Using Yamaha Motif XS rack in Sonar

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Tremor
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2017/03/06 11:01:27 (permalink)

Using Yamaha Motif XS rack in Sonar

Hi Guys, I've posted something similar before - but success still eludes me! I've tried a work-around but not very effectively.
 
I have a Yamaha Motif XS rack module which works fine when using the midi interface - but I need to keep tweeking the controls and use the LCD screen on the motif to control it - which is both tiring and time consuming to my work flow.
 
Using the USB connection between the Motif and the PC, the Motif Editor loads as a VST3 and the editor displays in my Sonar X3. HOWEVER, no matter what I try, I cannot get my keyboard midi data through Sonar into the Motif. So I have no sound.
 
Have tried and failed several times to get Yamaha support to help - but no joy. I get the distinct feelng they don't give a damn. The Motifactor forum support site has produced not a single reply. In fact, from the "activity" it seems to be almost defunct!
 
I'm at a loss as what the problem is or how to resolve it. I've had this unit for about a year now and it's driving me so mad I'm thinking of selling it.
 
Just hoping another Sonar user has a Motif and could help with the sorting it out.??
 
Living in hope - again!

Mike Sonar X3 Studio, Aria PC AMD FX-8350 8-core, Win 7 64 bit Home premium SP1, 16 Gb Ram , Behringer FCA1616, Focusrite Sapphire 40, MOTU Midi Express 128, JV1080, Emu 2000, 05R/W, Yamaha Motif XS Rack, Roland Integra 7, Alesis S4 & QSR, Yamaha MU90, Alesis Nano-Piano, EMU B-3, Yamaha TD6, CME UF-7, Technics piano, Roland XV5050, Roland VP-7 and loads of VSTs
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    Sanderxpander
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    Re: Using Yamaha Motif XS rack in Sonar 2017/03/06 12:09:04 (permalink)
    I don't have a Motif but I thought the VST3 editor was only officially supported with Cubase? I could be wrong though.

    Couldn't you load an instance of the editor to edit and a regular midi track to play notes?
    #2
    bwbalint
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    Re: Using Yamaha Motif XS rack in Sonar 2017/03/06 12:50:54 (permalink)
    While I don't have the Motif product you describe, I do have a Motif 6 classic. It's drivers create 3 midi ports, 6-1, 6-2,and 6-3. The midi notes come across on port 6-1 and the 6-3 is for control surface controllers. 6-2 is used by Motif plug-in boards. Until I found the 6-3 port, the control surface would never work.

    Could it be something like this? Just fishing!
    #3
    bitflipper
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    Re: Using Yamaha Motif XS rack in Sonar 2017/03/06 14:16:19 (permalink)
    Sanderxpander
    I don't have a Motif but I thought the VST3 editor was only officially supported with Cubase? I could be wrong though.



    It's true. However, my understanding is that you do have the option of running the editor within Yamaha's Studio Manager, which can run standalone without Cubase. 


    All else is in doubt, so this is the truth I cling to. 

    My Stuff
    #4
    Tremor
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    Re: Using Yamaha Motif XS rack in Sonar 2017/03/06 18:17:52 (permalink)
    Hi all and thanks for the replies.
     
    Well biflipper and sanderxpander apart from the fact that I can't get to work (!) it certainly loads in Sonar as a VST 3 insert. 
     
    I've not tried to open an instance of the editor outside Sonar. The problem there would seem to be that in the Motif setting utilities you have to select either Midi or USB - not both, so I guess you can't use the editor outside Sonar as USB and midi inside Sonar.
    But I'll give it a try and see what happens.
     
    Looking at the editor pages the software looks like a really powerful tool and able to control much more that the basic midi cc. It's very frustrating that Yamaha doesn't seem to be very pro-active - especially as it's the top of the range module, with a price to match!!

