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Yamaha MX and your Computer

Written by Bad Mister on May 16, 2018. Posted in MX49/MX61/MX88.

When you connect your MX49/MX61 to a computer, you really have the makings of a complete music studio. One of the design concepts behind the MX-series was to give the user a top shelf tone engine (because SOUND is everything) without breaking the bank. If you have been attempting to get involved in music production using a laptop computer and a bunch of virtual synthesizers, you may be asking your computer to do TOO MUCH.

If you have been asking the computer to be your MIDI recorder, the synthesizer tone engine, the mixer, the EQ, the processor, etc. – you may have noticed that things just bog down. When you connect the MX to a computer (no matter how entry level that computer may be) the MX takes much of the CPU load off of the computer. No longer are you asking the computer to do it all. You have a top shelf Tone Engine (Sound derived from the world renowned Motif-series synthesizers), including some of the same top shelf, cutting edge VCM Effect processors and EQs. Add to this that the MX can act as its own AUDIO and MIDI interface with a simple USB cable. and you now will be able to create music right at home – without having to spend tons money.

Click here to get started.

A list of the currently available items will appear.

Find the appropriate Yamaha Steinberg USB Driver version for your computer operating system.
- You can further refine your Search by using the option that lets you select your particular operating system, language, etc.
- The Yamaha Steinberg USB Driver will handle both MIDI and Audio communication between your computer and the MX.
Download the YC-3B (VST Instrument).
- You will find the Activation Code for this free synth driver among the documentation included with your MX.
- To activate your software license, install the application while the computer is connected to the Internet.
Download the REMOTE TOOLS for your computer operating system.
- These will install the “Remote Editor” and the Yamaha extensions for your model.
- The “Remote Editor” for your model (for example: “MX49/MX61 Remote Editor”) is software which lets you edit/create Control Templates for your MX Music Synthesizer.
- When working in the computer environment you may want to work with other software synthesizers, the Remote Editor will let you setup custom Control Templates for these synthesizers.

The Extension for your model – for example”MX49/MX61 Extension” – is a software component that enables you to use the MX along with Cubase series* (*series 5 or later). The Tools Installer (e.g.: “MX49/MX61 Remote Tools Installer”) installs these two software components.

Cubase AI comes as a download, it will include the free Prologue (VST Instrument). You will find the Activation Code for this free synth also included in your MX documentation. To activate your software license, install the application while the computer is connected to the Internet.

Some of the PDF Manuals are provided on the CD-ROM that come in the box with your MX, but you may want to transfer these to a folder on your computer as backups. Make sure you download the Data List, Owner’s and Reference Manuals for your model (e.g.: “MX49/61 Data List”, the “MX49/61 Owner’s Manual”, and the “MX49/61 Reference Manual”).

Very Important

Download the Content Data: the Voice List for Cubase (“MX49/61 Voice List for Cubase”). This .XML file will add functionality to your Cubase experience, allowing you to select Voices using the Track Inspector within the Project.

What to install first?

If you are new to the world of computer-based operations with Music Production, take your time and be prepared to read the appropriate INSTALLATION GUIDE. Make sure you follow instructions and notes concerning your particular operating system. They do not all work the same way for installation. Even if you are a veteran computer user, we highly recommend the following procedure:

– Read the INSTALLATION GUIDE in full (they are short). Make note of the items that refer specifically to your particular computer TYPE and Operating System.
– Then on the second read through, execute the install step-by-step.

The advantage of having read through the instructions will become apparent. You will know what to expect before you get to the step. Those who have problems wind up skipping a step because they did not know what to expect. For example, if you are installing something that requires an INTERNET connection, you will want to establish this before you get to this step – skipping it would mean you will be unsuccessful.

eLICENSER and MySteinberg

A word on Cubase AI installation: There are several things we find that get missed (usually by folks who may not have read all the included installation documentation) – so once you install Cubase AI from the included DVD-ROM, or receive an Access Code to DOWNLOAD your copy of AI, you need to:

1) Setup a MySteinberg Account.
2) Acquire the ACTIVATION CODE via email
3) Register your Cubase AI via your MySteinberg Account

Each of these is a separate thing:

– The Steinberg account, allows Steinberg to know who you are and they will keep track of each product you license or purchase (this can be very handy if your computer crashes or you buy a new computer and need to authorize your software on the new computer). There is no downside to having a MySteinberg Account. If Cubase is your very first Steinberg product, you will need to create a new account. If you have previously owned a Steinberg product (hardware or software) you can add this Cubase AI to your list of products. Write down your account information (log in info) and keep it in a safe place.

