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Legacy Yamaha Synths
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Topic starter
Hi all, glad to join this new site.
Proud owner of a Motif XS connected via midi to Cubase 8.0.5, my audio interface is a UR28M all working well and very happy with that setup...just waiting for Steinberg/Yamaha to sort out the issue with the Motif XS VST plugin to take full advantage of this setup. For context, I'm an aspiring composer focused on cinematic, trailer and music for the media, I currently do this as a very serious hobby.
Anyhow, I currently use the Motif in two ways:
1. In voice mode to play sounds and record them in Cubase on audio tracks. In this scenario I have the keyboard setup to transmit no MIDI to Cubase, this allows me to switch to midi/instrument tracks on Cubase freely while I still play my Motif sound (I keep a dedicated audio track called Motif with monitoring ON). If I want to control a VSTi in Cubase via midi (e.g. a KONTAKT instrument) I just push one button and switch to MASTER mode (see 2 below).
2. In MASTER mode I tried to setup the keyboard to be a MIDI controller where I can use the faders and knobs to send MIDI CC data (but I want no sound from the Motif to Cubase so I have the internal Motif switch off). I have zone ON, each zone configured as zone 1 (does that mean is MIDI channel 1?), I have each knob and fader sending each a unique CC# (so I can use these to control VST parameters). I'm almost satisfied with this setup but I feel I'm missing something and I'm dealing with a couple of nuisances.
It is worth noting that if I want to control Cubase transport I just enable the Motif remote control, although I now use an iPad with Lemur to do all that so I rarely use this function (maybe I use it more while mixing and mastering).
Nuisances when in MASTER mode:
a. I have Cubase sending midi clock to the Motif so arpeggios are in sync with my project, the problem is that when I click play in Cubase that also starts the Motif sequencer and the bank that I currently have as Master has a song which I have to manually stop in the Motif so it doesn't sound on top of my Cubase project. I know I can create another Master bank that has no song associated to it but before doing that I wanted to come here and see if you guys recommend a better Cubase/Motif/Master configuration.
b. With the 8 knobs and 8 faders I have pretty decent control over various VST parameters (setting up track quick controls and VST quick controls in Cubase) but I wish I had more, so I'm looking for a way to 'scroll' through banks in the Motif so I can change the CC# values on the knobs/faders quickly. My first logical idea is to setup multiple MASTER banks each with different CC's and just activate them or scroll through them as needed, before doing that I wanted to check here for suggestions.
In any case, MASTER mode is a very complex beast I'm trying to figure out and I really feel there is great potential here that will make my workflow easier while working on Cubase and the Motif as a midi controller, a tone generator and soon a VST instrument.
Looking forward for your input guys...can't wait for Bad Mister to chip in 😀
Posted : 30/01/2015 9:29 pm
a. I have Cubase sending midi clock to the Motif so arpeggios are in sync with my project, the problem is that when I click play in Cubase that also starts the Motif sequencer and the bank that I currently have as Master has a song which I have to manually stop in the Motif so it doesn't sound on top of my Cubase project. I know I can create another Master bank that has no song associated to it but before doing that I wanted to come here and see if you guys recommend a better Cubase/Motif/Master configuration.
If you don't want the Motif XS to start when you start CUBASE then simply set the Motif XS "Sequencer Control" parameter to "Off".
Press [UTILITY]
Press [F5] CONTROL
Press [SF2] MIDI
Set Sequencer Control = Off
This will not interfere with the Arpeggiators getting clock from Cubase.
MIDI SYNC = auto
b. With the 8 knobs and 8 faders I have pretty decent control over various VST parameters (setting up track quick controls and VST quick controls in Cubase) but I wish I had more, so I'm looking for a way to 'scroll' through banks in the Motif so I can change the CC# values on the knobs/faders quickly. My first logical idea is to setup multiple MASTER banks each with different CC's and just activate them or scroll through them as needed, before doing that I wanted to check here for suggestions.
Setting up your own in Master mode you are limited by the number of hardware zones, sliders and knobs.
You don't mention which VST you are dealing with... Many come pre-assigned to the Motif-series knobs. Did you check to see if the VST you are controlling doesn't come pre-arranged either a Motif XS Remote template? Your mileage will vary.
Go to the DAW REMOTE layer
Use the [SELECTED PART CONTROL] and [MULTI PART CONTROL] buttons to navigate the REMOTE layer screens.
Go to the "Global" screen to highlight [SF1] INST
Use Knob 1 to select VSTI rack position containing the VSTi you wish to edit
Use Knob 3 to dial up the VSTi (if not already set)
Use the [SELECTED PART CONTROL] to move up to the "Selected Ch" row
Here you can scroll through [F1]/[F2] PAGE UP/PAGE DOWN to view the assigned parameters.
The number of parameters available is only limited by the VSTi _ shown above is Prologue with its 22 PAGES of pre-assigned parameters.
Let us know.
Posted : 30/01/2015 10:32 pm
Topic starter
Thank you Bad Mister. Your instructions fixed the issues I had.
I mostly work with Kontakt instruments. Within Kontakt there is an automation page where you customize the VSTi parameters you want automated through your DAW, it works well with the suggestions you provided with the only downside that the Motif does not show the parameter name (e.g. Cutoff) and instead shows the parameter number. Not a huge deal since you can always see the name by looking at the VST rack > automation knobs.
To summarize:
- If I want to use midi CC to control my Kontakt VSTi's I can use master mode with zone on and assign up to 16 distinctive midi cc to the 8 knobs and 8 faders, I can have multiple master programs each with different cc numbers if I need to control more than 16 parameters.
- In addition, I can use the daw remote layer in the Motif and use the INST sub-menu to scroll through the VSTi parameters, prior to that I have to configure each Kontakt instrument I would like to control this way (this last step is true for both methods).
I have not decided which method I will use, probably both depending on the VSTi so either way I will have to do some programming and saving a bunch of instruments as presets so the automation configuration is kept.
There are advantages and disadvantages to each method, but one thing is true, the Motif is a very flexible and capable midi controller in addition to its multi-timbral tone generator capabilities...outstanding machine.
Posted : 04/02/2015 7:47 pm
Excellent. Please enjoy!
Posted : 10/02/2015 12:13 pm
Hello there,
sorry to revive an old thread, but I currently use Motif Xs and Cubase 7.5 and I really want to have the same basic setup as the thread starter initially. How can I do this? Is there a step by step guide somewhere here to do this? I really want to control Cubase using the faders and also use it as a cc midi signal like cc 1, 2, 11, 7, etc.
Edit: I have search this forum using the search function, but it seems like I can't find it. It seems like this thread is the closest to what I'm interested in.
Posted : 06/08/2016 6:42 pm
Follow this thread to setup your DAW REMOTE Layer... It worked for the original poster.
Posted : 07/08/2016 12:14 pm
