Steinberg MR816X Getting Started Manual

							Using the MR816 CSX/MR816 X with Cubase
 Operation Manual   
11
CAUTION
•To avoid damage to your hearing or speakers, be sure to roll 
off the volume level of the amplifier (or powered speakers) 
before turning the phantom power on or off. Steinberg/
Yamaha also recommends that you turn all output levels to 
minimum settings before operating this button.
•Be sure to leave the phantom power off if you do not need it. 
•When turning the phantom power on, make sure that only 
condenser microphones are connected to the correspond-
ing input jacks. Devices other than condenser microphones 
may be damaged if they are connected to the phantom 
power supply. Note, however, that the phantom power may 
be left on when you connect balanced dynamic micro-
phones. 
•If you connect a device that requires an external power sup-
ply, first connect the device to an Input jack, then turn on the 
phantom power. If you disconnect the device, make sure to 
turn off the phantom power before disconnecting the device. 
■Setting up on the computer
Follow the steps below to set up your computer for using 
the Link function with Cubase. 
NOTE
·Before using the Cubase Link function, make sure to install 
TOOLS for MR then make initial settings. For more information 
about installation procedures and initial settings for the TOOLS 
for MR, please refer to the Getting Started manual (printed 
manual). 
1Start the computer. 
Wait until the Word Clock Source lamps and Sample 
Rate lamps finish flashing successively.
NOTE
·Note that the Clock Source lamps and Sampling Rate lamps 
flash while Yamaha Steinberg FW Driver is performing setup of 
the MR816 CSX/MR816 X. These lamps continue flashing if the 
setup is not completed properly. 
2Start Cubase. 
■ For Windows: 
Click [Start] ➝ [All Program] ➝ [Steinberg Cubase 5] ➝ 
[Cubase 5] to start the program. 
■ For Macintosh: 
Double-click [Application] ➝ [Cubase 5] to start the pro-
gram. 
If the following dialog appears while Cubase is star ting, 
click [OK]. 
3When the “Cubase Open Document Options” 
window appears, click [New Project]. 
The Project templates for the MR816 CSX/MR816 X 
will be shown if the TOOLS for MR has already been 
installed. Selecting any of these templates will auto-
matically set the routing of the audio input/output.
Project templates for the 
MR816 CSX/MR816 X 
						

							Using the MR816 CSX/MR816 X with Cubase
12     Operation Manual
4Select the desired template then click [OK]. 
On the front panel of the MR816 CSX/MR816 X, the 
[QUICK CONNECT] lamps to which audio tracks of 
Cubase are assigned will light. 
5Select [Devices] ➝ [Device Setup...] to call up the 
Device Setup window. Select “VST Audio Sys-
tem” in the Device column then confirm whether 
or not “Yamaha Steinberg FW ASIO”/“Yamaha 
Steinberg FW” is selected from the ASIO Driver 
column.
If it is selected, click [OK] to close the window. The 
MR816 CSX/MR816 X can now be linked to 
Cubase. 
NOTE
·When changing the ASIO driver, a dialog box may appear ask-
ing “Do you want to switch the ASIO driver?”. Click [Switch].
6On the Device field, select “Yamaha Steinberg 
FW ASIO” or “Yamaha Steinberg FW,” make sure 
that the checkbox of “Direct Monitoring” is 
turned on, then click [OK] to close the window. 
NOTE
·If the Direct Monitoring is turned on, you can monitor the 
Cubase-mixed sound with no latency. Since the MR816 CSX/
MR816 X is equipped with the effect unit, you can monitor the 
effect-applied signal even when the Direct Monitoring is turned 
on. Furthermore, you can use the Direct Monitoring function in 
the Studio Send also when you use the Control Room function. 
It is recommended to turn the Direct Monitoring on to take a full 
advantage of the linked functions between the MR816 CSX/
MR816 X and Cubase.
The settings on the computer have been completed. 
Confirm “Yamaha Steinberg FW ASIO”/
“Yamaha Steinberg FW” is selected.
TIP
If you want to change the Sample Rate or routing of the 
input/output bus, follow the instructions below. 
● To change the Sample Rate: 
Select [Project] ➝ [Project Setup] to call up the Project 
Setup dialog. 
After setting, click [OK] to close the dialog. According 
to the setting made here, the Sample Rate of the 
MR816 CSX/MR816 X will be changed automatically. 
● To change the routing of the input/output bus: 
Select [Devices] ➝ [VST Connections] to call up the 
VST Connections window. From this window, you can 
change the device port of the existing bus and add the 
new bus. 
Sample Rate of 
the project file 
						

