Motif XS: Assigning a Mic to an mLAN bus

If you have not done so already, please see this article first. It covers the basics of setting up the MICROPHONE as the Motif XS’s A/D INPUT:
Setting up a Microphone: Motif XS

Normally, the A/D INPUT Part is assigned to the main Left and Right outputs. OUTPUT SELECT = L&R
However, when you are working with an external DAW, like Cubase for example, you may want to assign the A/D INPUT Part to its own discreet audio bus. This will allow you to record the vocals to their own audio track.

Bus: A vehicle for moving one or more passengers from point A to point B via a specific route.
In audio a bus is a vehicle for moving audio signal from one point to another along a specific path. Multiple signals can be routed on any bus, or the bus can be for an individual signal. It depends on your goal.

By default all PARTS are routed on the main “L&R” stereo bus.
All 16 internal PARTS, the A/D INPUT PART and the mLAN/FW INPUT PART are all assigned to ride the bus route: “L&R”

It may at times be convenient for you to isolate a PART on its own bus, or you may decide to send several PARTS together on a specific bus - the goal so you can record them to their own track. In this case, you may want to route your vocal mic (plugged into the A/D INPUT on the Motif XS back panel) on a discreet bus, isolating it from the other sounds, to its own track in your DAW (Cubase).

The Bus Routes

On the [F4] AUDIO IN screen, highlight the OUTPUT SELECT parameter.
Press [F6] LIST to view a listing of the possible output buses to which the A/D PART can be routed.
The “L&R” options refers to both the analog main outputs and the mLAN/FW digital stereo bus.
The “asL&R” option refers to the analog (only) Assignable Outputs on the back panel of the XF
These are followed by seven odd/even pairs of mLAN/Firewire buses: m1&2, m3&4, m5&6, m7&8, m9&10, m11&12, and m13&14
Then you have the individual “asL” (analog only) assignable Left and the “asR” (analog only) assignable Right
Then each of the fourteen assignable mLAN/FW buses as Mono sends: m1, m2, m3, m4, m5, m6, m7, m8, m9, m10, m11, m12, m13, and m14

Since your microphone is a mono input and plugged into the “L Mono” Input, you want to assign the OUTPUT SELECT to a Mono bus:

Set OUTPUT SELECT = m1

What you have done is re-route the microphone’s signal on a different path. It no longer will travel through the SYSTEM Effect (so the Reverb and Chorus processors are not accessed), it no longer travels through the MASTER EFFECT, nor does it go through the MASTER EQ. You have re-routed so that it goes on its own discreet path toward the computer via the mLAN/FW on a bus route “m1”. Right now, it is the only passenger on that bus. It does however, go to the “m1” output with the INSERTION EFFECTS (if you have assigned any to the A/D INPUT).

This means you can use your powerful Motif XS Insert Effects on your microphone and you can record with them - and because they are hardware there will be no latency issues or delay in hearing what you are getting. This is not LOW LATENCY - this is NO LATENCY - because you monitor the effects direct (prior to the signal going to the recorder)! This means you can use a powerful VCM Compressor and the VCM EQ501, or any two INSERTION EFFECTS.

The Signal Arrives in the Computer

In Cubase you need to create a connection that will receive the signal we just routed.
Go to DEVICES > VST CONNECTIONS > INPUT

Here you can “ADD BUS” > MONO
Set the AUDIO DEVICE to “Yamaha Steinberg FW”
Set the DEVICE PORT to “Motif XS 1”

Next you need to create an AUDIO Track on the main Cubase screen.
Go to PROJECT > ADD AUDIO TRACK > MONO

Assign the INPUT to that audio track to the MONO bus you just created.

You have routed the A/D INPUT PART to the Motif XS’s “m1” OUTPUT
You have created an INPUT to receive the OUTPUT of the Motif XS - that input is set to “Motif XS 1” via the Yamaha Steinberg FW Motif XS bus 1
You have created a TRACK that is using that audio bus as its source