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Yamaha Motif ES & Classic Tips

  • How to Save a Motif Song or Pattern as a WAV File

    This is by far one of the most popular questions I receive via email.

    In short, yes, you can save a Motif song or Pattern as a WAV file. But in order to do this, you will need to do the following:

    1. Purchase Yamaha certified sample RAM and install it in your Motif. Available at motifator.com
    2. Purchase and connect a USB storage device to your Motif (preferably a 1GB+ jump drive or USB hard drive). Both can be purchased from motifator.com

    Once you have fulfilled these requirements, here is the process:

    1. Record a song or pattern. Leave Track 16 open (good habit to get in)
    2. Press the Integrated sampling button. This will take you into the sampling function assicated with the mode you're in. I.e. if you are in Pattern mode, when you press the integrated sampling button, you will be in Sampling>Pattern mode.
    3. Place the cursor over the Track field and select Track 16.
    4. Press the SOURCE (F2) button. This opens the configuration screen. For TYPE select Sample; for SOURCE select Resample. Change the other fields in this screen as desired (I usually use all default values).
    5. Press the RECORD (F6!) button to enter record settings mode. In the top left Trggr field, select PUNCH. Then, in the field below, assign the measures in your Pattern you want the Motif to record (i.e. if your pattern is from 1 to 16, select punch IN as 001 and OUT as 016). Punch mode is the easiest method of recording a song or pattern.
    6. Press the REC (F6!) button to enter standby recording. Motif screen will say "Waiting.."  THEN press the PLAY (sequencer transport PLAY button -- the white one) to start recording. The Motif will play back your Pattern or Song, and when it reaches the last measure you defined as PUNCH  OUT, it will stop and present you three options: Audition (hold down button to listen to what you recorded); Cancel (Discard your recording); and OK (keep it!)
    7. Now you have recorded your song or pattern and you're ready to save it to USB or Smart Media. Click the FILE>SAVE buttons
    8. In the TYPE field select WAV and then press the DOWN arrow button to move the cursor into the NAME field [               ]. Use the jog wheel and arrow buttons to name your newly recorded WAV file (note: if you already have wav files in the directory, the Motif will automatically load the name of the first one listed in the name field. You MUST overwrite this name with  a new name if that happens).
    9. Now click the ENTER button. Another screen pops up. Make sure Track 16 is selected. Hold down the AUDITION (SF1) button to listen and you should hear your track. Don't worry about the C3 field.
    10. Click the ENTER button. If the screen says "Overwrite?" you should select NO and go back and give the the WAV a unique file name as I told you to do in step 8 :). If no message comes up, you're done and your wav has been saved to your storage device and can now be loaded into your computer if you connect your storage device to your computer.

    In the next tutorial I will be discussing how to make custom voices with your resampled soounds :)

    Happy Motif'g!

     

  • Yamaha Motif Classic & ES FAQ

    We are adding to this FAQ all the time, so please check back frequently, or register to receive update notifications via email at the bottom of this page.

    When recording in Pattern, what happens if you don't turn off the phrase voices in the track tab?
    You will not be able to change instruments for a recorded track. Try it. With Track Voices ON, record an instrument on a track, then go into voices and attempt to change the voice. Press the TOP button to return the sequencer back to measure 1 and hit PLAY. Notice your voice change does not stick and it reverts to orig voice you recorded with. In the OFF position, you will be able to change voices after recording. Highly recommend you ALWAYS turn track Voices off.

    If I want to copy say Pattern H with 5 tracks, to say Pattern P, can I copy more then one track at a time?
    Yes, you can copy all of them at the same time. Just hit JOB>PATTERN>COPY PATTERN, select source pattern and section (i.,e. pattern 1, Section H), then target pattern and section (i.e. Pattern 1, Section P) and hit ENTER. All tracks in pattern are copied.

    I noticed when I increase the volume or EQ on a pattern track/part, it changes on the others.
    Because you are changing MASTER EQ. You need to change PART EQ. To change part EQ: hit PATTERN>MIXING>EFFECT> then press the TRACK BUTTON that corresponds to the track you want to Part EQ> then hit EQ tab. Now you can change EQ for just that track... OR any other indiv tracks by selecting their TRACK BUTTON. Hit  STORE> ENTER> YES when done.

    How does one retard (slow the tempo down) at the end of a song or even slow the tempo?
    In song mode, press the RECORD button, then for track type select TEMPO TRACK. Now hit PLAY to commence recording. Make tempo changes as you see fit in real time. Same thing can be done in Pattern mode, but you have to be in Pattern>Chain mode.

    After this should I save pattern to the song mode?
    Up to you. If you want it in Song format, use the Convert Pattern to Song operation. Advantages of having it in Song mode versus creating a pattern chain? Hmmm. Maybe the advantage is that it's easire on stage to quickly call a SONG up and hit PLAY, than it is to call a PATTERN up, hit the CHAIN button and press PLAY. But then, if you use MASTER MODE as I explain in book 2, it's a moot point because master mode will play anything you tell it to play.

    What's the best way to keep volume the same/consistent on all Motif songs when playing a set?
    Assign a COMPRESSOR or LIMITER effect oto the Motif's  MASTER EFFECT. That  way you can be judicious with your volume levels when recording your songs in the Motif and not have to worry that they will blow the speakers up when they come on after a softer song.

    When we are performing at a gig can we prearrange the songs like a set list or just scroll thru the pattern or song mode?
    Use Master Templates (book 2)

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