Thank you for all your help.

I know this is an older thread but figured it would be the best place to ask for help. I am baffled by the multi-channel audio function. First, it might be wise for me to explain what I feel to be my expectations. I expect to be able to have multiple MIDI tracks recorded, and then be able to simultaneously record multiple audio tracks from said midi tracks. So my first question before we get going is are my expectations accurate?

By the way. I'm using windows 7 64 bit and cubase 6. I have everything loaded and working through the vst editor. That seems to be working seemlessly. However, in a post above, bad mister noted a chevron in the top Corner of the editor that you can click and go to activate the different XS outputs. When I click on that chevron I don't get any of those options.

I know this is an older thread but figured it would be the best place to ask for help. I am baffled by the multi-channel audio function. First, it might be wise for me to explain what I feel to be my expectations. I expect to be able to have multiple MIDI tracks recorded, and then be able to simultaneously record multiple audio tracks from said midi tracks. So my first question before we get going is are my expectations accurate?

Yes. The thing to recognize is that one MIDI Track does not always equal one audio Track. For example, a single MIDI Track can be used to record your Drum performance, but depending on how you choose to assign your Drums to Outputs you can wind up with multiple audio Travks from the one MIDI Track. Say you want to separate the Kick to its own audio Out, the Snare to its own audio Track, you might combine the Open, Pedal and Closed hihats to their own Track, the Crash cymbal to its own Track, and perhaps the four or five Tom-Toms to a stereo audio track, etc., etc.

The FireWire routing allows you to do this... you would do this kind of routing only when you have decided that you wish to further process your Drum sounds with plugin effects in Cubase.

By the way. I'm using windows 7 64 bit and cubase 6. I have everything loaded and working through the vst editor. That seems to be working seemlessly. However, in a post above, bad mister noted a chevron in the top Corner of the editor that you can click and go to activate the different XS outputs. When I click on that chevron I don't get any of those options.

The above instruction were for Cubase series 7 so the layout is slightly different.

If I recall, you'll find the the options to Activate Outputs, on the VST Instrument Rack - where you launch the Motif XS VST -
Go to DEVICES > VST INSTRUMENTS > you click on an empty slot and select "EXTERNAL" > "Motif XS VST"
It creates the VST Instrument Folder with the Motif XS VST Audio Lane and Automation Lane, and you create your MIDI TRACK

you'll find a series of icons on that Instrument Rack, these include the FREEZE icon, the VST On/Off button, a Bypass icon, a blue letter "e" to Show/Hide the Editor VST, and the Activate Output icon...

It looks like Box with an arrow pointing out to the right: [->

Click on this to see the "Motif XS 1 (Stereo) - Motif XS 8 (Stereo)" options along with the "Activate All Output" option.
By default "Motif XS 1 (Stereo)" is always activate (this is the Main L&R Outputs).

Hope that helps.

Thanks. That clears my expectation question. But I'm still having problems. Actually I'm having problems getting audio routed through the fw at all. See below for pics. I think I have everything set up right. But i still don't see any of those options in the vst editor. You'll notice that I have part one routed through the m1 output. I'm wanting to record the midi data from that track to an audio track. But when I open an audio track, I see not place for the 'm1' input. I'm wanting to do this for all the parts I currently have midi data on simultaneously, but figured the first step is to figure out one.

By the way. I just realized that on the device setup page below, that every time I open the same project in cubase, that i have to reselect to make all the inputs visible. But evenwhen I do this, the outputs are still no visible in the editor dropdown. Don't know whether or not that might be the problem. Let me know if that is a question for Steinberg.

Thanks. That clears my expectation question. But I'm still having problems. Actually I'm having problems getting audio routed through the fw at all. See below for pics. I think I have everything set up right. But i still don't see any of those options in the vst editor. You'll notice that I have part one routed through the m1 output. I'm wanting to record the midi data from that track to an audio track. But when I open an audio track, I see not place for the 'm1' input. I'm wanting to do this for all the parts I currently have midi data on simultaneously, but figured the first step is to figure out one.

By the way. I just realized that on the device setup page below, that every time I open the same project in cubase, that i have to reselect to make all the inputs visible. But evenwhen I do this, the outputs are still no visible in the editor dropdown. Don't know whether or not that might be the problem. Let me know if that is a question for Steinberg.

Sorry had trouble with the pics. This should work.

OK Matthew,

I lost your thread because it is attached to the bottom of an old thread.

You have turned everything on and activated all the buses... this is not necessary and will put additional burden on your CPU, totally unnecessarily. The best practice is to use just the resources you need. In other words, unless you are using all 16 audio outputs you would not need to activate them all. Just activate those you are going to be using. This is just a good workflow.