– Once you have a MySteinberg Account, time to register your Cubase AI (again, a separate process).

– When Cubase is installed you will also install what is called an “eLicenser” program. The eLicenser is what will require the ACTIVATION CODE – it is this activation code that allows YOU to use Cubase AI. Initially you can use it for a trial period – Do not let the trial period expire without ACTIVATING your copy. Activating it (by entering the code) will allow you to use it for an unlimited time and will let you qualify for any discounts when upgrading to a full version of Cubase.

Activating your free VST INSTRUMENTS

Authorizing your two VST Instruments can also be handled at this point. These provide you with a Tone Wheel organ emulation (YC-3B) and a versatile virtual analog synth (Prologue). You will find Remote Control Templates for these two soft synths provided with the MX REMOTE TOOLS.

Before you launch Cubase, install the Yamaha Steinberg USB driver. It comes in a zipped download that includes the driver and the “Yamaha Steinberg USB driver Installation Guide”. Please read through it, then, on the second read through, execute the installation.

What is this Driver?

The Yamaha Steinberg USB Driver enables communication between a USB device (which is compatible with the Yamaha Steinberg USB Driver) and your computer. The DRIVER is what “teaches” the computer what to do with the information coming from your MX – without it you will not be able to use the MX’s MIDI and AUDIO information. It is a special driver that handles not only MIDI communication but also is an ASIO (Audio Streaming Input/Output) driver. ASIO is a computer protocol (invented by Steinberg, by the way) – which is a standard communication protocol for computers and external hardware devices.

Don’t let the name of the driver throw you, Yamaha and Steinberg developed this driver for specific Yamaha and Steinberg hardware products, if you are using a DAW not by Steinberg, this does not preclude you using the driver. And recognize that this is an unusual driver in that it has two components – both MIDI communication and AUDIO communication. These are handled and configured separately – they can be used separately. Installing the REMOTE TOOLS should make the setting for you automatically – and then you can use the following pages as a troubleshooting checklist.

Once configured you will be happy to know that your setting will persist – means they will remain and be there the next time you use the software. So in general the initial setup is something you will not have to do every time. You can lock it in and make Cubase work FOR YOU.

The JOHN MELAS MX Editors

John Melas has created a suite of tools for the Motif, the MOXF series and for the MX. The Complete Suite for the MX includes:

Total Librarian
Voice Editor
Drum Kit Editor
Performance Editor

John Melas Motif Site: Products

This provides full access to all parameters down to the individual Element (oscillator) level. These Editors are for those who have an MX and are looking to unleash the full beast of the 8 Element synthesis engine that lays beneath the surface. And while the Melas Editors are not free, they are well worth the cost if you are someone who wants to dig in deeper!

The TOTAL LIBRARIAN as the name implies will manage all sounds for the MX and you can launch the VOICE, PERFORMANCE and DRUM KIT Editor from the Librarian.

The MX VOICE EDITOR allows deep Element level editing. Shown above you can see that 5 out of the 8 Elements used to create this String Voice (“Small Ensemble”).

The PERFORMANCE EDITOR allows you to setup all sixteen PARTS of the PERFORMANCE as you require.

The Drum Kit Editor allows full access to each KEY in the drum kit. We talk about the Motif, MOXF and MX series all featuring an 8 Element (Oscillator) engine, but Drum Kits are a very special type of Voice that contains 73 Elements – One per KEY over a 6 octave range, between C0 and C6.

Enjoy your MX – and join in the conversation about this lesson on the Forum here.

