Scott,

The Studio Manager was obsoleted with the introduction of version 1.6.0 of the Editor quite some time ago.

Just to bring you fully up-to-date: Studio Manager, which acted as a "host application", was designed for a synthesizer/effect processor/digital mixer network setup, where an entire studio of external gear could be managed quickly and efficiently... That is, bulk dumps of all settings could be managed neatly... Stored and restored without having to do each device separately, the Studio Manager handled all external devices and their stored setups, per Project file.

Today's computer connectivity has taken on a peer-to-peer setup so the Editor has evolved. You probably don't have a network setup or most people don't... You now have just one program to deal with, the Editor itself, no separate host is ever necessary to run it standalone.

With the release of version 1.6.0 (and later) of the Yamaha hardware synth Editors, the Studio Manager host application was obsoleted (it's over a year or more now). The newer versions of the Editor contain both a Standalone and a VST version. One download, that you simply launch as you require. The Standalone version no longer requires a separate host application. Or you can run it as a VST3 plugin within Cubase (that is what is broken, a fix is due shortly).

Cubase Pro 8 has a known issue with the current Yamaha Extension (VST Assistant). The current Editor version 1.6.4 for Windows, 1.6.5 for Mac is fine and runs well, as a Standalone application. What seems to be broken is the software Extension that instructs Cubase about addressing the Yamaha hardware. Being an external device the computer has no idea of the workings of your external device, the VST Assistant (contained as part of the Extension software) will need to "teach" Cubase how to properly address the external Yamaha hardware. The Editor and the majority of the VSTi routing benefits are still available.

Currently, you can use Automation, Freeze, Export Audio Mixdown, VST routing and processing by setting the keyboard up as an EXTERNAL INSTRUMENT Plugin (please see the link below for step-by-step instructions on how to set this up). You still setup the Yamaha synth as a VSTi, and you'll run the Editor as a Standalone application.

You'll need to save your Editor file separately... That is, it does not get automatically bundled into the Cubase Project File as when you run it inside Cubase. Other than that it works just like you've been used to, except you now can customize the Returns as you require.... (It actually has a distinct advantage to FW users). The EXTERNAL INSTRUMENT feature is how any external hardware synthesizer can be setup to work with Cubase. The whole concept of VST was to include both internal virtual synths and external hardware synths in the computer-based environment. Yes, this is a key advantage, and is at the core of Steinberg's VST protocol since the beginning. Yamaha spiced it up with advanced integration features between real synth and computer.

The Editor 1.6.x you'll find works just fine, right now!!! When the Updater comes you can choose to return to running as a VST3 plugin or continue running as an External Instrument plugin as outlined in the Standalone scenario. Both are viable methodologies, as you will see...

Link to External Instrument setup for Cubase Pro 8

You will need to update your Yamaha hardware EDITOR version to 1.6.x in order to run as a standalone application.
New versions of the Editor Standalone/VST exist for the Motif XS-series, Motif-Rack XS, MOX6/MOX8, S90 XS/S70 XS, Motif XF-series, and the MOXF6/MOXF8.

These do not use the Studio Manager. Products that previously relied on the Studio Manager as "host" will continue to do so. If you wish to use one of the products above with with the old Studio Manager then you must remain with the Editor version 1.4.0 (still can use SM2).

Official Yamaha download site: http://download.yamaha.com

Thanks much for the swift reply. In order to work toward the best solution, allow me to explain how I used SM, and then perhaps you can advise on the best options to duplicate that in Cubase8.

My main controller is an S90ES. Prior to upgrading to Cubase8 I used SM to control multi-mode voicing from the s90 engine within Cubase, via the MULTI-PART EDITOR. That is what is most important to me. It was a simple and direct way to assign and manage the 16 available parts (patches) along with the associated volume, FX, reverb, pan, etc. controls. When opening a Cubase session, the s90es would automatically load all 16 patches, ALONG WITH their respective volume, fx, verb, etc. settings. Since SM will not operate in Cubase8, I've been left to "install" the s90es as a hardware synth via the Cubase Device Manager, and assign the multi-mode instruments via the normal Cubase track routing. (as I do with other non-Yamaha synths and sound generators). This method, while it works, does not allow manipulation of the individual part elements - particularly FX, chorus, pan and volume - from within Cubase. I have to move to the s90es itself and tweak those settings using the hardware display, which is NOT a good workflow. Does this all make sense? The graphic "mixer" environment provided with the multi-part editor in SM was a superb way to manage the multi-mode parts.

