Setting Up the MODX+

The Yamaha MODX+ is an extremely powerful workstation that can be used for a wide variety of musical applications, from composition and recording to live performance, including the ability to control external devices. When using the MODX+ to control Omnisphere, the ASSIGN knobs on the MODX+ will be assigned to the following Omnisphere parameters:

Assign Bank 1:

• Knob 1 (CC#16) – Global Controls Cutoff
• Knob 2 (CC#17) – Global Controls Resoance
• Knob 3 (CC#18) – Global Controls Filter Envelope Amount
• Knob 4 (CC#19) – Global Controls Vibrato Depth
  

Assign Bank 2:

• Knob 5 (CC#24) – Global Controls Ambience Amount
• Knob 6 (CC#25) – Global Controls Ambience Length
• Knob 7 (CC#26) – Global Controls Unison
• Knob 8 (CC#27) – Global Controls Glide
  

Although Omnisphere relies on certain default factory settings of the MODX+, it is necessary to go through a short setup process to ensure the best experience. There are many ways for the MODX+ to control external gear, but we recommend following the steps below to get you started controlling Omnisphere.

*This setup guide applies to each version of the MODX+ (MODX6+, MODX7+, and the MODX8+).

Setup

To control Omnisphere using the MODX+, you’ll need to do the following:

1. Connect the MODX+ to your computer via USB.
2. Set up the MODX+ to control Omnisphere.
3. Download and install the Yamaha Steinberg USB Driver for your computer.
4. Enable the MODX+ as a MIDI input device in the host software you’re using (DAW, Standalone, etc.).
5. Activate the MODX+ Hardware Profile in Omnisphere 3 or later.

MODX+ SETUP
*The MODX+ is primarily designed to control its own internal sounds, so we’ll guide you through the process to create a simple Performance on the MODX+ with a Part dedicated to only triggering and controlling sounds from Omnisphere.

First, you’ll need to make sure “Zone Master” is ON. This will allow you to configure any of the 16 Parts within a Performance to control external hardware or software such as Omnisphere:

• Select [UTILITY], then go to “Settings” > “Advanced” > and set “Zone Master” to ON.

Next, let’s create an initialized Part that we’ll use for Omnisphere within a Performance:

1. In a Performance of your choice, select the [PERFORMANCE] button.
2. Select a Part that you’d like to use for Omnisphere (you’ll need to remember which Part you’ve selected later on).
3. Select [CATEGORY].
4. Choose “Init” in the Main Categories, then select “Init Normal (AWM2).”

Now that the initiallized Part is loaded in your Performance, we’ll begin to configure the settings of this Part to only send MIDI to external hardware or software:

1. Press the [PERFORMANCE/ Home] button
2. Press the [EDIT] button.
3. Select “COMMON” found in the lower left side of the screen.
4. Select the Part that you’ve chosen to use for Omnisphere. A pop-up menu should appear with an “EDIT” option.
5. Select “EDIT”, then select “Part Settings”, and finally select “Zone Settings”
6. Change “ZONE” to ON. .
7. Change “INT SW” to OFF.
8. Set the “TRANSMIT CHANNEL” to Channel 1.
9. Next, select “Zone Transmit” and make sure “CC” is ON, and that all ASSIGN Knobs (A. Knob1, A. Knob2, A. Knob3, etc) are all set to ON.
10. Save this performance by pressing [STORE] and giving it a name.

Omnisphere will respond to both banks of ASSIGN knobs. To switch between banks, simply press the [ASSIGN] button. The second bank of assign knobs are active when the [ASSIGN] button is flashing.

After going through these steps, you should have a Part within your Performance on the Yamaha MODX+ that does not trigger any internal sounds and only sends MIDI. Additionally, the four ASSIGN knobs are now set up to their factory settings, which is necessary to control Omnisphere. You can load this Performance into your Live Sets, use this as a template Performance, or merge this Performance with others.

*If you are willing to go deeper, you can set up the MODX+ to control and quickly switch between up to eight Omnisphere Parts. You can do this by simply copying the newly created Part on the MODX+ to any other empty Part on the MODX+.

Here’s a quick way to set that up:

1. Select the “Init” Part that you created in the steps above.
2. Press [SHIFT] + [EDIT].
3. Copy the “Init” Part to the next empty Part.
4. Enter the “Zone Settings” in the newly copied Part and set the “TRANSMIT CHANNEL” to Channel 2.
5. Repeat these settings for up to 8 Parts and chronologically set the Transmit Channel for each Part (e.g. Part 3 will use Channel 3, Part 4 will use Channel 4, and so on).

MIDI OUTPUT SETUP

Follow these steps to configure the MODX+ to send MIDI through USB:

1. Press the [UTILITY] button.
2. Select the “Settings” tab.
3. Select the “MIDI I/O” tab at the left side of the display.
4. Set “MIDI IN/OUT” to “USB.”

USB DRIVER

• Check to see if the necessary Yamaha Steinberg USB driver has already been installed by opening up the Omnisphere Standalone (or your preferred DAW) and verifying the MODX+ is on your list of MIDI inputs.
• If the MODX+ is not listed as a MIDI input, download and install the driver that is compatible with your computer’s operating system from the MODX+ Downloads page.
• Restart the host and you should see the MODX+ in the list of MIDI Inputs in your Host.

HOST CONNECTION

• Open your host (DAW, Standalone, etc.) and make sure the MODX+ is enabled as a MIDI input device.

OMNISPHERE SETUP

• Open Omnisphere and from the header, select the HW menu button
• From the drop-down menu, select “Yamaha > Yamaha MODX+”, and activate the MODX+ hardware profile that matches your keyboard.

TROUBLESHOOTING

Not working? Are are some things to try:

• Is your DAW receiving MIDI from the MODX+?
• Make sure your DAW is configured to correctly route the MIDI output of the MODX+ to the MIDI channel assigned to the desired part in Omnisphere.
• If you are using the Omnisphere standalone host, make sure the MIDI output channel of the “Init” Part on the MODX+ matches the MIDI channel of the Omnisphere Part you want to control.
• Are the MODX+ “ASSIGN” knobs sending the default MIDI CC messages? You can check this by selecting the Part on the MODX+ that you’ve set up for Omnisphere, press the [EDIT] button, select “Common/ Audio” > “Control” > “Control Number” and check the numbers listed for “Assign.Knob1” through “Assign.Knob4.” See the list at the top of the page for the correct MIDI CC#s for each knob.

SUPPORT

Still not working? More questions?

Feel free to contact us directly and we can work with you:

Tech Support
888-870-4223 toll free
818-955-8444
Monday – Friday 10AM – 5PM Pacific Time

email: info@spectrasonics.net