| Author |
Comment | ElmerJFudd
Guru
Posts: 3653
Loc: USA
(09/03/08 06:10 PM)
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Re: 1.1.4 is out!
(1) Sync from a device other than the Mac
Of course I am unhappy that this feature has not yet been implemented. I do not know what makes this technically difficult, I am not an engineer, but I do know that we have not gotten this feature from either Apple or Yamaha, and Yamaha is working on mLAN (even if it is during their spare time while they prepare drivers for newer products), where Apple no longer is (I respect Apple's efforts to keep our devices working with OSX when it was unclear what Yamaha's break with Apple on mLAN meant for us). Geosync has suggested on the forum that software for the newer products has been delayed by their cleaning up mLAN. I can't say what the case is either way, but we have had two updates from them when they said they would appear, their newest products can be networked with ours, and that surely says something. And, of course, Geosync suggests this is coming yet.
(2) No more CPU bursts
This was vastly improved in the previous Yamaha release already. What surprised me quite a bit is how much better the Yamaha drivers run on Leopard than on Tiger. Again, I am not sure if it is improvements that Apple has made in OSX or because the Yamaha engineers concentrated on optimizing the driver for Leopard which most of us have moved on to anyway.
(3) No more random offset.
I have a calculated a specific offset that I account for in Logic with my setup: 01X:i88x:i88x. My audio prints where it should even after restart, power down, reset. There may be a small difference in offset, depending on which device in the network you are recording from. I expect to see this even on the record bus inside the 01X itself. Strangely enough, the A/D ins on both my i88xs report the same offset.
(4) GP able to act as an actual patchbay.
One of the issues that was originally brought up was the ordering of connections, I'm able to cable any Out to any In and vice versa, so that is fine. I'd like to see our graphic patchbay active and working in real time (when cable one point to another it takes effect immediately without have to hit apply). It's only a one click inconvenience but, but it does take a moment for the network to reset itself. This might be because of core audio on OSX. Depending on how they are constructing the core audio "streams". they might have to tear it down and rebuild it to get the new number of audio channels. This might not be a limitation on Windows because Yamaha doesn't need to use an existing driver framework. Just guessing, again... not my area of expertise.
(5) The new drivers should be backward compatible to at least Mac OS 10.4.4
They are.
(6) The new drivers should be compatible with PPC G4 and G5 computers
They are.
(7) The new drivers should be free for all present owners of Mlan equipment using Mac OSX
They are.
Just my perspective on the issue, YMMV. Particularly because of the amount of time it has taken to get here, and that is understandable. But, regardless, every step Yamaha takes toward giving my hardware longevity is welcome (which is what they have done with OS9, Panther, Tiger, Leopard, XP, XP64, and Vista compatibility; having it work on G4, G5, Core2Duo and Xeon machines; and developing network-ability between three generations of products). There is not too much in the way of making very nice recordings with this gear at this point.
White MacBook '09 (4gb RAM), OSX.5.8, v.1.2 mLAN tools, Logic 9, 01X, S90ES, i88x & i88x
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  | geosync
Guru
Posts: 714
(09/03/08 07:24 PM)
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Re: 1.1.4 is out!
In reply to:
This is a method of cleaning up three separate applications that Yamaha currently has for connection... the autoconnector, graphic patchbay, and connection manager (which appears to be the AI driver for the XS w/mLAN16e and N series mixers - Geosync can you confirm this?).
This is correct
1: The connection Manager is the AI Driver used for connecting one AI Device (n series or Motif XS) It will automatically discover the device and make all connections.
OR
2: Auto Connector for connecting one mLAN device (01X,i88X,mLAN16e,MY16mLAN)
3: Graphic Patchbay bothe AI and mLAN devices
Clear as mud right?
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| ElmerJFudd
Guru
Posts: 3653
Loc: USA
(09/03/08 08:28 PM)
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Re: 1.1.4 is out!
Great, that's how I understood it.
Here is a look at CPU with this release of the drivers for those that are considering install.