Yamaha MX with Cubase for Mac Computers

Written by Bad Mister on May 16, 2018. Posted in MX49/MX61/MX88.

Whether you have an MX49/MX6 BK/BU/WH or MX88, this article is for you. We’ll use the 49/61 as the example. Let’s get started!

Macintosh OSX: Launch Cubase

If you have multiple ASIO audio drivers installed on your computer, you may see a screen that allows you to select which driver you wish to use. Cubase, unlike many DAWs, allows you to “hot swap” ASIO drivers mid-Project. That is, you can switch drivers without having to close down and re-launch Cubase – you simply switch drivers. This is very convenient when more than one of your devices can act as an audio interface:

Shown, above, is the ASIO Driver select screen on a Mac OSX. Note: If you have not downloaded and installed your MX items yet or if you don’t know what to download, please go to this article before proceeding here: Yamaha MX and Your Computer.

MIDI PORT SETUP

On the Cubase Menu Bar go to:

DEVICES (called “Studio” in Cubase series 9) > DEVICE SETUP (called “Studio Setup” in Cubase series 9) > MIDI > MIDI PORT SETUP

The column labeled “In ‘All MIDI Inputs'” should have the “Yamaha MX49/MX61 Port 1” marked with an ‘x’. This will make the MX the default input device for recording data to MIDI Tracks within Cubase. The others should remain unmarked. If you are using an alternate MIDI controller you can connect it to the MX via its 5-pin MIDI jack. You then would mark “Yamaha MX49/MX61 Port 3”. Port 3 is the so-called MIDI THRU port as any device connected will send its data through the MX directly to the computer via PORT 3.

The column labeled “STATE” is a status report of what is being used currently. You do not make a setting in this column. Rather it reflects the current status of your MIDI Ports – whether they are in use or not:

– MIDI Port 1 – is always for musical performance events like note-ons, controllers, and tempo.
– MIDI Port 2, as we will discuss next, is for Remote Control functions.
– MIDI Port 3, is for any external device connected to the MIDI jacks while you are setup for USB.
– MIDI Port 4, is not used.
– MIDI Port 5, is for the MX REMOTE EDITOR (which lets you create custom control templates for VSTi).

REMOTE DEVICES

Move the cursor down to the REMOTE DEVICES folder. Here you can see that USB Port #2 is setup for Remote Control communication between the MX and Cubase. You can understand that above we setup PORT 1 for communication of MIDI data to be recorded to a MIDI Track (Note-ons, Controller movements, Tempo, etc.), now we are setting a separate Port on which to communicate Remote Control commands. These must be kept completely separated from our musical performance commands.

You will notice that in the screen shot (above), I have additionally assigned some COMMANDS to the Cubase USER COMMANDS Buttons. You can customize these as you desire. But for now, lets just state that the REMOTE DEVICES setup here will allow you to use the front panel of your MX to control functions within Cubase. This is very useful when you are trying to concentrate on playing and don’t want to have to CLICK and then find a place to put the mouse down during the count-in – you simply want to get ready to play. This is something you’ll really appreciate later!

REMOTE mode is activated on the MX by pressing the [DAW REMOTE] button. At that point the front panel buttons are retasked to control functions of the selected DAW. In addition to a control template for Cubase, you will find templates for Sonar, Digital Performer and Logic.

The items written below the bottom row of buttons (9-16) with the white background are the DAW REMOTE functions. These include selecting the function for the DATA WHEEL/AI KNOB, Controlling external VST instruments, activating Automation, a Delete function:

The top row buttons [1]-[8] feature button [1] and [2] which will increment/decrement through your VSTi when setting up to control external VSTi. While buttons [3] through [8] translate as follows:

– [3]/Organ = Cubase COMMAND key [SF1] – I have it setup to be my RECORD Button.
– [4]/Guitar = Cubase COMMAND key [SF2] – I have it setup to be my RETURN TO ZERO.
– [5]/Bass = Cubase COMMAND key [SF3] – I have it setup to open the Cubase MIXER.
– [6]/Strings = Cubase COMMAND key [SF4] – I have it set to ADD a MIDI Track.
– [7]/Brass = Cubase COMMAND key [SF5] – I have it set to be my SOLO button.
– [8]/SaxWoodwind = Cubase COMMAND key [SF6] – I have it set to be my MUTE button.

