Yamaha Motif XS8 Music Production Synthesizer Workstation

Motif XS8 Music Production Synthesizer Workstation description:

With the Yamaha MOTIF XS 8 inspiration is just a key press away.

The Yamaha MOTIF XS 8 features high-quality sounds to inspire you, intelligent arpeggiators to fuel your creativity, recording features to capture every idea, built-in sampling to create full audio/MIDI arrangements, rhythmic Patterns to compose with, studio-style mixing controls and versatile effect processing to master your final productions. With all this and more, the MOTIF XS 8 will soon be your favorite ‘go-to’ instrument—whether you’re composing at home, recording in the studio, or playing live.

The 128 voices of the XS's AWM2 Tone Generator are based on 2.670 Waveforms in the large 355 MB Wave-ROM which can be expanded by up to 1 GB of Sample-RAM for further samples. Each Voice can consist of up to eight Elements, which can be dynamically activated in the "Expanded Articulation" mode ("XA-Mode") to simulate different playing styles of acoustic instruments in a very realistic way. Use Performances to arrange up to four Voices in layers and splits over the keyboard. Thanks to its intelligent chord recognition the 4-part Arpeggiator and its 6,000 Phrases supplies the perfect accompaniment. With one press on the Record button you can record directly from the Performance mode into the sequencer - perfect to sketch your ideas. The Master-Mode divides the keyboard in up to eight zones and makes the MOTIF XS a perfect Masterkeyboard.

Control the XS 8 in real time with Ribbon Controller, Modulation and Pitch Bend wheel, 2 buttons, 8 Knobs and 8 Faders. The large color LC-display (320 x 240 Pixel) delivers the best overview. This all supports the Remote Control functions to control DAW software on your computer. For data saving purposes there is a USB to Device port and an Ethernet port to integrate the MOTIF XS in a LAN. Four analogue audio outputs and a S/PDIF digital audio output deliver the outstanding sound of the MOTIF XS 8.

Despite all the advanced technology and wealth of features packed tightly into the instrument, the MOTIF XS 8 is exceptionally intuitive and easy to use. It gives you a large, full-dot color LCD that lets you see multiple parameters at a glance, and has clear, high-resolution graphics with virtual sliders, knobs and more.

A full-featured music production synthesizer in every way, the MOTIF XS 8 comes equipped with a variety of connectors and interfaces-for virtually any application and any studio situation. These include independent Assignable Outputs, A/D Inputs (for recording external sources), S/P DIF Digital Output, MIDI, Ethernet, IEEE 1394 and two USB connectors, compatible with the high-speed USB 2.0 standard.

Today’s music production is highly dependent on software, and the MOTIF XS 8 is designed to work seamlessly and transparently in your computer-based environment. The Remote Control mode lets you control your DAW software right from the panel of the MOTIF XS — for example, starting and stopping playback/recording with the special transport buttons, changing track levels with the sliders, and tweaking parameters with the knobs.

The MOTIF XS 8 is also compatible with the MOTIF XS Editor — a comprehensive, easy-to-use editing software program that lets you edit (via USB connection) the Mixing setups and Mixing Voices to be used for Song/Pattern playback directly on your computer. The MOTIF XS Editor is free and can be downloaded from the Yamaha website. Naturally, the editor can be used within Cubase as part of Studio Connections, and all settings can be saved with each project for instant recall.

If Cubase is not yet part of your software arsenal, a copy of the new Cubase AI is bundled with the instrument, letting you dive in and start using the versatile features of Studio Connections right out of the box. Cubase AI is a full-featured music production software that integrates fully with the MOTIF XS 8, and can easily be upgraded to Cubase 4. It gives you all the tools to produce professional level recordings — quickly and easily — with a system that you can expand into the future.

Yamaha MOTIF XS 8 main features include:

• 88 keys, Balanced Hammer Effect Keyboard (Initial Touch/Aftertouch)
• Tone Generator AWM2 with Expanded Articulation
• Polyphony 128 notes
• Multi Timbral Capacity 16 Parts (internal), Audio Input Parts
• Wave 355MB (when converted to 16-bit linear format), 2,670 waveforms
• Voice Preset: 1,024 Normal Voices + 64 Drum Kits
• GM: 128 Normal Voices + 1 Drum Kit
• User: 128 x 3 (selected and copied from Preset bank) Normal Voice + 32 Drum Kits
• Performance User: 128 x 3 (up to 4 Parts)
• Filter 18 types
• Effect System Reverb x 9 types, Chorus x 22 types, Insertion (A, B, L) x 53 types x 8 blocks, Master Effect x 9 types, Master Equalizer (5 bands), Part EQ (3 bands, stereo)
• Samples Up to 1,024 Waveforms (Multi Samples)
• Up to 128 Key Banks per Waveform
• Up to 4,096 Key Banks
• Sampling Sources Analog input L/R, Stereo output (Resampling), IEEE 1394 Digital input (available on the MOTIF XS6 and 7 when the optional board has been installed)
• A/D Conversion 24-bit, 64x oversampling
• D/A Conversion 24-bit, 128x oversampling
• Sample Data Bits 16
• Sampling Frequency 44.1kHz, 22.05kHz, 11.025kHz, 5.5125kHz (Stereo/Mono)
• Sampling Memory Optionally installed, expandable to 1GB (512MB DIMM x 2 slots)
• Note Capacity Approx. 130,000 notes
• Note Resolution 480 ppq (parts per quarter note)
• Maximum Polyphony 124 notes
• Tempo (BPM) 5 – 300
• Arpeggio Preset: Approx. 6,000 types, User: 256 types
• 8 Zones (Master keyboard settings), Assignable Knob/Slider settings, Program Change Table
• Sequence Software compatible with the Remote Control function For Windows: Cubase 4, Cubase AI, SONAR 5.2, For Macintosh: Cubase 4, Cubase AI, Logic 7.2, Digital Performer 5
• Display 320 x 240 dot, 5.7 inch graphic color backlit LCD
• Dimensions, Weight: 1,457 (W) x 466 (D) x 168 (H) mm, 28.6 kg
• Accessories AC Power cord, Cubase AI Disc x 1, Owner’s Manual, Data List