How to use External MIDI Synths like VST Instruments in Cubase Pro

#cubase #synths #microfreak
How to use External MIDI Synths like VST Instruments in Cubase
If you’re not using external synths, are you really even making music?
Just kidding! However, with the huge variety of affordable external synths on the market today, just about any musician has the ability to get their hands on one.
External synths are also a great way to learn the art of synthesis. There’s something satisfying about turning physical knobs to get the sound you want. But once you buy your new synth… How do you get those beautiful sounds into Cubase? That’s what today’s video is all about!
I’ll be using the Arturia MicroFreak to show you how to add an external synth to your VST workflow.
Click the link to know more about the Microfreak bit.ly/3kZu5ic
Here's the link to download the Mixrofreak Patch:
forum.arturia.com/index.php?t...
You will need to create yourself an Arturia Forum account to get the downloadable link though
Timestamps
00:00 Intro
0:34 Connecting an external synth
1:04 Importing an unlisted, external device
1:35 Connecting your external hardware to your audio interface
2:45 Using an Instrument Channel to play midi in Cubase
3:26 External Device Sound Presets
4:37 Testing the Microfreak in Cubase
5:37 Adding effects to the external instrument track
6:10 Bounding midi to audio
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[@MaynardAndEuniceShow]

Very cool stuff man! I kind of hooked up my MicroFreak to Cubase a s a midi channel and an audio channel just last week but had no idea it would be this cool YOUR way... NO better way to spend a Friday night than naming the 200+ patches - but, I also set mine as a template too so now I'm like quickDAW McGraw LOL - thanks so much!

[@jclark521]

Great vid, this really helped answer several questions I had since I use external synths not listed in the MIDI Device Manager.

[@mrchumley]

Thanks so much for this! I won't tell you how many years I've been using separate midi and audio channels for my synths, this is going to speed up my workflow no end 😆

[@mixdownonline]

You're very welcome!!

[@jazzdude7014]

the CUBASE NATION says: Thank YOU! Great Tutorial, linked in our Discord! Instant LIKE!

[@mixdownonline]

Awesome, thank you very much!

[@maorixp8812]

Thanks for this well explained Tutorial !

[@mixdownonline]

Glad it was helpful!

[@earlsfield]

Thi is by far the slickest way to use external synths. However, you need to choose between two things: whether you want to play you midi notes, create all kinds of modulations you record, and then render in place - OR, you have device like Oktatrack you use more "on the fly", with tons of rea litme recordings - those devices should ve recorded in audio tracks. However, having instrument track for external synths is an awesome solution ,especially as you can 1. add as many midi tracks as you want, for different modulations etc. 2.if your synth has multiple outputs you can activate these Kontakt style and record layer by layer - for instance, I use 2 instrument tracks for my REV2, since it is bi-timbral and i have 2 outputs for each layer assigned. When I render in place, i get two separate exports, which then i can process further, automate effects on separate layers etc etc. Ultimately, you can always use midi and audio track combo for recording synth, and I use both really - depending on the actual instrument and what makes sense at that point.

[@gospelmuvgospelmuv]

Great! Thanks Chris for sharing.

[@mixdownonline]

My pleasure!

[@simonenosco2086]

Great! I need this!!!

[@mixdownonline]

Awesome!

[@deldridg]

Excellent tut and thank you. I've managed to get this up with my RD800 after creating a patch script file for it, which I must say in modesty, is much better than the Roland one... I'm a data guy more than a sound engineer! 🙂 Roland's has no bank labels and the order is all over the place. Anyway - this was great and many thanks indeed! Cheers from Sydney - Dave

[@TonyWilsonJnr]

This is going to save me so much time!

[@alex_kogan]

Top video bro! I was struggling with controlling my Deepmind12 via USB, not it's much more easier after your explanation! thanks

[@annother3350]

You can just do it manually by creating an input audio connection in cubase and choose the correct input

[@yams900]

Always good, pro tips from someone who knows his stuff :)

[@mixdownonline]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed!

