The lastest news from Yamaha

EXer · Post by **EXer** » Sat Feb 05, 2011 7:13 am

Flash & The Pan wrote: [...]is not a shred of synthesis in this thing. Motif XF is a huge sample player, thats it. It has a very limited synth section, in short it has 1 VCF 1 VCA and 1 LFO which equals to a tad better than a Sound Font player.[...]

This is not true. This is either ignorance or provocation. Although a pure rompler, a Motif XS *is* a synth.

sewa · Post by **sewa** » Sat Feb 05, 2011 10:36 am

Flash & The Pan wrote:

My Yamaha Motif XF Review
Note: This is a very subjective review of Yamaha Motif XF from a sound designer/synthesist view.(Me)

Motif XF is a huge sample player, thats it. It has a very limited synth section, in short it has 1 VCF 1 VCA and 1 LFO which equals to a tad better than a Sound Font player.

lol, read Dave Polich's post in this thread: http://www.motifator.com/index.php/foru ... ead/453026

sewa · Post by **sewa** » Sat Feb 05, 2011 10:38 am

Flash & The Pan wrote: The Arpeggio functions, yeah its super great when working in VOICE mode but when working in SONG and PATTERN mode the ARP settings will reset, so you have to find the original arp setting by browsing 7000 arps on each arp'ed preset. Dohhh

"There is a “PART” parameter that when activated allows you to select a VOICE for a PART and it will automatically bring along its arpeggio setup.

The parameter is called “Parameter with Voice” - when set to ON (before you make the VOICE selection), the Voice will bring with it certain parameters as setup in VOICE mode."

http://www.motifator.com/index.php/foru ... ad/453023/

sewa · Post by **sewa** » Sat Feb 05, 2011 11:08 am

I recommend the following link to anyone interested in a proper review of the motif x series: http://www.tweakheadz.com/reviews/revie ... tif_xs.htm

Have look at the part: "programming the motif xs"

peace from a fellow (Korg) Radias user

Bachus · Post by **Bachus** » Sat Feb 05, 2011 11:32 am

EXer wrote:
Bachus wrote:I own a Yamaha S90ES (Motif ES) and the best part of that board is the fact that i have 3 expansion boards inside it (VL, AN, DX) which add 3 more types of synthesis to my S90ES...

Motif XF and XS don't have these expansion options, and i allways wondered why?
They didn't sell well. Only a small fraction of the Motif/Motif ES buyers also bought VL, AN or DX PLG cards. The PLG cards that sold the better where the expansion ROM cards (pianos, drums...), which are not needed anymore on the most recent Motifs with their larger ROM.

Let's not blame Yamaha. As a manufacturer, if they want to live they have to manufacture products that sell, i.e. products that meet their market. Most of the synth/workstation buyers are not interested in synthesis. All they want is good quality and ready to use sounds is a preset laden rompler. Some (most?) of them even never edit a preset.

Given the succes of third party sounds, it seems that many Motif users don't even know a synth is a sound factory before being a sound bank...

Dye hart synthesis fans are a niche market which is met essentially by specialised instruments (e.g. the Roland V-Synth, which is a fantastic sound design machine) or by plug-ins.

I know they didn't sell well, and i agree that says more about the general Yamaha customer then over the actuall quallity of their addon boards. I adore them..

In combination with my V-synth GT, my loaded XV 5080 and my software setup they make me kind of happy...

But then i am one of those people that allways wants more.. i somehow want to add KARMA and high quallity arranger styles (i am an old time organ and arranger player) to this setup.. (Yes i am very much considering KRONOS, as i allways wanted an OASYS but could never pay it)

Needles to say i don't want to miss my motif (S90ES) or my V-synth, espescially the VL and AN expansion boards. but when i get a KRONOS 3 keybeds are just to much...

vEddY · Post by **vEddY** » Sat Feb 05, 2011 8:41 pm

Introducing the Motif Library Card! - You get an amazing deal on voice, sample, pattern, and arpeggio libraries, you get 'no hassle' loading, and you get a stylish USB memory card branded with the name of your favorite support website (well, we hope!).

* Vintage Keys–the #1 best selling voice library from DCP (VOICE)
* Orchestral Strings–a must-have sample library from DCP (SAMPLE)
* Twiddly.Bits Drums & Percussion–inspired drummer-played MIDI loops from Keyfax (PATTERN)
* Rock Solid Drums, Rock Solid Strums – multi-purpose arps from Keyfax (ARPEGGIO)

A brand new video from Motifator.com: Yamaha XF Fully Loaded
New XS/XF Libraries & XF Conversions

Looks like the fight is on

synthguy · Post by **synthguy** » Sun Feb 06, 2011 4:10 am

EXer wrote:¤ with their EX5, they have proven they can integrate different synthesis engines in one single instrument (not only AWM2, AN and VL but also FDSP, an algorithm of which (EP) is now used in their CP1). The EX5 has been the best sounding multi-synthesis keyboard ever until the Oasys was released.

I was going to mention this myself. The EX-5 is an instrument that was ahead of its time, and the first to offer 128 voice polyphony in its sample playback engine. Yamaha could indeed come back swinging with - not a KRONOS killer, but a worthy competitor. And I suspect they will, because McHale is right about the Motif. It's yesterday's news as far as sexy new technology goes.

I have hope for Roland too. I used to be a huge Roland fan, and their XP-80 workstations were excellent sounding. While they went on to produce a string of great sounding modules, the JD-990 (which I own), XV-3080 and 5080, they began to fumble a bit with the Fantom line. Overall they're great sounding synths, and I love the vintage and orchestral expansion boards for them, but the effects are badly limited and the filters can sound downright nasty on some synth patches.