							Using the MR816 CSX/MR816 X with Cubase
 Operation Manual   
13
■Setting up for recording
Setting up an Audio Track
In the Project created via the project template for the 
MR816 CSX/MR816 X, the input bus corresponding to the 
analog input jack of the MR816 CSX/MR816  X is assigned 
to the input source of each audio track. This means that 
you can simply open the desired Project template and 
immediately be ready to record. If you want to change the 
input source of the audio track, simply use the [QUICK 
CONNECT] button to change the routing between the 
analog input jack and audio track. 
The instructions below show how to assign the signal of 
analog input jack 4 to audio track 1, using an example in 
which “Steinberg MR816CSX multi channel recording” or 
“Steinberg MR816X multi channel recording” is selected 
as a Project template. This operation described below 
basically applies also when selecting other audio tracks.
1When you want to change the assignment of the 
input signal within a Project, select the desired 
audio track. 
If you select an audio track already assigned to one 
of the analog input jacks, the lamp of the corre-
sponding number will flash for a while instead of 
being lit continuously. In the setting example above, 
the [QUICK CONNECT] lamp 1 will flash. 
2On the MR816 CSX/MR816 X, press the [QUICK 
CONNECT] button (corresponding to 4).
The [QUICK CONNECT] lamp 4 flashes for a while 
then lights. The [QUICK CONNECT] lamp 1 will tur n 
off instead of being lit continuously, indicating that 
MIC/LINE INPUT jack 4 is assigned to the input bus 
of audio track 1.
Turned on. Turned off.
TIP
Automatic routing of the audio track via the [QUICK 
CONNECT] button
Pressing any of the [QUICK CONNECT] buttons with a 
certain audio track(s) selected will assign the audio sig-
nal of the corresponding input jack to the selected 
audio track(s) through the VST input bus. When the VST 
input bus is not set, the input bus will be created and 
assigned to the selected audio track automatically by 
pressing the [QUICK CONNECT] button. If you press 
one of the [QUICK CONNECT] buttons when the corre-
sponding audio signal is specified to multiple buses, the 
bus created at the top line of the VST Connections win-
dow (called up via [Devices] ➝ [VST Connections]) will 
be assigned to the selected track(s).
Pressing the [QUICK CONNECT] button 1 while multiple 
audio tracks are selected will assign the bus to which 
the audio signal of analog input jack 1 is specified to all 
the selected tracks. 
If desired, you can change the input jack assigned to 
the current track by pressing any other [QUICK CON-
NECT] button any time (except for during actual record-
ing). For example, if microphone is connected to the 
MIC/LINE/HI-Z jack (input channel 1) and a synthesizer 
is connected to the MIC/LINE jack (input channel 2), 
you can easily change the input source by pressing 
[QUICK CONNECT] buttons 1 or 2 alter nately with the 
same audio track selected. 
INPUT
Select multiple tracks.
Audio track 
Audio track
Audio track
Press the [QUICK CONNECT] button.
VSTi 
input bus 
						