[@TheJohnclive021]

Top man thanks Chris

[@mixdownonline]

Any time!

[@stevemuller3102]

Hi Chris, thanks for this video. A question: i see you added your arturia microfreak under instruments in studio setup, do i keep also my added instruments on the inputs of studio setup , because i use my hardware synths to play and record ? Thanks

[@TeleporterM11]

Awesome I use a lot of sounds from my Roland Fantom for music.

[@mixdownonline]

Very cool!

[@dzezydzerk]

Hi Chris, great video! Please tell me can you Use arturia keystep37 With all internal arpegios The same way?

[@fundementalroast7002]

God bless you homie 💗

[@mixdownonline]

You too my friend!

[@albertank]

Great video! I need patch midi for Roland JD-XI, Behringer Deepmind12 and Yamaha FB-01: do you know where i can download these?

[@TheGhostBuddy]

Great video! But I do not understand - where exactly could I have this file to import into Cubase - what forum Yo mentioned? Is it possible to do the same thing with Roland tr-6s?

[@user-le5us4pg5f]

Could you help me, please. I connected Yamaha Clavinova cvp 401 to Cubase 5. It seems all done properly. But the problem is the sound of drums (rythm) from synth is not natural. The styles of Clavinova don't play back at all in Cubase 5. Should I choose some VST instruments in Cubase or how can i manage this? Thank you.

[@logjamstomper1280]

Hi Chris...you make very helpful videos...however I am wanting to connect up an old Roland JV2080 with a whole bunch of expansion cards included. To do this manually would take more time than I have to spare and no patch scripts are available from Roland or anywhere else as far as I can see. Any helpful tips or can anyone else help i wonder?

[@themanesmusic]

thank you !!!!!

[@mixdownonline]

You're welcome!

[@LoveMeBack]

Hi Chris. I hooked up my TD-3 I just got. But without it connected to USB(Next to the audio off course)I can’t use it with a controller. Maybe I’ve missed that in the vid or it’s already mentioned, but I would like to use it without the usb cable. While I’m at it. I love using the Mediabay MIDI output. However it doesn’t seem to work with external instr.

[@khaledabdrabo]

my friend , everything works fine when i play from axiom midi controler i see the midi notes on cubase while recording , but with microfreak midi the midi notes not showing up while recording ? any advice ?

[@thaexception3406]

Learned something

[@DavidComdico]

I created midi devices for my external synths and took the time to create patch names. But I prefer monitoring through my zero latency mixer so I don't use the External Midi plugin. Have yet to explore the panels feature. This is definitely a core strength of Cubase.

[@KvestiOnMovies]

You are only wasting your time with device panels. There is no way to automate anything or use quick controls and snapshots don't work.

[@DanieleNasuti]

Is there more latency if I connect first the masterkey to PC and through PC I play masterkey for controlling the synth sounds? Since I want to connect my master keyboard to PC and also the synth to PC, and sometimes control the synth by midi message from master keyboard, what is the best connection without having latency??

[@khaledabdrabo]

Why it not recording the automation fro microfreak direct to cubase !????

[@KaninManeepairoj]

I finally get my YAMAHA XF to work. Any advise on set up if my keyboard is has 16 available tracks? The model is YAMAHA XF8. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

[@Rr0gu3_5uture]

If I set up an external MIDI synth like my old Alpha Juno 2 then load it using: Add Instrument Track → Add Track → External Plug-ins/Instrument → Alpha Juno 2. Is there any way to change the settings, so that when it loads it's assigned to a specific MIDI Channel on the Inspector, say Ch5?. Whenever I load an External Plug-in, the default MIDI out on the Inspector is always Channel 1?

