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Cubase: MOTIF XF Song Import

Cubase: MOTIF XF Song Import

Record a SONG in the XF sequencer, Cubase can IMPORT both your MIDI and AUDIO tracks recorded to the ISS... read all about it.

Motif XF SONG Import For this you must have installed the Yamaha “Motif XF Extension” to your Cubase program. This can be obtained at the Official Yamaha Download Site

Select your country Type in the Model Number: Motif XF When the SEARCH RESULTS are shown, confirm your Motif XF You want to download the SOFTWARE for your computer type and OS: Motif XF Extension

This adds functionality to Cubase that will allow you to IMPORT a Motif XF Song directly into a Cubase Project from a Motif XF ALL data file (.X3A). This is the most efficient way to move Song data from your XF to Cubase. It is a simple two-step procedure. First, your musical performance data (sequence) and then your mix data into a Cubase Project - where it will all be recombined and stored together in a Cubase (.CPR) Project file. This is very useful when you have started a project in your Motif XF and want to now continue work in the Cubase environment.

Since the Motif XF Editor VST runs inside of Cubase, it will be taking care of your Mixing and Voice data (everything you used will be accounted for) - so when you open this Cubase Project (.CPR) not only your MIDI and audio track data will be restored but every Voice, Mix Voice, and setting of your Motif XF will be restored, as well. This is part of the Studio Connections initiative whose goal is: true integration of hardware and software.

Save your Motif XF data to a USB drive as an ALL data file TYPE (.X3A). This ALL data file will contain all the information you need to move the data into your Cubase Project.

Step 1: Move in the MIDI track and Audio data
Step 2: Open the Mix data in the Motif XF Editor.

Cubase has been “taught” to open and import the SONG track data from a Motif XF ALL data file. Of course, the Motif XF Editor can ‘open’ the ALL data file and import the Mix and the Voices.

Here is how it works:

Step 1:

All you need to do is place your USB drive with your ALL data file into your computer. (Alternatively, if you are storing directly to your computer via Ethernet, you only need to access the .X3A file on your computer)

_ Open Cubase
_ Under FILE in Cubase select IMPORT > Motif XF Song

If it does not appear – Make sure you have downloaded and installed the Motif XF Extentions

_ Navigate to your Motif XF ALL data file (.X3A), highlight the file and click OPEN

_ Select a target Directory on your computer for this new Cubase Project. This should be somewhere on your computer (do not make a directory on your USB stick). You are being asked where do you want to create the new Project.

_ Click OK

_A dialog box will open revealing your “IMPORT OPTIONS”

_ Select the SONG by title (click on the small chevron in the corner of the title window to see the full list of Song’s contained in your ALL data file.

_ Click the “Select All Tracks” option to import all tracks.

_ Click OK. This will import each track to a separate track in Cubase.

MIDI Tracks will be imported to Cubase MIDI Tracks. And any audio you have recorded to the Integrated Sampling Sequencer will be properly positioned on an Audio Track in Cubase.

Start the “Motif XF Editor VST”. Make sure the Motif XF Editor VST is communicating (ONLINE) with the Motif XF. (If you are new to the Editor please see separate article on their setup and use).

 This second step is not really necessary because since you originally did the SONG in the Motif XF, your MIX and Voices are already in its memory. However, when transferring data to Cubase it simply makes sense to store all of the data in the Cubase Project file. This is so next year when you remember you did this song, and you open the Cubase Project everything (every sound, every setting) will be recalled automatically!

Next you will want to import the MIX data and place it in the Motif XF Editor. In a similar operation you can use the Motif XS Editor to import the MIX data from the ALL data file… Just as Cubase deals with the MIDI data in the tracks, the Motif XS Editor will deal with the sounds and Mix data.

_ On the XF Editor’s menu bar go to FILE > OPEN…
_ Set the “Files of Type” option (or “ENABLE” in Mac-speak) so that you are looking for Motif XF ALL data file type (.X3A)

_ Navigate to and highlight the same .X3A file and click OPEN

A “SONG SELECT” dialog box will appear and allow you to see the songs contained in the ALL data file. Use the small triangular chevron to view a list of all song titles.
_ Select the SONG by title and click OK.

The Editor will open the file and find the requested data. This will take a few seconds… as it imports all the USER sounds, and the current Mix, including any MIX VOICES you have done (so all your possible edits have been imported as well).

Then the Editor’s AUTO SYNC window will appear and you can select to send the CURRENT MIX and the VOICE data (if necessary) from the COMPUTER => the Motif XF.

This will allow you to load the Mix and Voice data - every setting you made with the Motif XF. It is total recall.

Click START and the Mix and Voice data will be sent to the Motif XF. Now you have restored all your work created in the XF and opened it in Cubase.

POWER USER: Ethernet
Copying a Voice to a PERFORMANCE or MIXING

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