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How to Control Pro Tools With Yamaha Motif 6

The Yamaha Motif6 is a 61-key synthesizer with a MIDI-out port, allowing you to use it as a MIDI controller for other devices such as Pro Tools. When connected to a computer with the Pro Tools software installed, you can use the Yamaha Motif6 to create, modify and record multi-track productions using any of the sounds you have loaded in Pro Tools. Before you can do this, you must have a Pro Tools-compatible MIDI interface (such as an MBox) to connect the Motif6 to the computer and then configure Pro Tools to recognize it.

Things You'll Need

  • Pro Tools-compatible MIDI interface
  • 2 MIDI cables
  • 1/4 inch audio cable
  • USB Cable
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Instructions

    • 1

      Plug one end of a MIDI cable into the "MIDI Out" port on the back of the Motif6 and the other end into the "MIDI In" port of a Pro Tools-compatible interface.

    • 2

      Plug one end of the other MIDI cable into the "MIDI In" port on the back of the Motif6 and the other end into the "MIDI Out" port of the Pro Tools-compatible interface. This will allow the interface and the Motif6 to interact.

    • 3

      Connect a standard 1/4-inch audio cable to either the left or right "Output" port on the back of the Motif6. Connect the other end to a "Line In" port on your interface. You may connect both left and right outputs and inputs if you have an extra cable to create stereo sound tracks, but this is not necessary to use the Motif6 as a MIDI controller.

    • 4

      Connect the USB cable to the "USB Out" port on your interface. Plug the other end into any open USB port on your computer.

    • 5

      Run ProTools. The Quick Start screen should automatically load.

    • 6

      Click on the circle next to "Create a Blank Session" then click "OK."

    • 7

      Click on "Track" in the upper-right corner to pull up a drop-down menu, then click on "New..."

    • 8

      Enter "1" into the box in each row next to "Create." Change the first row's first drop-down menu to "MIDI Track," the second row's first two menus to "Stereo" and "Aux Input" and the third row's first two menus to "Stereo" and "Master Fader." Leave the third menu in each row as the default "Ticks" or "Samples." Click on "Create."

    • 9

      Click on "Window" in the main toolbar and make sure "Mix" has a check mark next to it. Click it if it does not to bring up the "Mix" window.

    • 10

      Click on the tab that says "No Input" in the "Aux 1" panel. Select the audio input to which you connected the 1/4-inch audio cable on your interface.

    • 11

      Click on the second drop-down menu from the top in the "MIDI 1" panel if it does not read "Motif6" and select it from the menu. Pro Tools should automatically detect the MIDI device if it is properly connected.

    • 12

      Click on "Options" in the main toolbar. Click on "MIDI Thru" if it does not have a check mark next to it. If it does, leave it checked.

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