							Using the MR816 CSX/MR816 X with Cubase
14     Operation Manual
3On Cubase, select the track to be recorded then 
turn on the Record Enable button and Monitor 
button.
4While playing the instrument or singing into the 
microphone at the loudest expected level, gradu-
ally rotate the knob of the corresponding c hannel 
clockwise to find the point at which the corre-
sponding [SIG/PEAK] flashes slightly in red. 
In order to record the sound with the widest 
dynamic range and minimum noise, rotate the 
[GAIN] control clockwise to raise the input sensitiv-
ity as high as possible without the input signal clip-
ping.
5While playing the instrument or singing into the 
microphone, gradually adjust the volume of the 
master output and headphones.
The setup for recording has been completed.
NOTE
·To achieve a clear sound with the least noise, amplify the input 
to the desired average level as early as possible in the signal 
path. That means that you should amplify the input signal by 
using the corresponding knob as much as possible. Remem-
ber, however, that too much initial gain is bad, because it will 
cause clipping, and will distort the sound. Amplify the signal to 
a level just below clipping. 
Adding multiple monitoring environments 
(only for Cubase 4.5.1 or later)
The Control Room feature of Cubase 4.5.1 or later lets you 
seamlessly control the built-in mixer and create monitor 
mixes for the musicians. The actual mixing is per formed in 
the MR816 CSX/MR816 X although the mix operation of 
Control Room is performed within Cubase, allowing you to 
create a latency-free monitor environment. Furthermore, 
two of the mix sounds created on the Control Room can 
be assigned independently to the two headphone jacks.
This section shows how to make the settings so that you 
can create monitor signals for vocals and guitar then out-
put them from headphone jacks 1 and 2 respectively by 
using the Control Room feature. The settings explained 
below are useful if you want to record guitar and vocals 
simultaneously.
NOTE
·Keep in mind that the Control Room function is not available in 
Cubase AI. When you use Cubase AI 4.5.1 or later, you can 
assign certain stereo output buses to headphone jacks 1 and 2 
respectively.
1Select [Devices] ➝ [VST Connections] to call up 
the VST Connections window. 
2Click the [Studio] tab on the top right of the VST 
Connections window then make sure that the 
Control Room function is available.
If unavailable, click [Disable Control Room] to turn 
on the Control Room function. 
3Create the stereo Studios (up to four can be cre-
ated) by clicking [Add Channel] then selecting 
[Add Studio]. 
NOTE
·The mono Studio cannot be selected as the output of the head-
phone jack. 
When you select the audio track to which the audio sig-
nal of the analog input jacks 1 – 8 has been assigned 
(after making the assignments), the corresponding 
lamp(s) of the [QUICK CONNECT] buttons will flash for 
a while. This lets you confirm the audio routing assign-
ment quickly. When you select multiple audio tracks, all 
the [QUICK CONNECT] lamps assigned to the selected 
tracks will flash simultaneously. 
Select a track. 
Flashes
On
Flashes slightly in red
Adjust 
						

							Using the MR816 CSX/MR816 X with Cubase
 Operation Manual   
15
4For each of the created Studios, assign “Yamaha 
Steinberg FW ASIO” / “Yamaha Steinberg FW” to 
the Audio Device and assign your desired output 
jack to the Device Port. 
After making the settings, close the VST Connec-
tions window by clicking [X] at the top right of the 
window. 
5Select [Devices] ➝ [Control Room Mixer] to call 
up the Control Room Mixer window. 
6Turn on the output of channels [1] – [4] by click-
ing each of them, then make sure that the input 
of the corresponding channel is set to “AUX” 
(instead of “MIX”). 
7Select [Devices] ➝ [Mixer] to call up the 
Extended Mixer window. 
If the Extended Mixer window is not shown, click the 
arrow ( ) button (“Show Extended Mixer”) to call it 
up. 
8Call up the Studio Send on the Extended Mixer 
by clicking the “Show Studio Sends” button ( ) 
at the left on the window. 
The Studio Send lets you create custom mixes for 
the performer by specifying the level/pan/pre-fader/
post-fader settings. You can create mixes also by 
using the fader/pan level of the main mix. In this 
case, you may need to make certain adjustments. 
For details, refer to the Cubase operation manual. 
The Direct Monitoring function lets you hear the sig-
nal from the Input Channels of the MR816 CSX/
MR816 X without latency. 
By performing the steps below, you can output the 
mix created here via headphone jacks 1 and 2.
2. Turn the [AUX] on. 
1. Turn on the Activate Channel buttons. 
Studio Send 
						