    Mike Sonar X3 Studio, Aria PC AMD FX-8350 8-core, Win 7 64 bit Home premium SP1, 16 Gb Ram , Behringer FCA1616, Focusrite Sapphire 40, MOTU Midi Express 128, JV1080, Emu 2000, 05R/W, Yamaha Motif XS Rack, Roland Integra 7, Alesis S4 & QSR, Yamaha MU90, Alesis Nano-Piano, EMU B-3, Yamaha TD6, CME UF-7, Technics piano, Roland XV5050, Roland VP-7 and loads of VSTs
    #5
    tenfoot
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    Re: Using Yamaha Motif XS rack in Sonar 2017/03/06 18:58:22 (permalink)
    Hi Tremor.
     
    I have a motif XS rack but haven't used it for a while now. With regard to activating both USB and midi input, from memory I don't think you need to. I ran the motif editor inside Yamaha's studio manager as bitflipper suggested at the same time as sending it midi from Sonar without any issues.  I also had instrument definitions set up in sonar so that I could apply patches chosen in the editor permanently to a track once the tweaking was done. I didn't use the motif's usb midi however. I just ran a midi out from my interface. Perhaps that made a difference, though I don't see why. 

    Bruce.
     
    Sonar Platinum 2017-09, Studio One 3.5.3, Win 10 x64, Quad core i7, RME Fireface, Behringer X32 Producer, Behringer X32 Rack, Presonus Faderport, Lemure Software Controller (Android), Enttec DMXIS VST lighting controller, Xtempo POK.
    #6
    tparker24
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    Re: Using Yamaha Motif XS rack in Sonar 2017/03/06 20:59:53 (permalink)
    Motif wizard John Melas sells some amazing software for Motifs, including the Motif Rack XS.  Good stuff. 
     
    See his info at:  http://www.jmelas.gr/motif/products.php


    #7
    Tremor
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    Re: Using Yamaha Motif XS rack in Sonar 2017/03/13 18:31:58 (permalink)
    Well I have managed to run the editor in standalone mode and voice it with midi. 
     
    BUT the problem remains that it won't work in Sonar - which means having to save the editor settings separately from thre DAW. Won't be doing that - probably sell it now it's driving me nuts! The Roland Integra 7 is Soooo trouble-free!!

    Mike Sonar X3 Studio, Aria PC AMD FX-8350 8-core, Win 7 64 bit Home premium SP1, 16 Gb Ram , Behringer FCA1616, Focusrite Sapphire 40, MOTU Midi Express 128, JV1080, Emu 2000, 05R/W, Yamaha Motif XS Rack, Roland Integra 7, Alesis S4 & QSR, Yamaha MU90, Alesis Nano-Piano, EMU B-3, Yamaha TD6, CME UF-7, Technics piano, Roland XV5050, Roland VP-7 and loads of VSTs
    #8
    tenfoot
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    Re: Using Yamaha Motif XS rack in Sonar 2017/03/13 22:42:34 (permalink)
    I am not entirely sure what you mean. The editor is used to adjust the Motif's settings,  then you store the sound in the motif. Otherwise you will lose any changes upon exiting or changing the patch. This can certainly be done in studio manager whilst the Motif is connected to and playing from Sonar. You then assign a bank and program change to the track in Sonar to recall the patch whenever the project is loaded.
     
    You can use Studio Manager from the utility menu in Sonar, but IIRC the is no real advantage.
     
    To be honest, VST sample players like Kontakt and synths like Sylenth are so good (and convenient) I find I rarely use my hardware synths anymore.

    Bruce.
     
    Sonar Platinum 2017-09, Studio One 3.5.3, Win 10 x64, Quad core i7, RME Fireface, Behringer X32 Producer, Behringer X32 Rack, Presonus Faderport, Lemure Software Controller (Android), Enttec DMXIS VST lighting controller, Xtempo POK.
    #9
    Thedoccal
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    Re: Using Yamaha Motif XS rack in Sonar 2017/03/14 00:41:01 (permalink)
    Did you make the correct setting in the MOTIF for usb operation?  How about the port settings?
    I have an MOX and tried the usb thing and recall running into some issues but don't remember exactly what.  I opted to just go the midi route instead. 
    I have had success with the iPad app for the MOX however.
     
