I am trying to record audio generated by the sounds in my ES8 into Cubase SX3.
I have set up the mlan correctly...as I have done the autosetup and then looked at the graphical patchbay and verified that connections were made.
I’m able to record midi with no problems, but not audio?
I am in song mode on the ES8 and say for track 1 I want to record the piano sound to track 1 of Cubase.
I go to the output of the track 1 sound and select as1&2;.
I’ve spent a good few hours trying different things but with no success.
What’s frustrating is that I was able to record audio before somehow but can’t remember what I did?
I also have a podxt live guitar effects interface which acts as a converter for my guitar from audio to digital and I’m able to record into Cubase once I setup Cuabse for the podxt.
So I believe the problem may be my settings either in mlan or the ES8.
Any help is greatly appreciated.
thanks.

First thing to check:

When attempting to record audio directly from your Motif ES via mLAN to your DAW, remember to turn LOCAL CONTROL ON.

Local Control is a function of MIDI. It determines whether your key presses go directly to the ES tone engine (stay local) or whether they go OUT via MIDI first. Literally Local Control = OFF disconnects the Motif ES keybed from triggering the ‘local’ tone engine. (You select LOCAL CONTROL = OFF, when recording MIDI data to a DAW, like Cubase, because you echo the MIDI signal back to the Motif ES from the active (selected) track).

When you want to record audio directly by playing the ES, you need to trigger the Motif ES tone engine with the Motif ES keyboard, therefore LOCAL CONTROL must be set to ON

Press [UTILITY]
Press [F5] MIDI
Press [SF2] SWITCH
Set LOCAL CONTROL = ON

Let us know. If this is not it, then we’ll go over your audio routing via your Graphic Patchbay > VST CONNECTIONS INPUTS

No luck, I switched local control on and it didn’t do the trick.
I also noticed this time that when I tried to assign the piano voice on say track 1 in song mode that as1, as2....as1&2;, etc didn’t make a sound.
The only way I heard sound was when it was on L&R;??

Okay, we have eliminated the simple mistake.

You will want to have LOCAL CONTROL ON.
You will also want to set the Motif ES so that mLAN MONITOR SWITCH = ON
Press [UTILITY]
Press [F2] I/O
Press [SF2] OUTPUT
set the mLAN MONITOR SWITCH = ON
This will allow you to monitor (ie, “hear") things routed to the assignable outputs…

Entire ROUTING scenario: SIGNAL FLOW
Let’s go to a MIXING setup and route the current PART to as1/as2
Press [MIXING]
Press [EDIT]
Press Track Select [1] to select the PART parameters
Press [F2] OUTPUT
Press [SF3] SELECT
Set the PART’s OUTPUT SELECT = as1&2;This will direct this part to the first pair of outputs mLAN1/mLAN2

Your Graphic Patchbay should have a connection on the AUDIO screen to support this going to your computer. Go to you Graphic Patchbay and make sure you have this connection made (if you need more information on how, just let us know).

We’ll assume that you have a connection for 1 and 2 from the Motif ES to inputs 1 and 2 on the computer node in the Patchbay.
This will route the audio from the ES to the computer. Next you need to connect it to Cubase’s INPUTS.

In Cubase: Go to DEVICES > VST CONNECTIONS > INPUTS tab.
Here you will need to a Stereo ADD BUS;
Click ADD BUS
Select 1 STEREO > OK
Set the AUDIO DEVICE PORT as follows:
___ Left = 1 mLAN 01
___ Right= 2 mLAN 02

You have now routed the PART’s OUTPUT SELECT to mLAN 1 and mLAN 2… these arrive in the computer via the Graphic Patchbay connection supporting 1/2 OUT of the ES to 1/2 IN on the computer… You have now connected them to Cubase via the VST CONNECTIONS INPUTS tab… all that remains to do for record is to create a Track that is set to use this VST CONNECTION INPUT.

On the main Cubase Track screen, ADD a Stereo AUDIO TRACK that is set to receive INPUT from the stereo bus you just created.

You should now see audio level coming into that track.

Let us know. If cannot hear your audio, let us know.
Tthe “signal flow” from this point:

ensure the following parameters… Select an audio OUTPUT assignment for the Audio Track.
Go to VST CONNECTIONS > OUTPUT tab and ensure that you are sending audio back to the ES via a Stereo pair and that your Graphic Patchbay supports the stereo OUTPUT from the computer node, to the Motif ES node…

Hope that helps. Let us know.

MY RESPONSES IN ALL CAPS BELOW AND BOLD.

Okay, we have eliminated the simple mistake.