							Using the MR816 CSX/MR816 X with Cubase
16     Operation Manual
9Call up the MR816  CSX/MR816  X Hardware Setup 
window (page 23) by selecting [Devices] ➝ 
[Audio Hardware Setup]. 
NOTE
·The MR816 CSX/MR816 X Hardware Setup window can be 
called up also from the MR816 CSX/MR816 X Input Settings 
window (page 21).
10Click the monitor source of headphones 1 and 2, 
then select the desired output channels. 
NOTE
·Also the Monitor Channel or Phone Channel can be selected as 
monitor source if they have been created. 
11Adjust the monitor level of the headphone jacks 
1 and 2 as desired via the panel operation on the 
MR816 CSX/MR816 X or window operation on 
Cubase. 
After making the settings, click [X] at the right top of 
the window to close it. 
NOTE
·When the Control Room is not available or you use Cubase AI 
4.5.1 or later, you can assign the monitor source to the head-
phone jack by selecting one of the stereo output buses set in 
the VST Connection window.
Applying REV-X to the monitor signals
The REV-X effect unit built into the MR816 CSX/MR816 X 
is connected to the Send and Return of the internal mixer. 
Various parameters of this effect which can be applied 
only to the monitor sound will be adjusted for each of 
input channels on Cubase.
NOTE
·REV-X can also be used as a VST plug-in effect of Cubase by 
setting the MR816 CSX/MR816 X to the external effect mode. 
For information about the external effect mode, refer to 
page 19.
The instructions below apply to Cubase 4.5.1 or later. 
1Select [Devices] ➝ [Mixer] to call up the 
Extended Mixer window. 
If the Extended Mixer window is not shown, click the 
arrow ( ) button (“Show Extended Mixer”) to call it 
up. 
2Call up the input channel mixer by clicking the 
Input Channel indication icon ( ) at the left of 
the Mixer window. 
3Make sure that MR816 CSX/MR816 X Input Set-
tings window is shown on the Extended Mixer of 
the Input Channel’s mixer. 
If the window is not shown, click the triangular ( ) 
button (“Extended View Type”) then select “Hard-
ware” from the indicated menu. 
Monitor source of 
headphone jack 1
Monitor level of 
headphone jack 1Monitor level of 
headphone jack 2Monitor source of 
headphone jack 2
REV-X
CubaseMR816 CSX/MR816 X 
input channels
Analog input 1
Analog input 8
Digital input 1
Digital input 8
REV-X 
SendMonitor 
signal
REV-X 
return
Monitor output
Input bus Audio track
Input bus Audio track
Input bus Audio track
Input bus Audio track
REV-X Edit
REV-X Send
REV-X Setup
Extended View Type
Show Extended Mixer
Indication of the Input 
Channel Mixer 
						

							Using the MR816 CSX/MR816 X with Cubase
 Operation Manual   
17
NOTE
·For instructions on calling up the window when using Cubase 
AI 4.5.1 or later, refer to page 21. 
4Perform the following operations as required. 
● To adjust the effect depth: 
Drag on the REV-X Send field below the REV icon 
and move the pointer leftward or rightward to adjust 
the send level. 
● To adjust the effect parameters: 
Click the REV-X Edit ( ) to call up the REV-X Setup 
window. For information about the available param-
eters, refer to page 25. 
● To adjust the effect type and return level: 
Click the REV-X Setup to call up the MR816 CSX/
MR816 X Hardware Setup window. For information 
about the available parameters, refer to page 23. 
NOTE
·The MR816 CSX/MR816 X Hardware Setup window can be 
called up also by selecting [Device] ➝ [Audio Hardware 
Setup]. 
·Note that the REV-X effect cannot be used for the monitor sig-
nal when the MR816 CSX/MR816 X is set to the external effect 
mode. In this case, the REV-X indication is not shown in the 
MR816 CSX/MR816 X Input Settings window. 
Applying the Sweet Spot Morphing Channel 
Strip to the monitor signals (MR816 CSX only)
The built-in Sweet Spot Morphing Channel Strip (“Channel 
Strip” for short) can be applied to the audio signal which 
is to be recorded or only to the monitor sound depending 
on to which point this effect unit is inserted. For each input 
channel of the MR816 CSX, if necessar y, you can insert 
the Channel Strip to the different location and adjust the 
effect parameters on Cubase. 
The instructions below apply to Cubase 4.5.1 or later. 
1Select [Devices] ➝ [Mixer] to call up the 
Extended Mixer window. 
If the Extended Mixer window is not shown, click the 
arrow ( ) button (“Show Extended Mixer”) to call it 
up. 
2Call up the input channel mixer by clicking the 
Input Channel indication icon ( ) at the left in 
the Mixer window. 
3Make sure that MR816 CSX/MR816 X Input Set-
tings window is shown on the Extended Mixer of 
the Input Channel’s mixer. 
If the window is not shown, click the triangular ( ) 
button (“Extended View Type”) then select “Hard-
ware” from the indicated menu. 
Channel Strip
COMP EQ
COMP EQ
Channel Strip
COMP EQ
COMP EQ
MR816 CSX input channels
Analog input 1
Analog input 8
Digital input 1
Digital input 8Input bus Audio track
Input bus Audio track
Input bus Audio track
Input bus Audio track Monitor 
output
Monitor 
output
Channel Strip Edit 
DRIVE
MORPH
Effect insertion setup
Extended View Type
Show Extended Mixer
Indication of the Input 
Channel Mixer 
						