So, with that in mind, do your suggestions from above still best apply? Assuming I can establish the S90ES as a VSTi, do have any similar access to a multi-part editor? I'm much more interested in the multi-part editor than any patch editor.

Many Thanks!
Scott

When you didn't mention any specific keyboard, it was impossible to know which keyboard you actually were referring to... As you can tell I assumed you were referring to either the Motif XS, Motif-Rack XS, MOX, S90 XS/S70 XS, Motif XF, or MOXF as there is currently a known issue with the Extension (VST Assistant) and these current/recent instrument's VST version of the Editor.

The S90 ES pre-dates Yamaha developing the VST Editors.

I know of no such issue concerning the S90 ES MULTI-PART Editor or VOICE Editor. Are you reporting an issue? You say Studio Manager "will not operate in Cubase8"

I cannot personally verify your issue as I don't have an S90 ES any longer to run with a current version of Cubase Pro 8.
But I will investigate this for you, if you would provide some detail.

SM2 runs fine in Cubase Pro 8, as far as I know. We still have several products that still require the Studio Manager to run. If you are reporting an issue, please be specific about what happens, provide the version number of Studio Manager, the version/build of your version of Cubase, and provide the computer type and operating system you are using. And we'll need the versions of the Editors you are using. (Please provide the version numbers rather than just saying "the latest". It helps.

Let us know.

Great, thanks. I will do as you suggest and provide as much detail as I can. Generally, my experience with SM in C8 is that it does "run", (meaning it installs and shows up in the device menu etc) however the multi-part editor is in-operable (freezes). I'll run a battery of tests and get you some more detailed info ASAP. Really appreciate your input and assistance! Stay tuned...

Heres my system basics:
Win7Pro-64 bit
Dell 5810 workstation - 16g RAM
Cubase Pro 8 (full version) V 8.0.5 build 418
StudioManager V 2.3.1
MultiPart Editor V 2.2.2
s90es / USB midi driver V 1.9.0

Ok, so what I've experienced is that SM2 seems to function within C8, however the problem seems to be with the windows. Once you open the SM or Editor windows, you cannot move them, and the graphics associated with the windows have small errors. I've attached an screenshot so you can see. The actual windows become frozen in place and non-draggable, and the graphics associated with the menus and icons become distorted. It seems you can resize the windows by grabbing a corner, but you cannot move them as you can move normal windows by grabbing the top bar. It's just frozen. I know that Steinberg re-coded a lot of their windows iin C8 to function differently than prior versions, so maybe this just isn't "baked in" the way it should be. That said, from what I've read on the Steinberg.net forum, they seem to claim this is a Yamaha issue, not a Steinberg issue. I know you all are corporately related, but somehow this one got lost in the shuffle I suppose.

So, yes, I am reporting this as an issue. SM2 "works" in C8, but there is a problem with the GUI which prevents the windows from being movable. If you'd like more info, or have any suggestions, please advise.

Many thanks!!

Aaaaand...here's what happens when you try to move the windows too much, or try to exit Cubase when SM2 is running... big crash. This has never happened when I'm NOT running SM2, so I have to believe it is related somehow to the graphics problem with the SM2 windows. It just isn't interfacing well with the C8 environment.

Thank you. I will pass this along.
And... Yes, everything to do with Cubase Pro 8 is ultimately a "Yamaha issue".

You asked earlier if I thought the External Instrument setup would work for you with the S90 ES. There is no reason why it should not work. The Editor is not broken, the Studio Manager is not broken. Is it?

Can you launch the Studio Manager and run the Multi Part Editor, (without Cubase)?

If so, run what runs of Cubase Pro 8, use the Studio Manager and the Multi-Part Editor separately. This way you still get the benefit of using your Editor and yet you can use Cubase Pro 8 without fear of crashing it or overtaxing it. These may be things that can be easily fixed or it maybe as far as integrating the ten year old software into current systems goes. We'll have to wait to hear from those who write the code.

I'd write you a step-by-step on the workaround but, sorry, as I mentioned, I personally cannot duplicate your situation to test out what I'm suggesting (I no longer have anything from the ES era). But at the home office they have everything necessary to perhaps setup something similar. You may want to contact the Customer Support desk so they can open a case... This will ensure that it gets thoroughly researched (are you in the USA?) and they will contact you with the results.

The key is to create the External Instrument device, link it via the Midi Device Manager, launch it as an External Instrument Plugin VST.
You would setup and run Studio Manager and the Multi-Part Editor as a separate launch. They will run along side Cubase. The only thing is you will need to save a Studio Manager file, as it will not automatically be bundled in the CUBASE Project file .CPR