I hope both of them do well this year, even though KRONOS is going to slam into the music market like an alien invasion. While I've made my allegiance with KORG and Kurzweil, and this upstart little Fronch company called Arturia, I need Yamaha and Roland to keep feeding the market, because... well, I find that a good synthesis diet requires a variety of ingredients, and those two guys do offer some tasty tidbits now and then.

Oh by the way, on my own freak score:

Need to be unique: 73%
Need to NOT conform: 16%
Willingness to express dissent: 67%
Overall score: 52%

FREAK!

Coming from a fairly conservative Bible thumper?

vEddY · Post by **vEddY** » Sun Feb 06, 2011 10:16 am

synthguy wrote: Oh by the way, on my own freak score:
Need to be unique: 73%
Need to NOT conform: 16%
Willingness to express dissent: 67%
Overall score: 52%

Need to be unique: 88%
Need to NOT conform: 97%
Willingness to express dissent: 91%
Overall score: 91%

Result: a Freak!

xmlguy · Post by **xmlguy** » Sun Feb 06, 2011 10:17 am

I just saw a Stevie Wonder special on PBS where he was playing a Motif XS for his primary EP sounds, plus there was at least two Korgs in the back line, a Triton Classic/Studio and a Triton Extreme or Oasys. Only glimpses of the Korgs were shown. So in the spirit of "Ebony and Ivory", I think Korg and Yamaha can get along on stage in perfect harmony.

McHale · Post by **McHale** » Sun Feb 06, 2011 2:22 pm

I just watched Michael Jackson's "This Is It" a couple days ago for the first time and each person had an M3 and a Motif. I had the article up on what was used on which song and what I find funny now is how many people complained on here about how horrible the M3 is for brass sounds. Well, they used the M3 for most of the brass and it sounded fantastic.

Kontrol49 · Post by **Kontrol49** » Sun Feb 06, 2011 8:49 pm

McHale wrote:I just watched Michael Jackson's "This Is It" a couple days ago for the first time and each person had an M3 and a Motif. I had the article up on what was used on which song and what I find funny now is how many people complained on here about how horrible the M3 is for brass sounds. Well, they used the M3 for most of the brass and it sounded fantastic.

Different strokes for different folks....Its a personal preference,there are synths I rate for certain types of sounds they do yet others will say its crap,and vice versa...

There are so many subjective opinions about synths that you can't take everything by hype alone,its amazing how many people purchase a synth because of "insert famous name uses it" rather than trusting their ears.

What matters is what works for yourself and your music,its one of the reasons I would never be able to work with one single instrument,and I think the best way to be is to use a set of different synths that overlap or cover each others weakness,for me synths have always worked best in a yin and yang situation and in the most unusual combinations of synth you would never have thought would work

ellll · Post by **ellll** » Sun Feb 06, 2011 8:59 pm

Much of that issue of sound, like the brass,

MAY be looked at as what works, but it depends on whether we are seeking authenticity ...There is one that is authentic,,, The real Brass.....

All others are imitation and in the end come through an electronic reproducer of some kind... and people hear "speakers" ..,et al , differently...

So I agree, what works is paramount but authenticity is a REAL thing that can be sought .., and some are more "real" sounding than others.... (But the little I have had a chance to hear in a studio like situation I lked the M 3)

Regards John

apex · Post by **apex** » Mon Feb 07, 2011 5:01 am

synthguy wrote: Overall they're great sounding synths, and I love the vintage and orchestral expansion boards for them, but the effects are badly limited and the filters can sound downright nasty on some synth patches.

when you say downright nasty... do you mean nasty in a good way or in a bad way?

Bachus · Post by **Bachus** » Mon Feb 07, 2011 10:16 am

Spoke to a Yamaha demonstrator over the weekend, his name was Bert....

he told me that Yamaha would have some surprises for everyone at Musikmesse...

-Tyros 4 rack
-Tyros 4 pro with 76 keys

-Cubase based studio workstation with buildin cubase and VST support... Including a hardware upgrade program for the future...
-VST version of the MOTIF XF, even works with the KARMA software
-VST versions of many of their previous synths
-VSTversion of Tyros 4
-Everything else needed to build your own dreamsystem.

-Modular solo synth with all possible synthesis engines that lets you combine building blocks of the different engines in a modualr sense...

Everyone must be prepared to be surprised in Frankfurt....

This post was entirely made up, for those that didn't think it was obvious.... point is this post has allready been quoted twice in other forums and started some discussions overthere, all i was trying to show is what Yamaha would be capable off, but what they do not do, so do not take this serious at all

synthguy · Post by **synthguy** » Mon Feb 07, 2011 11:12 am

apex wrote:
synthguy wrote: Overall they're great sounding synths, and I love the vintage and orchestral expansion boards for them, but the effects are badly limited and the filters can sound downright nasty on some synth patches.
when you say downright nasty... do you mean nasty in a good way or in a bad way?

Unfortunately, in a not very nice way. There were some patches I just couldn't get the filters to sound right, like I could on my JD-990. But to be fair, the JD was built to be a synthesizer, and my Yamaha Motif ES Rack wasn't much better because the waveforms were lacking for a lot of synth patches I wanted to make. While the Kurzweils seem to be the best rompler workstations for synth sounds, my KORGs are pretty darn close, with a great selection of waveforms and nice sounding filters.