Cubase External Instrument Connections

By popular demand, this video builds on the “External Instruments” video from last year. We take a close look at the MIDI and Audio connections required.
Message me if you'd like screen-shots of the VST connections, Device Set up and home-made "Connections Map" shown in the video!

[@madmac66]

I love your style man, your videos are so incredibly helpful. So thorough and detailed yet to the point. Thank you

[@C2daF]

Thanks for the shoutout and the video Walter! Yep, you pronounced my name correctly. I only got a chance to watch a small bit of it but will watch it again later in detail. I do have my TB3 hooked up right now to record audio directly and have it tempo sync with my project, but like you said, I am missing out on the midi part. My System 1m was suppose to arrive today but got rescheduled for tomorrow. Thank you again for your time and making this video.

[@avviano]

Thanks for some great tips. Especially liked the one on colored patch cables. Just spent some time figuring out where all my black ones lead...

[@saullayton4476]

you all probably dont give a shit but does someone know a way to get back into an instagram account? I stupidly forgot the login password. I would love any tricks you can give me

[@kylanmarley426]

@Saul Layton Instablaster :)

[@saullayton4476]

@Kylan Marley I really appreciate your reply. I got to the site thru google and im in the hacking process atm. Looks like it's gonna take quite some time so I will get back to you later with my results.

[@saullayton4476]

@Kylan Marley It worked and I actually got access to my account again. I'm so happy! Thanks so much you saved my account :D

[@kylanmarley426]

@Saul Layton glad I could help xD

[@alzahraniabdulrahman]

thank so much for the explanation , I have a similar setup but I solved my issues by using bus , I have external A3000 Yamaha with Kontakt VST, in my appllp x8, I used virtual channels as main gathering channels and connect all of them to virtual so I will be able to record both from Kontakt and external instrument in the same time.

[@josephpaul8911]

"squirt audio information"? lmao! youre the man, Walter! glad to be subbed. great tip on keeping and updating notes. glad you didnt get zapped...yikes.

[@jamesbergeron9800]

Thanks for the video. Helped me out a lot. Subscribed! :)

[@fcastle13]

I use a couple of midi patch-bays like MOTU midi express for my multi timbral/multi channel external instruments. this way in Steinberg Cubase I assign a midi channel to each instrument/patch within the external instrument. As in Korg, just remember to set up the instrument in performance mode.

[@C2daF]

I think I finally figured out what my issue(s) are. I've been reliant on everything traveling via USB and thinking the magic will just happen when I press a key on my midi controller. I'll send you an email with how my setup is currently connected that way you can see what I am doing, but yeah I think I finally get what I need to do.

[@Walterpenn1108]

By all means! Shoot me a breakdown of your system at [e-mail] and I'll give it a look.

[@MixRPD]

Hello, and thanks for your videos Walter. I've been able to get my Triton Extreme set up as an external instrument in Cubase 5 thanks to yourself, and other helpful people. Triton Extreme was not in the list of presets, so I had to find a patch script elsewhere. I can now change general midi (GM) patches from the instrument track, but only GM. If you have any idea how I can select non GM programs from Cubase, I would be grateful for your help.

[@Walterpenn1108]