[@vaaskarsaikia]

Do I need the driver install of the external keyboard in to computer

[@billymack4258]

Hi Chris I purchased Alesis V49 MKII usb midi keyboard I can't hear any sound I'm getting input level on Transport bar but no output sound. Do know the correct way of setting this up in Cubase 12 pro 12.0.52 MacBook pro m1 It works great with my Toontrack EZ keys desktop app but not in Cubase. Thanks so much for your time.🙂

[@korkenknopfus]

Nice little synth. I read it works with wavetables.

[@mixdownonline]

Yes it does...It has like 14 Oscillator types :)

[@Metaxasofc]

How you have sound when you rendering in place? Do you use control room? Is it possible to have sound at rendering in place without control room?

[@Rollur1234]

Is thi want to control the encoders on the external gear with macros on the Cubasis daw

[@steeljj]

I have a RD 8 and work with cubase 10 pro. I programmed nice patterns on the RD 8. I would like to let them trigger easy drummer in cubase. How do I do that? Please please, could you make a video how to do that? Thanks a lot!

[@georgebreiter5424]

Is it possible to do this with V Drums? I have a Roland TD 17 KVX

[@Rollur1234]

I want macros faders for external gear inside Cubasis. Virtual mappable cc faders. Why dont daws have that?

[@danielvonchemnitz4498]

Hi, can you please give me some pointers: I’m curious… I’m trying to record multiple tracks and sounds. I’m using my mellotron m4000d & cubase 12 pro. Connection midi - roland um-one Output - mayaa44ex (or my mixer) I just can’t work it out. I can make one instrument track, record midi data and I hear the mellotron. 2nd track I can’t even select mellotron, and /or all changes that I make also change in the first track. Whát am I doing wrong? . (Can’t find a device script either, Markus Resch can’t provide, he says i have to check mellotron internal midi settings, I doubt that, now, I think I’m screwing up in cubase, dispite your fantastic video). Can you give me some tips? Thanx

[@cbob213]

Sounds like Queens of the Stone Age: Go With The Flow 🤘

[@yams900]

Good stuff mate ! Can I daisy chain 2 MIDI devices using the same procedure as you've described ? I've got my Yamaha SX900 + Yamaha P515 digital piano. Would it work, MIDI out from instrument 1 -> MIDI in on instrument 2, then different MIDI channel numbers on each instrument. SX900 is already configured with patch list, makes it easy to do program change from Cubase. Should find a patch list for P515 as well.

[@mixdownonline]

Yes, you can add several hardware synth in Cubase

[@Eceptes]

Nice video, but one thing all missing i cant figure out how to automate the knobs on the "microfreak" or other synths. Br

[@outerdarkness]

yes - very cool

[@mixdownonline]

Thanks!

[@tach2587]

Awesome work. It a shame the micro freak is not preloaded in cubase. It truly a beast I love it

[@mixdownonline]

Juts started to work with it and really love it! I assume you have one as well?

[@tach2587]

@@mixdownonline yeah I had to pick up the limited edition one🙄 i spend hours making wonderful sounds with this device. It makes me want to be in a synth wave band 😎

[@expositiontvjm]

I can record the first track just as you did . The problem I have is when I go to record the 2nd track using another sound of my yamaha s90es keyboard. It messed up the first track. Unless I render in place as an audio file. But if I record several sounds in different tracks to later do some edit before I render, I have not been able. Now if I picked an instrument from Groove Agent SE not problem, but I want to use some of the Yamaha S90es sounds.

[@AlecBoyd]

lets keep it going with a follow up video on Cubase's MIDI specific plugins

[@mixdownonline]

Why not!

[@bullet_tooth_tony]

how can I sync the delay compensation for the analog synth to other vst's in a big project and have the playlist play everything together in sync??

[@annother3350]

You have to take the delay of the external device back to match the internal. Like mine is usually set around -30ms

[@neveoney7865]

But now I want to record live automations from my hardware synth as audio then? How do I do that ?

