Yamaha MOTIF XS6, MOTIF XS7, MOTIF XS8

MOTIF XS Owner’s Manual

Basic Structure

Basic StructureBasic Operation

Connections

Basic Section

Controller Block

This block consists of the keyboard, Pitch Bend and Modulation Wheels, Ribbon Controller, Knobs, Sliders and so on. The

keyboard itself doesn’t generate sounds, but instead generates/transmits note on/off, velocity and other information (MIDI

messages) to the synthesizer’s tone generator block when you play notes. The controllers also generate/transmit MIDI

messages. The synthesizer’s tone generator block produces the sound according to the MIDI messages transmitted from

the keyboard and controllers.

Keyboard

The keyboard transmits the note on/off messages to the

Tone Generator Block (for sounding) and Sequencer Block

(for recording). The keyboard is also used for triggering

Arpeggio playback. You can change the note range of the

keyboard in octaves by using the OCTAVE [UP] and

[DOWN] buttons, transpose the notes in the Play display

(page 259) of the Utility mode, and set how the actual

velocity is generated according to the strength with which

you play notes in the same display.

Pitch Bend wheel

Use the Pitch Bend wheel to bend notes up (roll the wheel

away from you) or down (roll the wheel toward you) while

playing the keyboard. This wheel is self-centering and will

automatically return to normal pitch when released. Try out

the Pitch Bend wheel while pressing a note on the

keyboard.

Each preset Voice has its own default Pitch Bend Range

setting. The Pitch Bend Range setting for each Voice can

be changed in the Play Mode display (page 98) of the

Voice Edit mode. From this display you can also reverse

the Pitch Bend function—so that moving the wheel up

lowers the pitch, and moving it down raises the pitch.

Functions other than Pitch Bend can be assigned to the

Pitch Bend wheel in the Controller Set display (page 104)

of the Voice Edit mode.

Modulation wheel

Even though the Modulation wheel is conventionally used

to apply vibrato to the sound, many of the preset Voices

have other functions and effects assigned to the wheel.

The more you move this wheel up, the greater the effect

that is applied to the sound. Try out the Modulation wheel

with various preset Voices while playing the keyboard. To

avoid accidentally applying effects to the current Voice,

make sure the Modulation wheel is set to minimum before

you start playing. Various functions can be assigned to the

Modulation wheel in the Controller Set display (page 104)

of the Voice Edit mode.

Ribbon Controller

The Ribbon Controller is touch sensitive, and is controlled

by running your ﬁnger laterally across the surface. Various

functions are assigned to each preset Voice. Try out the

Ribbon Controller with various preset Voices while playing

the keyboard. Various functions can be assigned to the

Ribbon Controller in the Controller Set display (page 104)

of the Voice Edit mode. You can also determine whether

the Ribbon Controller value returns to the center, or stays at

the point where you released your ﬁnger in the General

Other display (page 100) of the Voice Common Edit mode.

Assignable Function Buttons

According to the XA (Expanded Articulation) Control

settings in the Oscillator display (page 112) of the Voice

Element Edit mode, you can call up the speciﬁc Element of

the current Voice by pressing each of these buttons during

your keyboard performance. You can select how the on/off

status of these buttons is switched by using the Assignable

Function 1 Mode and Assignable Function 2 Mode

parameters in the General Other display (page 100) of the

Voice Common Edit mode. Furthermore, you can assign

various functions (other than calling up speciﬁc Elements)

to these buttons.

Pitch Up

Pitch Down

Maximum

Minimum