1.6.6 for Mac OS X
MOTIF XS Extension V1.5.1 for Mac OS X

Check the Steinberg site to see if there are any additional updates for the MR.

Simply follow the installation instructions that come with each package.

Hi Meatballfulton
Thanks for your input....and if anything else comes to mind, please don’t hesitate.....I’m grateful to you.
I should receive the new Mac any day now .....in the meantime I will buy the required FW cables and adapters
And with your advice it will make it easier on my side....I’m taking notes carefully ....and can’t wait to get this started.

Mustbthemix....yes it seems to be a pwrful setup....maybe went over my head on this one...but I’m ok with giving it a shot. There’s a lot of controversy when it comes to PC or Mac making it hard for someone like me (with limited experience) to take such a decision. My previous PC hard drive apparently is fried (after 6 yrs)....Now I have to live with this new decision...lol

Can’t wait to start making music again.

looks like all the software in the Mac were successful

the Yamaha FW Driver on the Mac reads
General = 44.1 - mr816csx - internal
MR816 = boot 1.00 - Main 1.10 IEEE 1.02
Motif XS = IEEE 1.07
About = FW Driver 1.7.5

I have downloaded the software firmware 1.07 on the Mac
FW from Motif to MR816 to Mac
I seem to have a problem uploading firmware in the motif XS8
I tried the following procedure
In the Motif XS
[UTILITY]
[F5] CONTROL
[SF2] MIDI
MIDI IN/OUT = mLAN

[F1] GENERAL
[SF4] AUTO LOAD
IEEE1394 Driver = FW
Press [STORE]
Reboot the XS

I also tried with a stick directly on the XS8

current version on the XS8 indicates firmware 1.60.1
motif xs version 1.60.1

What am I missing??

I’m sure the IEEE firmware download has the full instructions on how to update. Is what you wrote above from the instructions?

Hey Sobluesy

I have a similar setup but using an XF7 with the FW16E and a CSX816. On mine the Steinberg FW driver automatically does the device aggregation i.e. sees the two devices as one which is what it looks like yours is doing. So you’ll get like a 26in 20 out interface depending on how you configure the adat settings on the CSX. So its probably best to connect your speakers to outputs one and two on the CSX and check if your signal’s not coming out there. I think the DAW/OS signal goes there automatically. Then you also need to setup some routing for the CSX using its editor, the MREditor. 

In terms of what meatball is saying, I’ve got the audio outs of my motif running into the CSX but currently have the FW of the CSX disconnected and am therefore just using the CSX as a standalone mixer and can play the Motif without the computer being on and/or route the computer’s audio through it. 

Breaking it down might also help to understand whats going on. i.e. maybe just connect the motif by itself. On cubase you should then see 14ins and 6 outs. If you then connect the CSX and the digital is set to adat, you’ll see 30 ins and 22outs, but the first 16 ins & outs are the CSX and then after that are the motif.

Then there’s some other strange that cubase does in the name of integration where it will terminate the MR Editor and take its place. I get lost at this point because I find the cubase routing and interface in general very confusing and prefer to use Logic or pro tools where the routing seems much clearer to me. That said, if you spend some time you can probably set up Cubase to address any of the ins and outs from both of the devices in whatever way you like.

Cheers
Mantra

Mantra - 04 January 2017 04:42 PM

[...]In terms of what 5pin is saying, [...]

??? I haven’t previously said anything in this thread.  :-)

My bad, for some reason i get you and meatball confused...have edited the post...sorry..

hi guy

I read the instructions and connected the XS directly to the Mac by removing the MR from the loop
the instructions seems very simple but.....

I do get a message that the Mac won’t let me do it
this is the message I get

IEEE 1394 firmware updater can’t be opened because it is from an unidentified developer
Your security preferences allow installation of only apps from the App Store and identified developers

thanks Mantra & Meatball
today if only get the XS updated I would be more than grateful.

Regardless of what I do ....the Motif XS firmware still reads 1.60.1

Just to confirm .....the XS8 FW firmware was the windows version now I want to install the Mac version ...I do understand that I just update it to the Version 1.07-2 according to the instructions

it’s still not happening

Hey Sobluesy

Okay, thats basically the mac’s security. You have to go to the mac system preferences, which is a kind of a cog looking icon and click on security which is a house/safe icon. Then there is a lock there which you click on and you’ll then get asked for your user name and password. Then you can change the “allow apps downloaded from” setting to “anywhere” and this should allow the install to run.

Then you should be all good.

Hey Mantra
sorry to say but still no go

in systems preference
I open Yamaha FW - Motif XS8 = IEEE 1.07
Is it possible that it’s installed .....even if I can’t read it in the XS

Hi Sobluesy

Theres two separate firmware’s here :-

1. The Firewire (IEEE 1394) firmware which is installed on the computer. You’ve got 1.07, but it appears you need 1.07-2, which is presumably the updater which is not running due to your mac’s security settings not allowing apps from unknown developers.

http://download.yamaha.com/search/product/?site=usa.yamaha.com&language=en&category_id1=16244&category_id2=16381&category;_id3=&product_id=106377

2. The Motif firmware - which is installed on the motif itself. From what I can see, you’ve got 1.60 here and that is the latest, so you should be all good.

Good luck !!