[@dubmaverick69]

Can you have multiple instances of all the external instruments you have connected to your USB/MIDI interface and then record and play back midi with zero latency without using any plugins or rendering in place. Midi over USB of multiple midi tracks with external hardware has terrible latency, not what it ways 20 years ago , ATARI etc. Your video is great, however I can not duplicate that with all my external gear at the same time. Do I need an audio interface that has multiple IN and OUTS so that I can connect each external instrument to the inputs and this will also be helpful I guess because Cubase will figure out the latency on each track automatically, which it seems that we can not ping on external tracks but we can on external effects. Thank you for your time and appreciate all your videos.

[@dickheaddan4106]

Wasn't able to get playback sounds doing this. No idea why. I'm trying to use microfreak as the midi controller. I do get signal though.

[@SinnOcenc3]

Hi Chris. Ich bin echt am verzweifeln. Ich besitze das Miditech I2 Control 37. Ich bekomme es nicht hin, die Cubase Internen Synthesizer wie Retrologue oder Padshop mit diesem Midikeyboard zu steuern. Ich würde gerne vom Keyboard aus die Presets durchschalten können. Ich schaffe es nicht. Kannst Du helfen? Danke. Lieben Gruß Stefan

[@khaledabdrabo]

please can you send me the XML file , because i have issue installing the USBmidi driver setup file

[@etainafuzz]

I own a Microfreak and have been trying to download the XML file that you link to. The problem is that I never receive the email so that I can activate my Arturia forum account. I've tried for over 2 weeks now. Super frustrating!!!

[@marstudios7879]

Hi Chris, I have a Helix floor Line 6 multi-effect and I’m using as an interface through Cubase pro 11. However, I have the Akai midi keyboard that I plug into a usb hub through my computer and then record some pianos. But I wanna do it in the same way you did on the video. The Helix line 6 floor has a bunch of outputs that confusing me a lot. How can I connect my external midi keyboard through the line 6 interface?

[@mixdownonline]

The Helix line 6 is not a MIDI Synth an External FX unit... Check these videos: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aoOWlHWgg8Zrj8U kzbin.info/www/bejne/kHTHgKNqf9WMZ5o Hope that helps!

[@marstudios7879]

@@mixdownonline Thanks 🙏🏽 Chris.

[@lusennew]

Hello! I often watch your videos. Can you help me with one problem on Cubase 11. The problem is related to the chord track. If two instruments receive midi from the chord track, then the third instrument cannot be forced to accept midi only from the keyboard, it also responds to the chord track. If I turn it off with the Monitor or Record Enable button, then the review disappears on the midi keyboard.

[@annother3350]

go to the midi track and set the midi input to just be your keyboard etc

[@RVTMusic]

Hmmm. I'm trying to connect an Alesis V49 in Cubase Elements. It connects to the computer, nothing connects to an interface. I can see the keys transmitting signal, but can't seem to hear anything.

[@mixdownonline]

Make sure you have a Virtual Instrument loaded in Cubase where the Midi Input is the Alesis V49.

[@eugenecanady5452]

anyone know a centralized place with MIDI devices? i'm not having a lot of luck finding something.

[@samislam5904]

Hello Chris. My question to you is. Why working so hard. Adding external Device With too many ways ? Where we can simply do. I/o. With stereo audio input. Like an. Insert And record that way.

[@erikfox8471]

hi Chris, i cant find settings for Yamaha modx or montage in midi device manager...is there a settings file to download for MODX? regards

[@mixdownonline]

As far as I know, if you install all drivers for the Montage that will install the MIDI Profile in Cubase

[@erikfox8471]

@@mixdownonline thanks a lot..regards

[@Eden_Rubin_Music]

Is there any way to use your Synth more than one sound at a time? I have MOX8 of YAMAHA and allows me to use one sound each time, which means that i basically can't play other sound if I want to use two sounds combined, only if i Render it, which is bummer to wait every time until it finish to do it on real time.

[@mixdownonline]

There's no way around it, you need to Render somehow. You can Freeze your External Synth in Cubase in which it will temporary Render under the hood and use your synth with another sound. However, to do so, you will have the create a second Hardware Instrument in Cubase to use it with another sound.

