LS9 Interface Help

[paulvesco]

I bought a Yamaha LS9 a few weeks ago and love it. My band does mostly corporate work, so every job is different with band sizes from 6 to 16 pieces and doing dance jobs, big band material, award shows, etc. The LS9 allows me to memorize all the various configurations of the band and has really cut down our setup time. We also use a lot of sweetening tracks with the band and need playback for breaks, so the MP3 playback is also useful. The board also records to MP3, tho we haven't got into that yet.

 

HOWEVER, we can not get the unit to work with the computer interface. Imagine running one CAT5 cable out 500' instead of a snake, a return snake, power and needing a huge mix position. And, I was told you should even be able to do this with a Wi-Fi setup -- no wire at all.

 

That all said, does anyone know how to get the LS9 working with the computer? I'll settle for running the LS9 from 3 feet away at this point. Yamaha manual says regular or crossover cable will work? But I have suspicions about that. I bought a crossover cable yesterday, but haven't had time to try that. Running an up-to-date Windows XP Toshiba Laptop. Loaded the Studio Manager software and DNE network drivers and LS9 driver.

 

The computer interface looks wonderful. You can bring up all of the functions of the mixer and will be much easier to visualize the "patching" for special projects than on the unit itself. I just can't get the two talking to each other. ;)

 

Any help would be appreciated.

 

Thanks,

Paul Vesco

http://www.paulvesco.com

 

 

Moderation: We've split this query into it's own topic rather than leave it in the original thread which was a general request for advice on which mixer to buy.

[Bobbsy]

You don't say how far down the path of following the Yamaha instructions you've gone, so apologies if I cover ground that's too simple.

 

Two other caveats...I've only ever done the link with USB or WiFi, not Cat 5 and I don't have a mixer in front of me to check!

 

However, one suggestion I can make is that you need to specify what ports to use on your computer for input and output. By memory, you do this on the File/System Setup menu on the SM software. You also need to go to the MIDI setup menu (a very small separate window that pops up along with the main SM window) and specify MIDI devices.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Bob

[matt_h]

Again not knowing how far you've got with the instructions:

 

You should have downloaded three pieces of software from Yamaha:

 

DME-Network Driver

Studio Manager

LS9 Editor

 

The first step is to get the DME-Network Driver to "find" the mixer . The Yamaha instructions for how to do this are fairly clear and so I won't go into too much detail. At the end of this step the Target window should display "Unit 1" and its various addresses.

 

Once you have completed the DME step open studio manager; in the setup window add the LS9 to the workspace. Along the top of the setup window there are three tabs, Modify workspace, MIDI Ports, Preferences. Click on the MIDI Ports tab and then check the boxes beside "UNIT 1" in both the Input Ports and Output Ports panels. Click Apply and then OK.

 

Double click the LS9 icon to open the LS9 Editor, once you have the editor open you need to go to File -> System Setup. There are two drop down boxes labeled Input Port and Output Port, set them as "Unit 1" (note that you need to have defined the MIDI Ports in Studio Manager for the input/output ports to be available in the editor). Click OK.

 

In the Master section you can click on the orange box that reads offline and the box should turn green and read online. I would suggest that you now go to the synchronization and resynchronize the two.

 

The trick is to remember to treat Studio Manager and the Editor as two separate pieces of software that both need to be told which ports to use.

 

Be careful with very long lengths of Cat V as there is an element of latency involved, in a similar manner to using Wifi. Using the desk with Wifi is relatively simple, it uses the same setup as above, however I would not put the two on a network with any other equipment.

 

(Yamaha state in their instructions that you should be able to use a straight patch cable or a crossover cable to connect directly to the computer. A few weeks ago I helped somebody else get their LS9 to communicate with a computer, and having followed the steps above we still could not get Studio Manager to go online while using a patch cable. We solved the problem by changing to a crossover cable)

 

Hope this helps, PM me if you want anymore information.

 

Matt

[6th Order]

It's not just you.

 

If you are running any other network connections you may need to disable these. I have had IP conflicts with my network.

 

Ever since I uploaded my main set of settings, I haven't been able to reconnect (using the same cables etc!)

 

I need more time to play with it.

[matt_h]

Having just reread the Original Post and then posting too quickly ;) :

 

My best suggestion is to look at setting the LS9 Editor Input and output ports to the correct Unit. This is distinctly lacking from the Yamaha instructions!

 

Are you thinking of leaving the desk on the side of the stage and then mixing off you laptop? I tried this once as our sound booth is terrible and doesn't sound much like what the audience hears :). It is virtually impossible as you really can't do anything quickly enough, I was back infront of the desk within two minutes. I won't be trying that again in a hurry.

[paulvesco]

Having just reread the Original Post and then posting too quickly :P :My best suggestion is to look at setting the LS9 Editor Input and output ports to the correct Unit. This is distinctly lacking from the Yamaha instructions!Are you thinking of leaving the desk on the side of the stage and then mixing off you laptop? I tried this once as our sound booth is terrible and doesn't sound much like what the audience hears :P. It is virtually impossible as you really can't do anything quickly enough, I was back infront of the desk within two minutes. I won't be trying that again in a hurry.

