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arthurwoo
Total Posts: 5
Joined 08-24-2010 status: Newcomer |
I recently picked up a hardware synth to run with the Motif xs8. I didn’t have any other hardware w/ midi so I never had this issue before, and after searching the forums and several other sites, I can’t figure out what the issue is. I’m essentially trying to use the Motif xs8 as my audio interface AND a midi controller for the external hardware synth, which I’ve read can be done. I did a few different setups in Cubase 4.5 and still confused as how to set it up right. I read a few instructions from a tutorial on this site, and I set the midi to FW (firewire) for the Motif. When I do this, the midi in/out doesn’t seem to read from my external synth at all (when I create a new midi track and try to set it to different channels on the motif it doesn’t pick anything up). When I set the midi setting to MIDI, the midi track will connect to my external device and work normally. However, the vst instrument that can be use to control the motif within cubase becomes inoperable and says ‘no port connection’. Seems like I can get either one to work but not both at the same time. I read on another forum using mLan will make this work, whereas currently I am using the yamaha steinberg fw driver. But mLan looks pretty outdated in terms of the drivers I looked for on the Yamaha site so I didn’t want to try it unless it was a sure thing. To record the external synth, I’m also running the audio out of the external synth to the audio in of the motif A/D inputs. Running Mac OS 10.5. Also installed the latest firmware on the motif along w/ the latest FW driver for the mac. Can someone assist me in debugging this? Thanks! |
Bad_Mister
Total Posts: 36620
Joined 07-30-2002 status: Moderator |
When you set the MIDI IN/OUT = FW (which you have correctly done) the Motif XS8 will communicate to the computer via 3 MIDI PORTS. A “PORT” is the equivalent of 2 MIDI cables - that is, a Port is a MIDI IN and a MIDI OUT. Bi-directional communication. When recording to an external DAW software it is common practice to work with LOCAL CONTROL = OFF. The Motif XS has a convenient set of templates for the most common MIDI setups.
While in SONG/PATTERN (or PERFORMANCE) mode you can:
QUICK SEQUENCER SETUP #3 = Recording on Computer
Local Control breaks the immediate connection between the Motif XS8 keybed and the XS8 tone engine. MIDI data from the keyboard and controllers travels OUT via MIDI first where it is “channelized” by the receiving DAW software. You re-route the data on a track by track basis. In other words the ‘active’ track in Cubase will determine not only what module is responding, but what MIDI channel that module is responding on. So each track must be routed to receive MIDI IN from your Motif XS8 and each track must be set to have a specific MIDI OUT PORT and a MIDI channel (if that module is multi-timbral). PORT 1 - is for the Motif XS8 itself. This communicates all your musical functions (note-on events, Controller data, and tempo). This is referred to by the system as “Motif XS8 Main” PORT 2 - is a bi-directional communication between the Motif XS8 and the computer for the purpose of REMOTE CONTROL functions. when you press the REMOTE DAW button on the front panel of the Motif XS8 you can use the knobs, sliders and buttons to control your DAW software. The Motif XS8 has templates for Cubase, Logic, Sonar, and Digital Performer. This comes in handy when you are working and want to start/stop, arm tracks, mix etc., from the front panel of the Motif XS8 This is referred to by the system as “Motif XS8 Remote” PORT 3 - is a bi-directional communication between an external device (your other hardware synthesizer) and your computer. This is the so-called THRU PORT. Connect the MIDI OUT of your hardware synth to the MIDI IN jack on the back panel of the Motif XS8, and connect the MIDI OUT of the XS8 to the MIDI IN of that external synth. When you play the external synths keyboard it will arrive in the computer on its own discreet MIDI PORT, and when you assign Tracks of Cubase to this PORT it will arrive at the external synth on its own discreet PORT. IN other words, the Motif XS8 is acting as a MIDI interface for this external device. MIDI data passes THRU the Motif XS8, without stopping, and arrives in Cubase. And conversely, data set to this PORT will be routed back out, through the Motif XS8 without stopping to any device connected to the 5-pin MIDI OUT jack of the XS8. This is referred to by the System as “Motif XS8 MIDI IN” and “Motif XS8 MIDI OUT” So when you create a MIDI TRACK in Cubase and you set the MIDI OUT of that track to:
“Motif XS8 Main” (port 1) it arrives at the Motif XS8
If you want to play the Motif XS8 keys as your main controller you would set the MIDI IN on the track to
If you want to play the external keyboard connected to the Motif XS8’s MIDI IN jack as your main controller in Cubase you would set the MIDI on the track to
This is why in the article on the setup, when you go in Cubase to DEVICES > DEVICE SETUP… > MIDI > MIDI PORT SETUP > you can mark the IN ALL MIDI INPUTS column with “Motif XS8 Main” and “Motif XS8 MIDI IN” but NOT the Motif XS8 Remote (you do not want REMOTE control commands triggering notes on tracks… If you notice the REMOTE DEVICES are setup in a separate Folder and has a separate discreet PORT setup Image Attachments
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arthurwoo
Total Posts: 5
Joined 08-24-2010 status: Newcomer |
Thank you for the detailed info!! I’m going to try this out and let you know if I have further questions. |