[@Blueberrystop]

❤

[@edwin_art_studio414]

I'm trying to record my midi instrument in my midi guitar, but only can play the strings D, G, B and E. Why? I want to play the whole chords in the guitar.

[@calebmuir1250]

I can't seem to figure this out. Anytime I add an external instrument in the outputs menu, it doesn't show up as an option from the list of instruments i can select for an instrument track. The "external plug-ins" menu isn't even there

[@machineagevoodoo2106]

probably because you have made your personal VSTI list in the plugin manager?

[@sluggy6074]

No xml file for my korg modwave am I out of luck?

[@StudioGhostTown]

I always freeze the actual instrument channel in the composition phase of a project. So I can also take it with me on my laptop, render the song fast, and be able to unfreeze, change, freeze again, etc. In the final stage, I indeed will render it to a separate track as well.

[@mixdownonline]

Yes, for external instruments, render back in the project is the way to go

[@StudioGhostTown]

@@mixdownonline yes, but freezing an external instrument track is possible and very useful during production.

[@mixdownonline]

​@@StudioGhostTown Sorry, I didn't explain myself very well, I prefer rendering since it takes the same time as freezing (real time) and use my external instrument for another sound, but you're totally right, freezing is possible with external instruments. I just don't see the use to freeze an external instrument since it will not save CPU processing like freezing a VSTi does. Am I missing something?

[@StudioGhostTown]

@@mixdownonline I do it so I can take my laptop with me and still work on the project. When I return to the studio I can continue where I left.

[@mixdownonline]

@@StudioGhostTown That is actually a good idea in this case :) Thanks for sharing!

[@Golabkiwsosiepomidorowym]

cool but where i get that xlm file from?

[@mixdownonline]

I just added the link in the video description

[@boozalm3715]

I've downloaded a patch script for my VR 730 Roland (VR09 is the only one i can find but i think It's identical). I have put it in the script folder along with the others and it STILL won't show in the list in cubase. Any help would be great from anyone! Thanks

[@boozalm3715]

Also I only have cubase 10 elements...Am i screwed?

[@darkestra9624]

Where is the xml file? i cant find it anywhere

[@pinocarella_00]

si ma... che versione di Cubase Pro è la tua?

[@dallaslarue5051]

I have tried to connect my old Triton to Cubase, and I can through the Midi ports, but only the sequencer comes through. The sounds from the programs and arpeggios don't sound. It's an old one with no USB ports.

[@mixdownonline]

I would love to help you more on this, but I don't have a Triton. Maybe check on some forums, this is where I got help for my Microfreak

[@Epikurios1]

It´s not a matter of usb or midi in/out. As far as I know the only sounds you can play via midi on the Triton and other Korg synths and keyboards are the sounds you can select in the sequencer. there are no combinations or programs with particular fx possible. The only way is to reconstruct the sound using several tracks of the Triton sequencer.

[@dallaslarue5051]

@@Epikurios1 Thank you!

[@softsmoken]

SERIOUSLY could use the link to that microfreak midi device file. It's not easy to just get it "on a forum" I've been looking all morning.. hours... nowhere.

[@mixdownonline]

I just added the link in the video description.

[@KvestiOnMovies]

You can't keep VST workflow this way. I have spent a week trying to make this work but finally gave up when I found there is absolutely no way to automate anything or use quick controls to control synth. Also snapshot system doesn't work and there are numerous bugs. I would absolute use this over having VST and separate audio track if it worked. You can use it if you use presets on device and make all tweaking when you render audio but I wouldn't call that VST like workflow.

[@daivelv4433]

You can share the midi device??

[@mixdownonline]

I just added the link in the video description :-)

[@ArijalmariMxllr]

​@@mixdownonline Would you or anyone else have a mirror? Arturia Legacy Forum registration has been down for months now...

[@Dmitry_Perelekhov]

Let's Party Start!

[@mixdownonline]

Yes!