INTRO

Get connected in three easy steps! The USB TO HOST port connects MIDI and audio from the MX to your computer or iOS device down a single USB cable. The advantage is a single cable solution for audio and MIDI from MX to your computer or mobile device. This allows a multitude of recording and performance possibilities with a single cable. For example:

• Record and playback MIDI to a computer or iOS device
• Record MX Series audio digitally to your computer DAW or iOS device
• Play and monitor computer/iOS audio through MX ’s audio outputs

DRIVER DOWNLOAD AND INSTALLATION

MX isn’t just a great synthesizer, it’s also a great MIDI controller and audio interface. Connecting MX to your computer or iOS device gives you knobs, drawbars, switches for controlling plugins and softsynths as well as a 2×2 audio interface to record audio and MIDI, all in a single USB connection. Best of all you can download a free version of Cubase AI for Mac/PC, allowing you to record MIDI and audio with your MX Series Synthesizer. Go here to get Cubase AI.

The Yamaha-Steinberg USB Driver lets you use audio and MIDI with your computer. Here’s where to get it and how to install:
Download links:

• MAC: https://usa.yamaha.com/support/updates/yamaha_steinberg_usb_driver_for_mac.html
• WIN: https://usa.yamaha.com/support/updates/yamaha_steinberg_usb_driver_for_win.html

After downloading the file, follow the included installation instructions.

HARDWARE SETUP

MAC OR WINDOWS COMPUTER:

Connect MX ’s USB TO HOST port to your computer’s USB port using a MIDI USB cable. This is often referred to as a MIDI USB Type A to Type B cable.

Software setup for Mac and Windows computers: In the download package above you’ll find a folder called “InstallationGuide” with instructions in multiple languages. This guide describes what it is, how to install/uninstall and tips for troubleshooting. Select the appropriate version and follow the directions as described.

Check out his short video showing MX with Cubase AI:

IOS DEVICES (IPHONE/IPAD):

Connect MX to iOS with the aforementioned USB cable and a lightning to USB or USB C to USB adapter.

Want to share your thoughts/comments? Join the conversation on the Forum here.

INTRO

Thanks for purchasing an MX Series Synthesizer. This guide is designed to help get you up and making music ASAP!

WHAT’S IN THE BOX?

• Owner’s manuals. Get PDF versions of all the MX Series manuals here.
• Power adapter (PA-150B or equivalent)

QUICK CONNECTIONS

POWER

Connect the supplied power adaptor to the [AC IN] jack on the instrument’s rear panel. Connect the other end of the adaptor to an AC outlet. Make sure your instrument the voltage requirement for the country or region in which it is being used.

AUDIO

To connect the audio output: Use the two 1/4″ standard mono phone (unbalanced) jacks together to output stereo audio signals. When using mono output, connect only to the [L/MONO].
For the best sound quality, we recommend connecting your instrument to a mixer, audio interface or powered speakers in stereo. Many of the instrument sounds are sampled/programmed in stereo and many of the effects are stereo effects as well. All these elements sound acceptable in MONO but are best if amplified in STEREO. We don’t recommend connecting to guitar or keyboard amps unless you’re going for a special effect.
Set the appropriate input gain on your mixer, audio interface or powered speakers. Then adjust the output level to the optimal level for your playing and listening environment. For more information on input gain and gain staging go here.

AUDIO INPUT

You’ll need a stereo 3.5mm TRS cable to connect to the AUX input on the back of the MX. These jacks allow you to connect an external audio device like a second keyboard, mixer or any music playback device and mix the output of that device with MX ’s outputs.

USB/MIDI

On the MX keyboard there are two USB connections, TO HOST and TO DEVICE. The TO HOST connection is for connecting MX to a computer or mobile device. The USB TO HOST connector carries both MIDI and audio information making your instrument a MIDI and audio interface.
The USB TO DEVICE connection is for storing and recalling MX content to a USB flash drive. You can also playback stereo WAV files (16-bit/44.1kHz) from the USB Flash drive and adjust the playback volume (under [UTILITY] > “01:General” > [ENTER] > Scroll to “WAV Volume.”)

ADJUST TOUCH RESPONSE

For best results, do this after setting optimizing your gain staging above.
The scale of velocity (how hard you hit the keys) varies greatly from player to player. Adjustment to the level of velocity sensitivity on the YC keyboard can be adjusted to your playing preference. You’ll find this under [UTILITY] > “01:General” > [ENTER] > Scroll to “VelCurve” and select Soft, Hard, Wide or Fixed.

EXPLORING SOUNDS

• MX Series powers on in Performance mode. A Performance has 16 Parts and each Part can have a Voice. There are 128 Performances in MX. When selecting a Performance, you are playing Parts 1 and 2 and those Parts can be configured as a split or layer. Press the [SELECT] button and rotate the [DATA] dial to select a Performance.
• You can directly select individual Voices within a Performance too. Press and hold [SHIFT] and press [SELECT] to enter call up the MX Quick Reset. Use the Category Buttons on the right to select Voices with each Category. Check out this short video to see how to do this:

• Want to split the keyboard? Check out this video:

• Check out this video to learn how to control parts, transpose and shift octaves:

Questions/comments? Join the conversation on the Forum here.