arthurwoo
Total Posts: 5
Joined 08-24-2010 status: Newcomer |
Bad_Mister, Thanks for the detail again. I went through all the suggested settings and everything except one piece makes sense to me at this point. So I’m able to set up a MIDI track in Cubase and point it at the settings you suggested, and the sound will playback from the external synth. However, I noticed that by applying all these settings, I’m not able to use the Motif’s keyboard as a controller (which is something I want to do since the external synth is a rack) unless I do the below: I went to Utility -> [F5] Control -> MIDI Interface and tried the different settings on there. When I set it to MIDI, I was able to control the external synth within Cubase when the external synth is the active MIDI instrument. I tried the other settings USB and mLAN and they didn’t work, I’m assuming because I’m not running either of those since the Motif is set to FW. Here’s where the problem comes in - I created an instance of a VST instrument and created a new MIDI track for that VST. If I draw in some MIDI notes in Cubase it plays just fine. However, when I try to control the VST from the Motif keyboard, the external synth plays, even if the external synth is not the active track. Prior to using this external synth, I was able to control all my VSTs using the standard Motif settings without any issues. What setting do I change in order to control each active track in Cubase from the Motif’s keyboard? Thanks! |
Bad_Mister
Total Posts: 36620
Joined 07-30-2002 status: Moderator |
Sorry, I’ve broken one of my own rules. I answered a technical question without complete knowledge of what you have downloaded. I made a rule when someone says they have ‘the latest’ drivers to always make them print out what drivers they mean - because the latest driver does not always mean you have the correct drivers. There are different computers and different operating systems for those computers - the ‘latest’ driver may not be the one for you or your computer’s operating system so, let’s begin again.
First. If you are using the Motif XS8 as your audio and MIDI interface - this means you have a connection between the Motif XS8 and your computer via Fireiwire. In the Motif XS go to the following screen and select the appropriate Driver for firewire:
For the MIDI communication: You set the MIDI IN/OUT parameter = mLAN
Experimenting with the others is not going to help. mLAN is a protocol that sends both MIDI and audio data bi-directionally down a firewire cable. Set it to “mLAN” and ensure that you have a connection between the XS8 and your computer via a Firewire cable. By connecting the Motif XS8 to your computer via FW (Firewire) you will be taking care of both MIDI and AUDIO interfacing. You mentioned that you are running a Mac with 10.5 so therefore the correct driver for your system should be: Yamaha Steinberg FW Driver version 1.5.1 for Mac OS X Ensure that your computer recognizes the Motif XS8 via the driver by going to SYSTEM PREFERENCES > OTHER > find the Yamaha Steinberg Firewire Driver icon and then double clicking it to view the Control Panel, which should tell you that the Motif XS8 is connected. Let us know. In Cubase go to DEVICES > DEVICE SETUP > VST AUDIO SYSTEM > make sure you select Yamaha Steinberg FW as your ASIO DRIVER In order to get MIDI note-on events from the Motif XS8 to control anything within Cubase you must select it as the INPUT SOURCE in Cubase.
DEVICES > DEVICE SETUP > MIDI > MIDI PORT SETUP >
Motif XS YSFW driver setup for Mac OS X When controlling a VSTi within Cubase you only need to make the MIDI IN to the MIDI track controlling the VSTi = “Motif XS8 Main” or “IN MIDI INPUTS” - if you have setup the MIDI DEVICE PORTS option correctly and you have selected MIDI IN/OUT = mLAN on the Motfi XS8.
Please post a screen shot of the MIDI track controlling the VSTi. In order for the external synth to play in a properly setup MIDI routing situation the MIDI OUT of the currently active tracks would have to read “Motif XS8 OUT” A screen shot will clear this up… thanks. |
arthurwoo
Total Posts: 5
Joined 08-24-2010 status: Newcomer |
Bad_Mister, I reviewed all your settings and I had everything set correctly except mLan (though that didn’t fix the problem). I have v 1.5.1 for the YSFW driver installed. See screenshot. Channel 1 is my external synth. MIDI plays just fine from Cubase. Does not play from Motif keyboard. Channel 2 is a VST instrument, with the settings you suggested for the input (Motif Xs8 MAIN). Plays MIDI fine in Cubase. Does not play from Motif keyboard. One thing I noticed is that when I press the motif’s keys in both channels, the midi notes are recognized by Cubase, except no sound plays. Note: In the screenshot for Devices > Device Setup > MIDI > MIDI Port Setup, I toggled on/off the Motif XS8 MIDI IN checkbox as you mentioned to only have Motif XS8 Main, but that didn’t fix the issue. Let me know if you need to see anything else with this set up. Thanks! Image Attachments
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Bad_Mister
Total Posts: 36620
Joined 07-30-2002 status: Moderator |
Make sure you have MIDI THRU ACTIVE (this parameter allows Cubase to send incoming MIDI data to the intended destination: In Cubase > go to Preferences > MIDI > Check MIDI THRU ACTIVE > Click APPLY > Click OK Image Attachments
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arthurwoo
Total Posts: 5
Joined 08-24-2010 status: Newcomer |
That worked perfectly. I have everything the way I would like it set up now. Thanks for all the time for helping me! |