    I just remember the setup to use the MOX through USB involved some rather weird settings changes, and perhaps even some other app to connect to the editor.  Maybe I will try looking into that again...might take a little time.
     
    Found these: It's for Cubase but the set up screen for routing is the same for Sonar IIRC...
    http://www.motifator.com/index.php/support/view/mox6_mox8_cubase_and_the_editor_vst
    https://www.yamahasynth.c...ut-connections-problem
    And this which showed the setup for Sonar X3...
    http://faq.yamaha.com/us/...ers/sy-moxf/10717/8077
     
    The port settings had to be set up exactly like this:

    and this:

    post edited by Thedoccal - 2017/03/14 01:26:03

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    #10
    Thedoccal
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    Re: Using Yamaha Motif XS rack in Sonar 2017/03/14 02:35:18 (permalink)
    dupe deleted

    http://www.catastrophelounge.com
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    Thedoccal
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    Re: Using Yamaha Motif XS rack in Sonar 2017/03/14 02:35:18 (permalink)
    Sonar user Mystic38 created this video a few years ago and it seems to get things working just fine.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDCprqddPlg
     
    I got the link to that video from the bottom of this old thread:
    http://forum.cakewalk.com...-m2904188.aspx#2912336

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    abacab
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    Re: Using Yamaha Motif XS rack in Sonar 2017/03/14 03:27:51 (permalink)
    This might be something to check out.  There is this program called Midi Quest that is an editor/librarian for external MIDI instruments.  I have an older version, but I rarely use external hardware any more.
     
    https://squest.com/index.html
     
    The best way to integrate Your MIDI hardware with Your Studio's DAW....
    In May of 2000, Midi Quest redefined the way that editor/librarians are used by releasing the first VST and MFX editor/librarian plug-ins.

    Today, Midi Quest Pro supports more DAW plug-in formats than any other editor with individual VST, AU, MFX, and Studio Connections plug-ins for all supported MIDI hardware. Each instrument plug-in operates identically to the stand-alone version of Midi Quest and features configurable Total Recall, CC/NRPN and VST/AU parameter automation, in-host bank and patch SysEx storage, and a parameter automation manager.

    DAW: CbB; Sonar Platinum, and others ... 
    #13
    Thedoccal
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    Re: Using Yamaha Motif XS rack in Sonar 2017/03/14 21:05:35 (permalink)
    Midi Quest 11 Pro would be the version to get if you want to use it as a VST instrument.  I had forgotten all about this program.  I have MQ 9 + XL and the upgrade to Pro 11 would be something like $200 or thereabouts.  Expensive, but it sure appears like it would work for all my 5 hardware synths...as VSTs.

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    #14
    abacab
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    Re: Using Yamaha Motif XS rack in Sonar 2017/03/14 21:46:16 (permalink)
    Thedoccal
    Midi Quest 11 Pro would be the version to get if you want to use it as a VST instrument.  I had forgotten all about this program.  I have MQ 9 + XL and the upgrade to Pro 11 would be something like $200 or thereabouts.  Expensive, but it sure appears like it would work for all my 5 hardware synths...as VSTs.




    Yup, I have MQ v9.0 XL as well.  I cannot get it to run in Windows 10 at all, so my only options are to leave it retired, or upgrade as you have mentioned.  I have several hardware synths that are not connected at this time, and that is probably one thing keeping me away from them.  Pushing multi-function buttons and knobs next to a tiny LCD screen to program them is not my idea of fun.  It's been a few years since I had Midi Quest set up, but it's really the only way to go with hardware.
     
    Using an editor/librarian with a decent UI is the way to go.
     
    I am spoiled by my soft synths

    DAW: CbB; Sonar Platinum, and others ... 
    #15
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