DMXDesktop

Yamaha TF Series: audio into DMXDesktop

TF consoles present 34 channels to the computer over USB TO HOST. Most of that layout is fixed, but two parts can be chosen: what goes out on USB 1 and 2 (firmware V4.50 or newer), and what goes out on USB 33 and 34. Those two choices are the key to a music-only feed.

This article is part of Connecting a Sound Mixer to DMXDesktop, which covers the shared rules and the problems common to every console.

Models covered

  • TF1
  • TF3
  • TF5
  • TF-Rack

How the TF USB channels are laid out

This is the thing to understand before you start, because it decides everything else.

  • USB 1 to 32 are the direct outputs of input channels 1 to 32.
  • USB 1 and 2 can instead carry ST L/R, an AUX or a MATRIX output, on firmware V4.50 or newer. The choice is USB 1/2 Output, under Setup → Preferences → Others.
  • USB 33 and 34 carry whatever the built-in recorder is set to record: ST L/R, a pair of AUX buses, or on V3.5 and newer a MATRIX pair. You choose it in the recorder's INPUT/OUTPUT screen, from the RECORD source menu.

Check your firmware version before you start. On firmware older than V4.50, USB 1 and 2 are always the channel 1 and 2 direct outs.

What you need

  • A USB Type-B cable to the rear USB TO HOST port.
  • On Windows, the Yamaha Steinberg USB Driver. Its ASIO driver is needed for any channel above 2.
  • On macOS, nothing. The TF is class compliant.

Connect the console

Windows

  1. Install the Yamaha Steinberg USB Driver.
  2. Connect the cable and power the TF on.
  3. In DMXDesktop, open Settings → Audio and pick the Yamaha Steinberg device from the ASIO group.

macOS

  1. Connect and power on the TF.
  2. Confirm it appears in Audio MIDI Setup.
  3. Select it in Settings → Audio.

Fastest setup: the stereo mix

Firmware V4.50 or newer: on USB 1 and 2

  1. Open Setup → Preferences → Others.
  2. Set USB 1/2 Output to ST L/R.
  3. In DMXDesktop, select channels 1 and 2.

This works on macOS and on Windows with or without ASIO. It replaces the channel 1 and 2 direct outs on USB, so anyone recording those inputs will lose them.

Any firmware: on USB 33 and 34

  1. Open the recorder screen, then its INPUT/OUTPUT tab.
  2. Check the RECORD source is ST L/R.
  3. In DMXDesktop, select channels 33 and 34.

Both are the whole main mix, microphones included. If the desk handles speech, use a music-only AUX pair instead.

Recommended setup: a music-only AUX pair

  1. Pick two AUX buses you are not using for monitors, for example AUX 7 and AUX 8, and name them DMXDesktop.
  2. Turn both AUX masters on and set them to 0 dB.
  3. Send the music to them at 0 dB. For a stereo source on two input channels, send the left channel to AUX 7 and the right channel to AUX 8. Send a mono music channel to both at the same level.
  4. Leave the sends fully down on every speech microphone and talkback channel.
  5. Choose pre-fader or post-fader sends. Post-fader follows each channel's fader.
  6. On firmware V4.50 or newer, set USB 1/2 Output to that AUX pair, and select channels 1 and 2 in DMXDesktop. The pairs offered depend on your model and firmware.
  7. On older firmware, set the recorder's RECORD source to that AUX pair instead, and select channels 33 and 34. On Windows that needs ASIO.

Alternative: the music channels' direct outs

If the music arrives on its own pair of inputs, for example 9 and 10, then USB 9 and 10 already carry it with nothing else mixed in. Select channels 9 and 10 in DMXDesktop, with ASIO on Windows. These direct outs are before the fader, so the lighting will not follow the channel faders.

Music channels
players, DJ, live band
Speech mics and talkback
not sent to DMXDesktop
AUX 7 / 8
music channels only
USB out 1 / 2
USB 1/2 Output, V4.50 or newer
DMXDesktop
channels 1 and 2

Troubleshooting

DMXDesktop offers no channel choice on Windows

You are on the ordinary Windows device, not the Yamaha Steinberg ASIO driver. Channels 33 and 34 and the direct outs are unreachable that way. On V4.50 or newer, use USB 1/2 Output instead.

There is no USB 1/2 Output setting

Your firmware is older than V4.50. Update it, or use USB 33 and 34.

USB 33 and 34 are silent

Check the recorder's RECORD source, and check the bus it names is on and receiving signal.

The level ignores the channel fader

You are on a direct out, which is always before the fader on TF. Use an AUX pair or ST L/R instead.

Nothing works after changing drivers

Restart DMXDesktop. Also confirm no DAW is holding the ASIO driver, since it is single-client.

Still not working

Work through the shared checks in Connecting a Sound Mixer to DMXDesktop, which covers the faults that are not specific to one console. If you need to contact support, have these five things ready, because they resolve most cases immediately:

  1. The exact mixer model.
  2. Your Windows or macOS version.
  3. How the mixer is connected, and which USB port you used.
  4. Which device you picked in Settings → Audio.
  5. Which left and right channel numbers you selected.

For a console with a multichannel USB interface, a screenshot of the mixer's USB output patch is worth more than any log file.