Once you setup your system, Cubase will remember your setup as a part of your Project. So once you settle into a workflow you will find that Cubase works with you. Signal flow is the key to all of this.

Getting to know the routing here is extremely important, and once you learn to route signal, trust me, it gets easy. From your screenshot (I see all 16 Input buses are active and all 6 Output buses, as well, (although only the first three are showing, I assume you've activated everything in the hopes of getting it to work.

It would be a rare situation indeed where you would need to use all twenty-two buses simultaneously. Trust me.

Above, is an example setup for just recording and playing back MIDI data. When you are ready to finally mixdown to audio, you will engage the additional audio inputs/outputs (and just the ones you need). Above I'm just using the "Main L&R" Inputs, and just the "Main L&R" Outputs. Until I am doing some advanced routing the other ports remain INACTIVE (unassigned).

If you are using the Motif XS VST, then your second screenshot is not going to work. Routing audio will actually take place through the Advanced Integration afforded by the Motif XS VST - the Audio of the Motif XS will be returned to the Motif XS VST Audio Lane... This allows you to mixdown audio via the VST... using the Cubase: EXPORT AUDIO MIXDOWN routine.

I highly recommend that you do not use any quick setup templates in Cubase until you know what they do and that they are doing what you need. Make the assignments manually, 1) because it is the best way to learn how it works and 2) you lose the fear of routing signal yourself

Do you want to continue this here or wouldn't you like to have your own thread?

Hello, everyone.

I'm newbies here. But I tried to resolve my issue on Motifator. Here the link
I have an Yamaha XS8 keyboard and Macbook Pro 2013 Sierra (10.12.6 (16G29)) with Thunderbolt-to-Firewire adapter and cable.

The key goal is to connect XS to Mac with Firewire cable.

1. I've updated firmware of Yamaha to the latest version: 1.60.1. I did it twice and even checked with this manual https://elektrotanya.com/yamaha_motif_xs6_xs7_xs8.pdf/download.html. It works well.
2. I installed Yamaha Steinberg Firewire drivers on Mac. It was 1.7.4 version. All reboots were done also.
3. I tried to update IEEE1394 drivers on XS but connection doesnt work. I received a message: file not found. I did it several times with several archives, versions (1.7.4, 1.7.5, 1.7.3), from different folders etc. But without success.

I really dont understand how to find an answer and resolve this issue.

And one more point of information. When I use firewire connection:
a) I can see Yamaha in list of hardware
b) and even I can manage voices and modes through tool "Yamaha XS Editor"
c) there is no sound in PC when pressing keys in Yamaha XS.

I've sent several messages to Yamaha support in Russia, but there is no answer.
I did 2 calls to their office in Moscow, guy promised me to recall and no answer also.
I really tired from search and believe in this forum. Thanks.

You should start your own thread...

The Driver you have downloaded (version 1.7.4) reports:
”Yamaha Steinberg FW Driver has been confirmed to work properly on OS X 10.11.
Changed the system requirements to the following.
OS X 10.9.5, OS X 10.10.x, OS X 10.11.x”

You are using Sierra 10.12.x, which means you need Yamaha Steinberg FW Driver version 1.7.5
Which came out in February of 2017.... you are running a driver from 2010

The Driver you need is labeled “Yamaha Steinberg FW + n Extension Tools for n version 2.7.5 for MacOS 10.9.5 ~ 10.12.x _ Date: 2017-02-07”
While it includes two components, one for the n series mixer, it also includes the updated YSFW Driver 1.7.5

Your XS has been discontinued almost 8 years... if you update your computer OS you must update the driver as well... that should help. Currently, your screenshots show that Sierra does not see your XS.

Getting YSFW a driver version 1.7.5 should do the trick... let us know.

The IEEE1394 download is not a driver, it’s a firmware update... once you get your computer to see the XS it will tell IF you need to update your version of your IEEE1394 firmware.

Getting YSFW a driver version 1.7.5 should do the trick... let us know.

I've done it.
No success.

And any way, thanks you for advices.

I cant install IEEE1394 firmware

Again, you should start your own thread.

I cant install IEEE1394 firmware

Of course, NOT. You have to establish a connection BEFORE you can even know if you need this firmware update.

Next step is to describe how you are connecting your 6-pin FW connector on the back of the Motif XS to Thunderbolt on your Mac.

You should have a FW cable that is 6-pin to 9-pin.
This should connect to a 9-pin to Thunderbolt adapter.

What will make this connection:
You need a cable from "6-pin" (sometimes called 400) to "9-pin" (also called 800). Get the length you need.
You need an Apple adapter to take the 9-pin and fit it to your MacBook's Thunderbolt port.

Links to example solution:
_ Thunderbolt to FireWire Adapter
_ FireWire 800>400; 9-pin to 6-pin Cable