Hi Rick! Thanks for watching and posting. I can't give you a concise answer but I can point you in the right direction (I think). What you're trying to do is a little complicated and can be a little tedious but in most cases can be done. There are two basic lines of attack here. First, remember that if something isn't General Midi (by definition) its System Exclusive. So you're probably going to have to get into the "MIDI Implementation" charts which can be pretty slow going, lots of Binary code and Hexdecimal stuff. And those charts are NEVER written with instructions because they assume the only person looking at them is an expert. So don't be intimidated. The second step is to create a custom control panel (and I have some videos that touch on how to do that). When you place a controller onto your custom panel (device panel is the Cubase term) you can tunnel in and configure it to do whatever you want. Once you get the editor for that controller opened up, the basic "move" you need to make is to locate the System-Exclusive code for whatever you're trying to do in your keyboard's MIDI Implementation charts, and type that information into the cubase "Device Panel" editor. I mentioned two lines of attack, here's the other. IF...whatever you're trying to configure on your Triton can produce a stream of MIDI controller-data when its changed (wiggled, twisted, slid...whatever) you can simply set up a Quick Control, enable MIDI Learn mode, then: wiggle, twist, slide...whatever, your Triton control and it should map to the Quick Control. This is obviously MUCH quicker and easier, but it assumes that whatever you're trying to link up on the Triton puts out a standard MIDI controller message that Cubase can "learn". 50/50 gamble, but try this first. I can almost guarantee the Sys-Ex mapping method above will work, its just a long surgical process to get there. But consider this. if you can figure that out and get it to work? Even once? You will have 90% of the heavy-lifting behind you for mapping more (or all ) of the Sys-Ex stuff. IF you went ahead and did that, you can package an sell (or share if you prefer) your external instrument to other Cubase and Triton users! I applaud your efforts. Feel free to message me at [e-mail] if you want to discuss further. Thanks again!

[@MixRPD]

@@Walterpenn1108 Wow! Thank you so much! I'm somewhat of an expert with music, but definitely not with computers. I've stumbled upon some of what you're talking about, so good to know I'm going in the right direction. I'll give the custom control panel vid a look and let you know. Thanks again.

[@Walterpenn1108]

Hey Thanks! You have probably already watched this one, but if not, this will get you pointed in the right direction on creating a custom device panel. And again, feel free to email if you like. May take some time to reply, but I'll do what I can. Hope this helps: kzbin.info/www/bejne/i4icmpJjrs2sptk

[@bryanblaak]

SO, very weird for me coming from PT. I can only seem to get audio out of my mains if I use an instrument track with my external mixer selected , and a separate MIDI track (midi port 2, channel 1) armed. If I use the same MIDI connection (midi port 2, channel 1) on the instrument track, nothing plays. Also, I can't seem to be able to have an audio track (Line 7/8) with the same input selected in the instrument (7/8). Curious if you can explain this? In PT, i have my mixers setup to my line ins. On an audio track (or instrument) id just select what input Im sending to, and bam, sound. This seems more complicated than it needs to be. And with the exact same routing, only one option works?

[@AsesorMusical]

Hi Walter! I´ve been looking for info on Nuendo live's features, but've found nothing extensive so far. Do you have any info on this? Thanks!

[@Walterpenn1108]

+Hector “AsesorMusical” Solano Hi! Thanks for watching and commenting. I've created quite a bit of training for Nuendo over the years but not much specifically for "Live". That said I think all they did was take the core Nuendo engine and strip away a lot of the ADR and Game audio features. Nuendo is without question Steniberg's flagship product. Same audio engine as Cubase and the others but Nuendo is found in something like 60% of the industry's post-production houses. So its a front-line, fully pro package. More focus on stability than features (is my personal take on it). I know that they tailored "Live" for front of house stuff, but I can't give you a run down on the specifics. What's the application you're thinking about if you don't mind me asking? Broadcast or installation audio?

[@AsesorMusical]

+Walter Hunnicutt thank you for your long reply. The application is for both front of house and recording of small "30 mics maximum" setups. I'm trying to figure out if I need 2 stations or if I can just buy one license and do both things without fear of dropouts or crashes

[@Walterpenn1108]

+Hector “AsesorMusical” Solano AH. I would recommend you reach out to SB tech and get their take on it. My guess is that it'll come down to processor horsepower and interface capabilities. I know that Nuendo Live has a 30 second pre-record buffer for exactly that reason (plus ASIO guard etc). But in my experience the drop-out issue is usually a function of the computer or interface not the software. In other words, if you have enough computing firepower behind it, I would thing Nuendo could handle it. (and no sync issues of course VS running two parallel rigs). I guess the other factor would be buffer size / latency requirements. If you're just recording (and none of the performers need real-time monitoring) I should think that would give you the luxury of even more buffering etc., but again, that's ALL speculation on my part; really recommend you get SB's opinion on it. Good Luck!

[@AsesorMusical]

+Walter Hunnicutt thank you! I will do that