							Using the MR816 CSX/MR816 X with Cubase
18     Operation Manual
NOTE
·For information about how to call up the above window when 
using Cubase AI 4.5.1 or later, refer to page 21. 
4Perform the following operations as required. 
● To set the insertion location of the effect unit: 
Drag the slider for the effect insertion setup then 
select the desired one from the following items. 
NOTE
·For details about the insertion location, refer to page 22. 
● To adjust the effect parameters: 
Click the Channel Strip Edit   to call up the Chan-
nel Strip window. For information about the available 
parameters, refer to page 27. 
● To adjust the MORPH and DRIVE: 
Drag the MORPH icon and DRIVE icon respectively 
then move the pointer. 
NOTE
·Note that the Channel Strip cannot be used for the monitor sig-
nal when the MR816 CSX/MR816 X is set to the external effect 
mode. In this case, the Channel Strip is not shown in the 
MR816 CSX/MR816 X Input Settings window. 
■Try recording
Now that you’ve completed the necessar y settings, try 
recording. 
1From the Transport window of Cubase, click the 
“Record” button to start recording. 
2Play the instrument connected to the 
MR816 CSX/MR816 X.
3Click the “Stop” button after you’ve finished 
playing.
4Move the pointer to the beginning of the project 
then click the “Start” button to hear the recorded 
sound. 
When setting the
slider to the upper
position:The effect will be bypassed. 
When setting the
slider to the middle
position:The effect will be applied only 
to the monitor sound.
When setting the
slider to the lower
position:The effect will be applied to 
both the monitor sound and 
signals to be recorded.  
						

							Using the MR816 CSX/MR816 X with Cubase
 Operation Manual   
19
Using the built-in effect of the MR816 as a VST plug-in of 
Cubase
You can use the built-in effect of the MR 816 CSX/MR 816 
X as a VST plug-in effect within Cubase by setting the 
MR816 CSX/MR816 X to the external effect mode. 
The MR816 CSX lets you apply the Channel Strip effect to 
the eight mono channels or four stereo channels, or apply 
the Channel Strip effect to the six mono channels or three 
stereo channels and the REV-X effect to one stereo chan-
nel while the MR816 X lets you apply the REV-X effect to 
one stereo channel. 
In the external effect mode, the digital input/output chan-
nels of the MR816 CSX/MR816 X function as effect buses 
exclusively for Cubase. In addition, the effect is applied to 
the digital input/output channels while being applied to 
the Send/Return of the internal mixer and input channels 
normally. 
Even when the MR816 CSX/MR816 X is set to the external 
effect mode, the analog input/output channels can be 
used.
NOTE
·In the external effect mode, the digital input/output channels 
cannot be used. 
·Even if you are using a DAW other than Cubase, you can set 
the MR816 CSX/MR816 X to the external effect mode. For 
details, refer to page 42. 
Follow the instructions below to set the MR816 CSX/
MR816 X to the external effect mode. 
1Select [Devices] ➝ [Device Setup...] to call up the 
Device Setup window. 
NOTE
·You can also switch to external mode in the MR816CSX/
MR816X Hardware Setup window (page 23), which is dis-
played by selecting [Devices]
 