You will want to have LOCAL CONTROL ON.
You will also want to set the Motif ES so that mLAN MONITOR SWITCH = ON
Press [UTILITY]
Press [F2] I/O
Press [SF2] OUTPUT
set the mLAN MONITOR SWITCH = ON
This will allow you to monitor (ie, “hear") things routed to the assignable outputs…
DONE

Entire ROUTING scenario: SIGNAL FLOW
Let’s go to a MIXING setup and route the current PART to as1/as2
Press [MIXING]
Press [EDIT]
Press Track Select [1] to select the PART parameters
Press [F2] OUTPUT
Press [SF3] SELECT
Set the PART’s OUTPUT SELECT = as1&2;This will direct this part to the first pair of outputs mLAN1/mLAN2
DONE
Your Graphic Patchbay should have a connection on the AUDIO screen to support this going to your computer. Go to you Graphic Patchbay and make sure you have this connection made (if you need more information on how, just let us know).
DONE, THERE ARE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN BOTH THE INPUT AND OUTPUT
We’ll assume that you have a connection for 1 and 2 from the Motif ES to inputs 1 and 2 on the computer node in the Patchbay.
This will route the audio from the ES to the computer. Next you need to connect it to Cubase’s INPUTS.

In Cubase: Go to DEVICES > VST CONNECTIONS > INPUTS tab.
Here you will need to a Stereo ADD BUS;
Click ADD BUS
Select 1 STEREO > OK
Set the AUDIO DEVICE PORT as follows:
___ Left = 1 mLAN 01
___ Right= 2 mLAN 02
DONE
You have now routed the PART’s OUTPUT SELECT to mLAN 1 and mLAN 2… these arrive in the computer via the Graphic Patchbay connection supporting 1/2 OUT of the ES to 1/2 IN on the computer… You have now connected them to Cubase via the VST CONNECTIONS INPUTS tab… all that remains to do for record is to create a Track that is set to use this VST CONNECTION INPUT.

On the main Cubase Track screen, ADD a Stereo AUDIO TRACK that is set to receive INPUT from the stereo bus you just created.
DONE
You should now see audio level coming into that track.
I DON’T
I CAN’T IMAGINE WHAT IS WRONG, I EVEN REINSTALLED THE MLAN DRIVER THINKING MAYBE IT WAS CORRUPT OR SOMETHING??
Let us know. If cannot hear your audio, let us know.
Tthe “signal flow” from this point:

ensure the following parameters… Select an audio OUTPUT assignment for the Audio Track.
Go to VST CONNECTIONS > OUTPUT tab and ensure that you are sending audio back to the ES via a Stereo pair and that your Graphic Patchbay supports the stereo OUTPUT from the computer node, to the Motif ES node…

Hope that helps. Let us know.

Is it possible that Cubase SX3 doesn’t work with mlan and/or WindowsXP correctly anymore?
I can record midi with no problem, but audio is as no go.
I’ve tried exactly what Badmister has instructed and that should work if anything will?
Is there a different version of Cubase that is free to try that maybe will allow me to record audio?
Thanks Again.

PS:  Maybe I shouldn’t “autoset” up the mlan and do it all via the graphic patchbay?  What do you guys think?

bdfsh1 - 27 February 2010 09:12 AM

Is it possible that Cubase SX3 doesn’t work with mlan and/or WindowsXP correctly anymore?
I can record midi with no problem, but audio is as no go.
I’ve tried exactly what Badmister has instructed and that should work if anything will?
Is there a different version of Cubase that is free to try that maybe will allow me to record audio?
Thanks Again.

PS:  Maybe I shouldn’t “autoset” up the mlan and do it all via the graphic patchbay?  What do you guys think?

I have used Cubase SX with mLAN and Windows XP. It isn’t problem with autoset, since I suppose that you are only using Motif in your mLAN. Graphic patchbay is necessary when you are using more than one device in your mLAN network.
Your problem is not with Cubase version, but with firewire chipset compatibility. I have similar problem with new laptop since both MIDI and audio that come from Motif to computer didn’t work. I found on mLANcentral.com forum that several people have the same problem with built in firewire interface in laptops from different manufactures.
You should try to use some external firewire card, but also you should be careful since it is (I’m sure, since I tried!!) that the same card could work fine in one computer but not in other.
I’m now looking back to find a second hand laptop that I’ve used before.

Alex

Firewire compatibility...I’m not sure that is the problem.
I mean, I’m able to communicate via midi through it, seems like if the firewire is not working than I wouldn’t have midi either.
Also, I was able to record audio about a year ago with the same setup, but I have since forgotten what I did.
I haven’t changed any of my gear, just did windows updates, reinstalled cubase sx3 and mlan.