The setup:
AUDIO
MIDI
WClck
CPU with mLAN running
More complicated audio routing
CPU with configuration above running
This is on my now lowly dual 2ghz G5, I suspect the 8 core fellows have plenty of headroom for their AUs.
White MacBook '09 (4gb RAM), OSX.5.8, v.1.2 mLAN tools, Logic 9, 01X, S90ES, i88x & i88x
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| chrismcc1
Guru
Posts: 1936
(09/04/08 12:34 AM)
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Re: 1.1.4 is out!
Georges,
Thankyou for your response, as always precise and encouraging.
Why is the new features list so dismal? I have not had time to test the new driver and my reaction was based on the features list posted by Yamaha. That list, remains pitiful!
You are suggesting there is a lot more under the hood with this release then is suggested in the new features list. It says absolutly nothing about CPU improvements, reorganisation of the various applications into a single menu tray item, lower or no offset, saved and remembered state, etc...
Clearly if these are all there, we have a fantastic driver, but why such poor publicity then?
I must say, Yamaha have got to be among the worst communicators! (at least they have got you to set things straight, and thanks again for that).
I will try and do some testing over the next week or so and hopefully will be happy to revert back with an update and amendment or mea culpa to my initial post.
My best personal regards as always
Christian
G52x2.5,OS10.5.6,SX4.1,O1x,I88x
http://www.christianmccormick.com/Page_7.htm
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| Acelera
Guru
Posts: 2791
Loc: London, UK
(09/04/08 01:31 AM)
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Re: 1.1.4 is out!
Indeed, the guy that writes the driver release notes needs slapped and forced to watch all seasons of 'All My Children' as due penitence.
This driver is a HUGE upgrade - why not spell it out?
Here's why I think so:
1. CPU usage now is as low as any audio interface I've had the fortune of working with.
2. The driver 'just works' now. I've not managed to get any of the funny crashes I'd manage to get 1.1.2 to do under duress.
3. CPU spikes are gone. Even on maxed out projects with a pile of SSL Duende plugins splattered over my audio tracks.
4. Contrary to what Yamaha hinted at back in the day - and to what I thought myself - the Motif XS and N8/N12 are now part of the mLAN family. I didn't think this would ever come to the Mac and that we'd carry on with the AI versus mLAN disparity.
George asked me to install this driver last night and I was VERY skeptical myself. Why on earth would I want to go from AI back to mLAN? I was having pretty good performance on my Macbook Pro + N12 combo but it's gone up a few notches further now.
I don't know how many of you have used the AI drivers for the XS and N families - I'm delighted to have a unified driver set that is truly the best of breed. Better CPU/firewire management than either the latest AI or the previous mLAN (and that is saying something - AI was already very good), the flexibility of the GP combined with the ease of use of the AI connection manager. Good riddance to the bloody mLAN templates. I always hated them.
If Yamaha keeps on this road, we're on a far, far better place. Just get cracking on making the Mac the wordclock slave now, guys.
http://www.myspace.com/aceleramusic
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| chrismcc1
Guru
Posts: 1936
(09/04/08 01:57 AM)
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Re: 1.1.4 is out!
Acelera,
That is indeed great news! I am now growing increasingly impatient to try this driver out over the weekend.
I am currently in the middle of the upgrade to Cubase 4.5 and I didn't want to risk trying several upgrades at the same time to avoid confusion as to what was causing what. As I said earlier, I relied on Yamaha's new items list...
I am going to revert back to the previous Cubase the quirks of which I am now familiar with and test the new driver.
If all goes well I will then move up to C4.5. I have a feeling there have been some mods under the hood in Cubase as well that affect firewire audio and audio interfaces in general...
I am astonished at this communication (lack of) from Yamaha.
They seem to work against themselves where Mlan is concerned! Now that they have the killer product they announced (in which only the announced external worldclock is missing), they seem shy on really saying so.
The front page of Mlan central doesn't even mention the update!
