Before I dump my useless Pro tools

[newproducer]

Can't use firewire or USB. Can I use old school midi cables to set-up my MacBook Pro, Mbox 2 Pro, and Yamaha XS7? One last question before I dump Pro tools. This Pro tools appears to be a complete waste of my money.

[wwittman]

Yes,
that's true.
that's why NO producer seems to be able to make records with Pro Tools.

you must be right, it's "useless"


now...

care to share what exactly your problems are, if you'd like some real advice?

what do you mean "can't use firewire or USB"?

[flommer]

Can't use firewire or USB

What is this supposed to mean? The motif has mLan not firewire.. But it does have usb, so you should be able to connect via a USB cable and have visibility of the motif in Audio MIDI setup. There appears to be a MIDI driver you need to install here:

http://www.global.yamaha.com/download/usb_midi/

Can I use old school midi cables to set-up my MacBook Pro, Mbox 2 Pro, and Yamaha XS7?

Sure... why do you think it wouldn't?

[newproducer]

Yes, the Motif does come with MLan16e2 but it is not compatible with Pro tools nor is the USB because the Motif acts as an interface.

When I connect my midi cables I can't link the motif with the Mbox. I've downloaded every driver out there and it does not work. Any suggestions?

[flommer]

It should act as an interface when connected via USB. When it is connected like this, you do not need to drag any connectors anywhere. You may need to configure something in the Motif to make it work this way, but you're going to have to read the manual for that. I have an Alesis QSR that used to connect to my old G3 with a serial cable and that's how it worked... There was a setting to enable the serial connection. I'm kind of assuming that the Motif will have something similar

It also makes no sense to say that you can't link the motif to mbox when connected with MIDI cables.. When you do this, you might need to add the Motif as a device and then drag connectors to the mbox. Make sure that the USB cable is not connected..

You can not connect the motif as a USB interface to the mbox (in AMS) because the motif is already part of the MIDI studio at that point..

The big question is, when connected with USB, and the driver properly installed (as in the motif shows up as an interface in AMS), is the motif available from within ProTools? In ProTools, go to Setup>MIDI>Input Devices and see if it is there...

If that doesn't work, then connect the motif to the mbox with MIDI cables, disconnect the USB cable, and connect in AMS like I described above...

[newproducer]

The Mbox 2 pro that I have is firewire not USB. Is it better to connect the motif to the Macbook via firewire to Mlan or just go with the midi cables and connect in AMS

[flommer]

Originally Posted by newproducer

The Mbox 2 pro that I have is firewire not USB. Is it better to connect the motif to the Macbook via firewire to Mlan or just go with the midi cables and connect in AMS

I was not, at any point, talking about how you connect the Mbox 2.


Mbox <..firewire..> MacBook
Motif <...USB...>Macbook

This is what I recommend.

If you can't get the USB connection to work (by installing the correct driver and having the correct setting on the motif), then connect with 2 MIDI cables.

Here is the manual for the Motif:

http://www.yamaha.com/yamahavgn/Docu...MI/motif_1.pdf

What I recommend is what is shown on pp.25..

If you can't make that work, then use "Using a MIDI interface" on pp.26

You also need to have things set up correctly in Audio MIDI setup in OSX. Are you familiar with that?

By the way, the problems you are having have nothing to do with ProTools. Even if you got some other program, it still sounds like you don't understand the MIDI connectivity of the Motif..

[newproducer]

You're probably right. I am familiar with Audio Midi set-up in OSX. I will read a bit more before making any decision. Thank you.

[newproducer]

Flommer, I see the motif in AMS but how should I configure it?

[flommer]

Originally Posted by newproducer

Flommer, I see the motif in AMS but how should I configure it?

If you are saying this while connected via usb, then there is nothing else to configure in AMS. What does it do if you use "test setup"?

Open Protools and see if it is visible there like I described earlier..