I don’t know...??

bdfsh1 - 28 February 2010 11:32 AM

Firewire compatibility...I’m not sure that is the problem.
I mean, I’m able to communicate via midi through it, seems like if the firewire is not working than I wouldn’t have midi either.
Also, I was able to record audio about a year ago with the same setup, but I have since forgotten what I did.
I haven’t changed any of my gear, just did windows updates, reinstalled cubase sx3 and mlan.

I don’t know...??

What type of Windows updates? Do you mean update from SP1 to SP2 or SP3? If you have worked on SP1 and than upgrade windows to SP2, than (on some systems/computers) you could have a problem with firewire speed. In SP1 it is automatically set to 400Mbps and this is the speed of mLAN. But, on some systems after SP2 update you could expect that Windows reduce speed to 100Mbps and your mLAN could not work properly. The solution is provided on Microsoft web site as firewire hotfix.
The same exist for SP3 if you have upgraded from SP2 to SP3:
SP3 hotfix.
Some people reported that they even had a correct mLAN setup,
but (before applying hotfix) the system gave “insufficient bandwidth” error.
For me, unfortunately, none of these hotfix gave result. Since you have on the same computer setup that worked previosly, I suppose that you could fix it again.

Alex

Can you post a screen shot of your Graphic Patchbay please. AUDIO view.

okay, I have attached a few screen shots.
Mlan patchbay...setting up Cubase for mlan, then vst instruments, then adding input/output buses for mlan 1&2;...then adding a stereo track and assigning them the input and output buses i just created

Doc1.doc  (File Size: 1137KB - Downloads: 17)

Here are my comments:

Screenshot 1: AUDIO Graphic Patchbay
The main L/R outputs of the Motif ES8 (mLAN16E) are 15/16. These are going to the computer node to inputs 15/16. This means that on the VST CONNECTIONS > INPUTS tab you should have a STEREO bus ready to receive audio from mLAN15/16

Each device in the Graphic Patchbay is called a “NODE” - you have two nodes: the computer (Cubase) and the mLAN16E (Motif ES8)
Each connection is an audio bus and is capable of routing audio signal from one place to another (much like a “bus” takes human beings from one place to another along a prearranged route, that is what an audio “bus” is: a vehicle for moving one or more, in this case signals, from place to place along a predetermined route). In order for signal to flow from one place to another you must create a path for it to do so. (We’ll come back to this later. Please read on)

Screenshot 2: Not sure why this is included. Obviously the project was originally done in an earlier version of the software and at that time you had the Apogee UV22 working as a plug-in (you must have been “dithering” a project for CD production) it has nothing to do with your issue,

Screenshot 3: Not sure why this is included - at some point you must have been dealing with the computer’s built in synth sounds. This has nothing to do with your issue.

Screenshot 4: Shows the DEVICE > DEVICE SETUP > Audiobay setting that is using ASIO mLAN and reporting you have extremely low latency. If you get any noise in your audio you may need to increase the BUFFER SIZE - this would be found in the VST AUDIOBAY area by clicking the CONTROL PANEL option. Increasing the buffer size allows your computer’s processor more time to react. You only need to increase the Buffer Size if your hear your computer struggling (clicks and pops) to handle the through put of audio

Screenshot 5/6: You are showing us the ASIO mLAN and the potentially available Inputs.

Screenshot 7: VST SYSTEM LINK - since you make no mention of a second computer in your setup - you do not want to activate this link, please uncheck the ACTIVE box.

Screenshot 8: VST CONNECTIONS > OUTPUT tab
Here all you need is the STEREO OUT with the LEFT connected to “1 mLAN 01” and the RIGHT connected to “2 mLAN 02” This will return audio to your Motif ES8’s main audio Outputs _ we assume the left/right outputs of the Motif ES8 are connected to a sound system. Your Graphic Patchbay already shows connections to support this: computer OUT 1 and 2 going back to the mLAN16E node - a single stereo Out from Cubase is all that is necessary to hear audio. (you have actually connected 1-8 from the computer node to 1-8 of the mLAN16E node. So you are covered).