What can you select to assign to these six buttons? The answer is truly, what can’t you. Cubase allows you total flexibility in assigning parameter to these Sub Function buttons – please see the Cubase Documentation for more details on items that are available.

VST AUDIO SYSTEM

Up until now we have been dealing with the MIDI side of the Yamaha Steinberg USB driver. Both musical performance communication (Port 1 and 3) and DAW remote control communication (Port 2) are functions of MIDI data. The VST AUDIO SYSTEM deals with how audio is going to move from the MX to your computer (Cubase) and how audio recorded in the computer is routed back to the MX and then on to your speakers.

Typically, you are asked when you first launch Cubase what audio interface (ASIO Driver) you are going to use. If ever you have to select it manually – this is where you find it: in the VST AUDIO SYSTEM option.

Again you see a column labeled “STATE”, and again you do not set or change anything here. It is simply informing you that, indeed the Yamaha MX49/MX61 is communicating both AUDIO INPUT and AUDIO OUTPUT (the 1 and 2 here refer to Left and Right audio channels in a stereo setup).

Click OK.

You now have moved through the items you need to setup in Cubase > DEVICES > DEVICE SETUP. Next we will install the MX49/MX61 VOICE LIST for CUBASE.

IMPORTING the “MX49/MX61 VOICE LIST for CUBASE” into MIDI DEVICE MANAGER

This item contains a list of the VOICES found in your MX (file type = .XML), and will allow you to use the Cubase MIDI Track Inspector to conveniently select Voices by CATEGORY directly on each Track. Download and unzip the file to a known location on your computer. You will need to navigate to this file and IMPORT it into the Cubase MIDI Device Manager.

Go to DEVICES (called “Studio in Cubase series 9) > MIDI DEVICE MANAGER

– Click on “IMPORT SETUP”.

This will open your navigator:
– Direct it to the .XML file that you downloaded (Voice List for Cubase).
– Select it.
– It will appear in the “INSTALLED DEVICES” column.
– Highlight it in the “INSTALLED DEVICES” column and set the “OUTPUT” window to “Yamaha MX49/MX61 Port 1” (the music port).

You have now installed the MX MIDI Device called: “Yamaha MX”. What this means is now is when you are setting the MIDI OUTPUT for a TRACK, you will select this installed device – it will in turn address the MX via Port 1. This way when you select a Voice from the List, it will automatically send that information on PORT 1 to the MX and change the VOICE.

Here is how you select a MIDI OUT. We’ll jump ahead here a bit and talk about how this XML file will allow you to select VOICES conveniently for each MIDI Track you assign to the MX49/MX61.

You can create a MIDI Track by either going to PROJECT > ADD TRACK > MIDI TRACK or you can right click in the appropriate column of the main Project window and select ADD MIDI TRACK.

When the Track appears you will see the MIDI IN by default is set to “ALL MIDI INPUTS” (which if you recall we setup to the MX’s music port).

The MIDI OUT needs to be set to the MIDI DEVICE we just INSTALLED: “Yamaha MX”.
Click on the MIDI OUT space and see the options. You will see the five MIDI PORTS of the MX listed at the bottom of the list – but you will also see the MIDI DEVICE MANAGER item we just created listed separately. Select this “Yamaha MX”.

Just below the MIDI OUT setting on the Track Inspector is the MIDI Channel. You will need to create a new MIDI Track for each PART you want to record using the MX tone engine. As you add additional track they will increment the MIDI channel – but you are free to change it as you desire.

Just below the MIDI Channel, is the VOICE Select function of the MX VOICE LIST we installed in the MIDI DEVICE MANAGER. Here you can click and search through the Voices of the MX and double click a NAME to assign it to the Track.

If you click where it indicated “OFF” the MX Voice List will drop down and you can select a VOICE for this Track.

Go for it!

Have questions or want to discuss your experiences? Join the conversation on the Forum here.