Yes, in my little dream world.... But being a band doing their own production and sometimes mixing from or near the stage, I would like to put a 50' cable on and be able to go to front of house for our starting soundcheck. Easier than listening and hand signaling back to the soundman who is behind the stack of speakers and not getting the best feedback (excuse the pun) on the FOH sound. If we start with a fairly good mix, it gives mixing the rest of the night from a few powered monitors backstage a little better start.

Again not knowing how far you've got with the instructions:You should have downloaded three pieces of software from Yamaha:DME-Network DriverStudio ManagerLS9 Editor***Hi Matt, I did thisThe first step is to get the DME-Network Driver to "find" the mixer . The Yamaha instructions for how to do this are fairly clear and so I won't go into too much detail. At the end of this step the Target window should display "Unit 1" and its various addresses.***And this is the first thing I couldn't get to happen. The DME Network Driver just would not "see" the LS9.... I will go try all of your instructions, step by step, and see how far I get, but I do have one more point of confusion (for me).....Once you have completed the DME step open studio manager; in the setup window add the LS9 to the workspace. Along the top of the setup window there are three tabs, Modify workspace, MIDI Ports, Preferences. Click on the MIDI Ports tab and then check the boxes beside "UNIT 1" in both the Input Ports and Output Ports panels. Click Apply and then OK.Double click the LS9 icon to open the LS9 Editor, once you have the editor open you need to go to File -> System Setup. There are two drop down boxes labeled Input Port and Output Port, set them as "Unit 1" (note that you need to have defined the MIDI Ports in Studio Manager for the input/output ports to be available in the editor). Click OK.

*** I'm running the unit on CAT5, not MIDI cables. Does the MIDI setting have to do with the CAT5 settings as well?BTW.... Thanks for the very specific and complete instructions. I will try this and let you know how I make out.... Thanks again....Paul

[6th Order]

It has everything to do with midi. The dme drivers convert the changes in the editor to midi data and it's the midi data that controls the LS9.

 

It all just happens to be transmited over CAT5.

 

The instructions above should get you going. For sound check purposes the editor should be ok to use in the way you want to.

[paulvesco]

Again not knowing how far you've got with the instructions:

 

The first step is to get the DME-Network Driver to "find" the mixer . The Yamaha instructions for how to do this are fairly clear and so I won't go into too much detail. At the end of this step the Target window should display "Unit 1" and its various addresses.

 

And that's where I'm stuck. I can't get the DME Network Drive to see the LS9. I tried a regular cable, a regular cable thru a hub and a switching cable (all recommended by Yamaha somewhere in the manuals and/or online instructions). I've tried getting the network settings from the LS9 and "force feeding" them to the DME (where you can manually enter address and device), it takes it, but doesn't really see it.

 

I tried turning off the 1394 adapter (the regular network card). I tried the advanced settings of the DME to see if it would see it after "searching".... nothing.

 

I tried checking the settings in the LS9.... all seems normal, communicating at 100base, which my computer does.

 

Everything past that point will probably go fairly smoothly, but I can't get past that first step and get the two units talking.

 

Any ideas?

[matt_h]

And that's where I'm stuck. I can't get the DME Network Drive to see the LS9. I tried a regular cable, a regular cable thru a hub and a switching cable (all recommended by Yamaha somewhere in the manuals and/or online instructions). I've tried getting the network settings from the LS9 and "force feeding" them to the DME (where you can manually enter address and device), it takes it, but doesn't really see it.

 

I tried turning off the 1394 adapter (the regular network card). I tried the advanced settings of the DME to see if it would see it after "searching".... nothing.

 

I tried checking the settings in the LS9.... all seems normal, communicating at 100base, which my computer does.

 

Everything past that point will probably go fairly smoothly, but I can't get past that first step and get the two units talking.

 

Any ideas?

 

 

If you have turned off the regular network card are you using a PCMCIA card as the network card?

 

Have you set the IP address of your computer above or below that of the LS9? Just as a thought process - this afternoon I was trying to make my laptop find a Serial-to-Ethernet device, I struggled for about half an hour before setting my laptop IP address to a smaller value than the Device Server, it instantly found it!

 

(The other part is that there is quite a specific gateway address that Yamaha recommends you use if connecting directly to the console. Although I presume that you have already tried all that the instructions have to offer)

 

One other thing to try is setting the LS9 to communicate at 10base, although this is more of a stab in the dark, and just eliminating possibilitys rather than for any justifiable reason that I can think of.

 

Matt

[Bobbsy]

Pardon me if I'm being dense here, wouldn't your "1394" card be firewire rather than the 100baseT Cat 5 Ethernet card? I don't know if this has anything whatever to do with your problems, but thought I'd mention it.

 

Bob

[paulvesco]

(Yamaha state in their instructions that you should be able to use a straight patch cable or a crossover cable to connect directly to the computer. A few weeks ago I helped somebody else get their LS9 to communicate with a computer, and having followed the steps above we still could not get Studio Manager to go online while using a patch cable. We solved the problem by changing to a crossover cable)

 

Matt

 

Matt,

 

Solved the problem. I called Yamaha tech. Basically, it was uninstall the DME driver and re-install. Then everything else went fine. Maybe this will help someone else.

 

BTW.... You were right. Even though in the Yamaha documentation, you can find "normal CAT5, CAT5 into a HUB, and CROSSOVER", Crossover Cable is the one that's recommended, and the one working right now for me.

[matt_h]

Good, glad you got it sorted.