Back to basics - help needed for Mac/MOTU/Cubase setup

themusicman2001 · Post by **themusicman2001** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 10:05 am

Hi All

Thought I'd post this on here too just in case we have any MOTU / Cubase experts.

I have just managed to get my version of CS4 ported across to my Macbook having taken a break from music and my synths for nearly 10 months. I previously had it installed on a PC but I now have CS4 up and running on the Macbook, and the demo songs load sort of OK, but it all seems to have loaded well enough. However, I am having a mare of a time trying to get all of my gear connected through my MOTU Midi Express 128 device, and I guess I need to go back to basics, and try to get some help from experts on here to accomplish the following;

1 - ensure my MOTU Express 128 is working correctly on my Macbook
2 - ascertain why I cannot 'see' the MOTU Express from within CS4
3 - ascertain why I cannot get anything playing through to my Synths
4 - ascertain I have CS4 all set up correctly

So... is anyone looking for some fun (haha) and is able to help me here please? Here's what I have done thus far;

Obtained the MOTU Express 128 MIDI driver from the MOTU site (which was down/offline yesterday afternoon GMT). I think I have installed it correctly having dl'ed the dmg, and installed the app. I cannot 'see' any MOTU application on my Macbook though, but having said that if I open Utilities > Audio/MIDI Setup I do see the Express 128 sitting in there. Not sure if I need to configure anything else within that though, as if I double click on the MOTU unit in Audio/MIDI Setup I see that all the connectors for all the Ports use MIDI IN 1 and MIDI OUT 1- is that correct? Is there anything else I need to do to ensure I have installed the drivers correctly for the MOTU Express 128?

The synths I have as some may know are; KORG RADIAS, Access VirusTI, KORK KARMA, and a BOSS DR880 Drum Machine. I do have Absynth too, but I haven't managed to locate the CD for this yet so I shall return to this at another time.

I have connected the gear as follows;

RADIAS - MOTU IN 1 and MOTU OUT 1
Virus - MOTU IN 2 and MOTU OUT 2
Karma - MOTU IN 3 and MOTU OUT 3

I am trying to get the RADIAS sorted first - so I open a new project in CS4 with 1 MIDI track, set the INPUT to Port 2, and the OUTPUT to Port 2, and the Channel to ANY. When I record a 4 bar phrase, the MIDI data is recorded in the track, but when I playback I hear a load of rubbish... it seems the Programmes are being changed on the RADIAS and what I play is certainly not played back - it's a mess for want of a better description...!!

So... before we venture further, how can I sort out this as a stage 1 challenge please...?

Thanks in advance...

dreamaiden · Post by **dreamaiden** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 12:56 pm

Hi John,

I can help a little. In the Audio/Midi set up, you need to create instrument icons for each of your midi instruments. To do this, click ADD DEVICE and follow the prompts. Choose your instrument or type in the information. After that, you will see each instrument icon labeled with the instrument name. You will also see an up triangle and a down triangle on the instrument icons. Those need to be connected to the MOTU midi ports. Just click and drag from the arrows to the correct input and output midi ports. You should see your MOTU device there with the input and output arrows to connect the instruments to.

I don't have Cubase but I imaging it works much like DP. You need to make sure that the Virus TI driver has not hijacked your audio interface, ie, make sure your hardware audio driver is selected. From there in Cubase and with your instruments it might just be a matter of Local On/Off.

Susan

Timo · Post by **Timo** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 1:35 pm

Hiya John! Great to hear from you again.

Remember the Radias and Virus TI each has their own dedicated USB midi. So if you have spare USB ports on your computer, you don't need to hook those two synths up to the Motu Express at all. Hooking them up using their own USB cables should result in much faster transmissions too (less MIDI latency).

My Radias comes up as "USB Audio Device" when I want to select and use it via MIDI from within my sequencer. Not sure what the TI will look like, but it will be similar.

Then you can just use the Motu Express with the Korg Karma and the Boss DR880.

I think you've installed the Motu device correctly, but you just need to consult the Cubase manual on creating MIDI tracks and assigning them to their own MIDI in/out on the Motu Express. Unfortunately I've never used Cubase.

>> Motu site (which was down/offline yesterday afternoon GMT).

Thanks for that, I was trying to get support yesterday from Motu but their site just kept on giving me errors such as this: http://i33.tinypic.com/24btfut.gif

Thought it was my computer, but clearly not.

themusicman2001 · Post by **themusicman2001** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 9:11 am

Hey Tim

Sorry about the sporadic in and out here! Just finding some time now to have another catch up.

Another question if I may please re the RADIAS. I need to be reminded how to hook up MIDI to play the drums from the RADIAS. I think I remember it being on MIDI channel 10, but is that it...? Do I simply select the RADIAS as the output device and channel 10 on the track, whch will then play the drum patch selected...?

Thanks.

Diego · Post by **Diego** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 9:58 am

Hi!

You're right about generally speaking (specifically in GM) drums go on channel 10.
In that case, if you're using the Radias just for the drum sounds, you can go in program mode, and choose the drum patch.
Make sure the Radias is "listening" on the same channel of the sequencer which is sending MIDI datas to the module, and you're done...
So, the answer is "no", you mustn't send midi on channel 10 if you want drums...BUT, it's a good habit to make that, it could be clearer for you when you see "ch10" taht you're working on drums.

HTH,
regards