➝ [Audio Hardware Setup].
2In the Device field, select “Yamaha Steinberg FW 
ASIO”/”Yamaha Steinberg FW.” 
3Click [Control Panel]. For Macintosh users, also 
click [Open Conflg App]. 
The Control Panel of Yamaha Steinberg FW Driver 
appears.
4Click the MR816 CSX tab or MR816 X tab. 
If you are connecting multiple devices, click the tab 
corresponding to the device you wish to set to the 
external effect mode. 
5Click the “Digital I/O, External FX” menu then 
select “External FX” from the pull-down menu. 
The MR816 CSX/MR816 X will be set to the external 
mode and the effect bus settings will be performed 
automatically. 
6When selecting the MR816 CSX in step 4, click 
“External FX Type” and select the desired item 
from the pull-down menu (as described below). 
When selecting the MR816 X in step 4, “Exter nal FX 
Type” does not appear. 
After the setting is completed, click [X] at the right 
top of the window to close the Control Panel and 
Device Setup window. 
HPF
HPF
1/2 3/4 5/6 7/8
OUT 1/2
OUT 3/4
OUT 5/6
OUT 7/8
Analog input 1
Analog input 8
Input channels
Analog output channels
Internal effect From Cubase
To Cubase
To CubaseFrom Cubase
To Cubase
8 x MonoWhen this is selected, the Sweet 
Spot Morphing Channel Strip effect 
of up to 8 mono channels can be 
applied to the audio channels as a 
VST plug-in effect. 
4 x StereoWhen this is selected, the Sweet 
Spot Morphing Channel Strip effect 
of up to 4 stereo channels can be 
applied to the audio channels as a 
plug-in effect. 
6 x Mono + 
REV-XWhen this is selected, the Sweet 
Spot Morphing Channel Strip effect 
of up to 6 mono channels and the 
REV-X effect (stereo) can be applied 
to the audio channels as plug-in 
effects. 
3 x Stereo + 
REV-XWhen this is selected, the Sweet 
Spot Morphing Channel Strip effect 
of up to 3 stereo channels and the 
REV-X effect (stereo) can be applied 
to the audio channels as plug-in 
effects.
Digital I/O, External FX External FX Type 
						

							Using the MR816 CSX/MR816 X with Cubase
20     Operation Manual
7Call up the Mixer window then make sure that 
the Extended Mixer window is shown. 
If the Extended Mixer window is not shown, click the 
arrow button (“Show Extended Mixer”) to call it up. 
8Click the “Show All Inserts” button at left in the 
Mixer window, then click the insertion slot of the 
audio channel. 
The list of the VST plug-in effects will be shown on 
the insertion slot.
9Select “MR816” from the indicated list then 
select the desired effect. 
This operation will apply the internal effect to the 
audio track. For details about each value, see 
below. 
You can set the effect to the desired audio channels 
with this operation. 
NOTE
·The settings here, including those of the Control Panel, will be 
saved as a Project file of Cubase, allowing you to automatically 
recalll the settings of the external effect mode and the plug-in 
effect settings the next time you open the Project.
·For information about the setting windows of each effect, refer 
to “REV-X” (page 25) or “Sweet Spot Morphing Channel Strip 
(MR816 CSX only)” (page 27).
10If you exit from the external effect mode, call up 
the Control Panel then select an item other than 
“External FX” in the “Digital I/O, External FX” 
column. 
Channel Strip [m]:Mono Channel Strip
Channel Strip [s]:Stereo Channel Strip
REV-X Hall:REV-X with the Reverb type “Hall”
REV-X Room:REV-X with the Reverb type “Room”
REV-X Plate:REV-X with the Reverb type “Plate”
“Show All Inserts” button
Insertion slot