Screenshot 9: VST CONNECTION > INPUT tab
Here you are showing audio arriving into Cubase coming from the Motif ES. You have it set so that audio coming in on assignable outputs 1/2 from the ES will arrive in Cubase. So only audio assigned to as1&2;_ will arrive at the computer

The main mLAN outputs on the Motif ES are 15/16 If you want to capture the main L/R output the Motif ES you would need to make an audio bus that is set to receive audio on “mLAN 15” and “mLAN 16”

Screenshot 10: Cubase Track view
Looks like an audio track with no data in it… which probably means you did not assign any PARTS to match the STEREO AUDIO Input connection that you made and are using. In other words, for audio to arrive to an AUDIO TRACK with “STEREO IN” as your INPUT (as shown) you would need to be routing something from the Motif ES MIXING setup on as1&2;_Press [MIXING]
Press [EDIT]
Press Track Select [1]-[16] to select the PART you want to route on this audio bus
Press [F2] OUTPUT
Press [SF3] SELECT
Here you can change the default OUTPUT “L&R;” and set it to “as1&2;”

This setting will route the PART on mLAN 01 and mLAN 02, which is what you have your “STEREO IN” set to receive.

If you wanted to receive the entire Motif ES8 mix you would need to create a STEREO BUS (on the VST CONNECTIONS > INPUT tab) that supported “mLAN 15” and “mLAN 16"… then make sure the armed track used that VST CONNECTION INPUT. Remember 15/16 is the main L and R output of the Motif ES via mLAN/Firewire

Make sense? You simply need to match the channels you are sending to the VST CONNECTION INPUT and the AUDIO TRACK receiving.

So quick review: The PARTS of your MIXING setup are typically set to L/R as the OUTPUT SELECTION… if you want to record the entire MOTIF ES this travels on “mLAN 15/16"… you would create a Graphic Patch to connect 15/16 OUT of the Motif ES8 node, going to the Computer node… wherever you connect it on the computer node, is where Cubase is going to see it coming in.

You have 15/16 connected to 15/16 on the computer… so to receive 15/16 into cubase you must set the VST CONNECTION INPUT to receive audio on mLAN 15/16.

If you assign a Motif ES PART to an assignable output then you must match the send by making a connection on the Graphic Patchbay to accommodate it going to the computer, then the VST CONNECTION INPUT takes that audio arriving inthe computer, and receives it into Cubase. You then make a track set to that VST CONNECTION INPUT.

So viewing your current AUDIO view (Graphic Patchbay) you are going to be able to use the following audio outputs from your Motif ES8 (via firewire)
as1, as2, as3, as4, as5, as6, as7, as8 and the Main L/R

You do not show any connection from the ES8 node to the computer node for as9, as10, as11, as12, as13 or as14

It is that simple (and complex) but if you follow the signal flow you cannot go wrong). Hope that helps.

The saga continues; I’ve done everything BadMister has instructed and I feel that I understand the whole “Audio Bus” concept and how to set it up the mlan, SX3 and the ES8 to receive/transmit along this audio pathway.
Seems like last time I went through all of this, and got it to work about a year ago, I didn’t have a box checked or I needed to check a box in the Device Setup…but I provided screenshots of all my Device Setup parameters and BadMister only had me uncheck the system link box comment….because I don’t have another PC tied into the system.

Through all of this I failed to mention that I’m using the trial version of SX3 (which has worked for years), but maybe there is some weird interaction between the latest mlan driver and the “old” SX3??
Is it possible it’s a firewire thing?  A firewire thing that works for midi, but not audio.
I can’t even record guitar or vocals through the A/D input on the back of the motif.

My guess is that mlan and SX3 don’t work as they should, b/c my PODxt Live guitar effects box connected to my computer via USB allows me to record audio just fine.

Man, what a pain!!

Should I abandon the trial version of SX3 and get Cubase 5?  I’ve looked at Steinberg’s website and it looks like you can do a 30-day trial version of Cuabse 5, but you need some sort of “E-key”.
I couldn’t find a good link on that website to be able to purchase the “E-key”

Thanks again for trying to help…

Never heard of a trial version of SX3… Hmmm!

mLAN and the SX3 work just fine, I personally can think of a few thousand folks using it happily :^)

But comparing Audio via USB (which is basically stereo) and what mLAN does (which is multiple buses of audio, up to 100, and 256 MIDI channels) is simply not any measure of anything.

USB audio is so very simple in comparison it is like a walk in the park compared to scaling Everest. The Motif XS, and S90 XS are now able to stream audio to and from a USB stick… so stereo audio via USB is really simple. 16 audio buses out of your ES and 8 audio bus returns, and 4 PORTS of MIDI for music, remote control, bi-directional control over the Editor, etc. now you are asking something of the system.

I cannot speak for a “trial version” of SX3 - as I said I do not recall one )but that goes back to before Yamaha owned Steinberg, so I may not have heard about it - but try and get a hold of a newer version of Cubase because so much has improved since 2004-5 when SX3 was current…