MusicRadar

The MR816 CSX is smarter than your average audio interface.

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Cubase compatibility

We suspect that the vast majority of MR816 buyers will be Cubase users, and if you're using a version with Advanced Integration (4.5 and onwards), then you can ignore the MR Editor entirely as all its functions are built into new, dedicated windows within Cubase.

This opens up some great new features, and in case you don't already have Cubase, there's a version in the box.

As well as the routing and mixing options, the DSP effects are accessible directly from Cubase. The Channel Strip can be used to effect the input signal or purely for monitoring, whereas in this mode the reverb is for monitoring only. The only real catch is, you can't do both at the same time.

Of the Cubase-specific features, the input section of the extended Cubase mixer offers direct access to the MR via the Hardware tab. Options include Phase Reverse, Low-cut Filter, the Sweet Spot Morpher and Compressor Drive, plus headphone and REV-X send levels, and effects routing. You can also open individual windows for the Channel Strip and REV-X.

The device ties in with the Cubase Control Room, so with hardware monitoring enabled you can use the Studio Send facility to configure headphone mixes with near-zero latency. The new MR Hardware Set Up window in the Devices menu lets you configure routing for the MR's headphones and the REV-X monitoring effect.

The final Cubase-only feature is Quick Connect. By selecting one or more audio channels in Cubase and hitting a blue selector button, that particular input is automatically routed to said channel or channels.

Summary

From a purely Cubase perspective, we found that the MR816 CSX worked superbly well – we can't think of any other native system that achieves this level of integration.

So what are the downsides? First up, the lack of MIDI means it doesn't quite cover all bases. Also, as mentioned, the DSPs can't be used in plug-in and input effect mode at the same time. Plus, as it's VST3-only, the plug-in effects are Cubase/Nuendo-only for the time being.

However, the biggest drawback has to be for non-Cubase users, who will be looking at this unit and wondering why they can't enjoy this level of integration with their own system. Of course, the answer is that they can, as long as they switch to Cubase, which would no doubt be music to the ears of both Steinberg and Yamaha.

Listen to the MR816 CSX's onboard compressor, EQ and reverb in action: