Yamaha MOTIF7 Voice Editor User Manual download pdf

Yamaha built a versatile and expandable synth workstation designed to ‘sound

great’. Richard Clews asks, ‘what’s my Motif?

Yamaha Motif

amaha’s new Motif synthesiser is the latest in a long

line of innovative and versatile keyboards. Its prede-

cessor, the EX5, was one of the few instruments to

combine several synthesis methods ‘under the bonnet’.

DSP limitations hampered its success, but the EX5 concept

has evolved into Yamaha’s Plug-in range of DSP boards,

which play a substantial role in the new synth’s design.

In addition to expandability, the Motif promises to

bring sampling, sequencing and synthesis together

through its Integrated Sampling Sequencer – a feature

shared with the RS7000. The Motif can also control

software sequencers from its front panel, a benefit to

keyboard players with computer-based studios. Exciting

stuff, and an invitation to get motifated [arf! – CH].

In Out, Shake it All About

Visually, the Motif’s clean lines and metallic finish give it a

distinct identity. There are three keyboard lengths to choose

from. The Motif 6 (61-note) and 7 (76-note) use the ‘FS’

action from the EX5 and recent Korgs, while the 88-note

Motif 8 boasts weighted piano-action keys. All keyboards

come with aftertouch, but not poly aftertouch, which has

sadly gone the way of the thylacine. The Motif 7 used for

this test had an excellent keyboard feel, reinforced by the

instrument’s solid build. At 18kg, the Motif has enough

weight to inspire confidence but not damage your back.

Real-time editing is executed with four sliders and four

knobs. While each set of controls has 16 assignable

functions, the sliders are mainly used for level changes

while the knobs adjust filters and envelopes. Heavy duty

editing can be carried out with bundled software, and the

otif 7 and 8 have enough space to rest a KAOSS pad or

similar Midi controller. Elsewhere, the LCD display is

clear, and the number of editing pages has been

minimised by ‘context sensitive’ editing – for example, if

you are in Sampling mode and press Edit, you immediate-

ly call up Sampling parameters. There’s no wading

through Voice and Sequencing pages first.

Round the back, the Motif has a full range of connec-

tions – stereo, plus two assignable outs, two foot con-

troller inputs, sustain and foot switches, breath controller

and A/D input (on 6.5mm jacks). Outputs can be

increased with an AIEB1 expansion board (six analogue

outs, optical and S/PDIF) or mLAN8E. A ventilated panel

gives access to three slots for Plug-in synthesis boards,

and SCSI comes as standard. One ergonomic slip is that

the outputs are beneath a ledge. Therefore you need to

get behind the synth to make connections, rather than

lean over the front panel.

This could be problematic if you need to swap a faulty

cable during a gig.

Inside, there are 384 preset Voices, each comprising up

to four AWM2 sample elements, 128 Performances, which

combine up to four Voices in splits or layers, and 48 drum

kits. A maximum 128 edited Voices and 16 drum kits can

be stored internally, while each Performance is already in

a ‘user’ space – edits will overwrite the factory settings.

Polyphony is 62 notes, plus the polyphony of any Plug-in

1 2 3

Summary of Contents

Page 1 - Yamaha Motif

80Yamaha built a versatile and expandable synth workstation designed to ‘soundgreat’. Richard Clews asks, ‘what’s my Motif?Yamaha MotifEQUIPMENT TEST

Page 2 - Integrated Sampling Sequencer

82boards installed. Internal sample storage is a maximum64MB (4MB comes fitted) on 72-pin SIMMS, but this isvolatile – you must save data using Smart

Page 3

84hold down the notes you want to erase. Once yourpatterns are finished, you can use Pattern Chain Recordmode to arrange your patterns in real time, a

Comments to this Manuals

No comments

Yamaha MOTIF7 Voice Editor User Manual

Browse online or download User Manual for Synthesizer Yamaha MOTIF7 Voice Editor. Yamaha Motif Issue 16 [en]

Summary of Contents

Comments to this Manuals

Related products and manuals for Synthesizer Yamaha MOTIF7 Voice Editor