Really strange... Clearly as we test this driver, I am hoping we will all be convinced, and subsequently we will obviously advertise our satisfaction (I would be happy to update the petition page etc...). But a little more enthusiasm from Yamaha might not be a bad idea either!!!
Aside from Georges who kindly responded a few times on this thread, there still is no official announcement of the release on this site or elsewhere!
PS: On a side note, I wrote this using Chrome! Keyfax sites work great, and pretty fast on it!
Christian
G52x2.5,OS10.5.6,SX4.1,O1x,I88x
http://www.christianmccormick.com/Page_7.htm
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| chrismcc1
Guru
Posts: 1936
(09/04/08 02:08 AM)
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Re: 1.1.4 is out!
I have edited my initial post further above in the thread so futur readers will be inclined to read on before drawing any conclusions...
Christian
G52x2.5,OS10.5.6,SX4.1,O1x,I88x
http://www.christianmccormick.com/Page_7.htm
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| ElmerJFudd
Guru
Posts: 3653
Loc: USA
(09/04/08 05:35 AM)
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Re: 1.1.4 is out!
Just to clarify what I am seeing regarding improvements in CPU use of Yamaha's driver since they began working on it in house.
v1.1.1 on Tiger
v1.1.2 on Leopard with 5x5 MIDI engaged
v1.1.4 on Leopard with 5x5 MIDI engaged.
This low CPU use is "spikeless" regardless of how heavy the audio routing is.
White MacBook '09 (4gb RAM), OSX.5.8, v.1.2 mLAN tools, Logic 9, 01X, S90ES, i88x & i88x
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| skitta
Regular
Posts: 11
Loc: Finland
(09/04/08 01:27 PM)
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Re: 1.1.4 is out!
Ok, here's my take on the driver. First reaction was also "is this it?" after downloading and only reading the release notes.
Returning today and reading the comments it seemed more promising, so I updated. I must say it sure felt lighter performance wise right away. I opened some older projects with lot's of stuff in them and was able to play a song using two Space Designer, Addictive Drums and two Guitar amps before one of the CPU-meters were constantly at "red" (logics performance meter). Even then it played for the most time, so the CPU spikes are mostly gone and CPU usage more even.
Next test, adding my extra Firewire cards that never worked with the previous drivers (mLAN devices showed up in GP but couldn't connect). It seems to work now if I use the internal FW port for mLAN and the extra cards for other stuff like hard drives (FW800 available at last!). Just installing the cards broke everything previously.
Last thing on my list, getting mLAN MIDI to be usable again. That also works, which gives me 4 more available ins and outs, and less kludges (I used 01x-i88x MIDI connected to another MIDI port for Logic Control). I tested this just briefly, but if it still taxes the CPU it does much less than earlier (= changed from being completely unusable to seemingly working as it used to).
So generally I think it seems like a very good update (except for the release notes...  ) Btw, I'm still on my Dual G4 867MHz, so I do notice and I was in need performance improvements. This is the driver I would have wanted when I bought the system in 2004. Now waiting for the wordclock fix... 
(My rig: Dual G4 867MHz, 01x, i88x, ES6 (w/o mLAN), Logic 7.1, MacOSX 10.4.11)
Edited by skitta (09/04/08 01:30 PM)
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| DaveCanada2
Newcomer
Posts: 1
(09/04/08 03:53 PM)
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Re: 1.1.4 is out!
DaveCanada here... I've been trying to post for months, but my account seems locked up. I posted a PM to GeoSync - hopefully he can set me up.
So far i like the 1.1.4 drivers, and it's nice to hear that the external sync will be coming soon.
Side note - I mean, on-topic note - because of the improved CPU performance it looks as though I can get the latency a lot lower on CPU intensive projects - at least in my initial testing with Cubase 4.5.1
Hmmm... now that I can use mLan with AI devices on the mac - like the Motif XS series, I'm pondering an XS 7. I'll have to think about that a little more, but it could help keep my CPU down a little lower and still allow me to track midi in busy projects - which I can't really do no unless I use my *really* cheap synths - i.e., Yamaha DJX (how embarrassing).
Cheers,
Dave
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