Re: [MoAccess] new motif
- From: clarence griffin <goldfingas@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: MoAccess@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Mon, 9 Aug 2010 17:07:06 -0400
wowe, you can't upgrade the sample memory? that's a move in the wrong
direction, don't ya think? I have a gig in the xs now.
GF
On Aug 9, 2010, at 1:28 PM, Bryan Smart wrote:
> Yamaha quoted different prices for the US models, at least. They'll all cost
> slightly more than the XS versions, but will include a bit more stock. This
> is largely because that, even with the decreased cost of manufacturer in the
> last three years between the XS and XF, inflation is driving up the cost of
> materials and labor. That's one of the large reasons that the XF is an
> upgraded XS, and not a revolution. A revolution would be too expensive for
> most people.
>
> The flash boards will be about $600 each for the 1GB versions. You can
> install 2 of them, giving you 2 GB total of permanent flash memory. The XF
> will already include 128MB of sample memory, and it can't be upgraded.
>
> The new Motif will be organized a bit different internally, though, from what
> I have learned, the software won't be radically reorganized from the XS.
>
> The Motif is built on a 32-bit computer, and so it is practically impossible
> for it to use more than a total of 4GB of memory for everything: rom samples,
> RAM samples, flash samples, voices, performances, preset and user arps,
> mixing templates, system settings, operating system, etc. The Motif doesn't
> stream material from disk. Everything has to be directly accessible in memory
> at all times. So, 4GB of everything is as far as we go without an entirely
> new Motif.
>
> Producing an entirely new Motif would cost significant money, but Yamaha has
> done a great job at stretching the existing system just about as far as it
> could go.
>
> The 355MB of samples in the XS have been doubled to nearly 750MB. The Motif
> is still the king in terms of the size of its built-in sample memory. I'm
> told that there are new banks of presets, but don't know the details yet.
> Based on the past, though, I'd expect that we'll now have 10 banks of
> presets, plus the GM bank.
>
> The sample memory has been reduced from a maximum of 2GB, down to 128MB. This
> sounds like a downgrade, but actually isn't. On every Motif up until now, the
> sample memory was used for anything that had to do with creating samples,
> storing samples for user voices, etc. On the XF, though, the sample memory is
> only used for holding samples as you're creating them. So, if you're editing
> a sample, or if you're sampling from one of the inputs, you're recording to
> the 128MB of sample memory. So, you can't make a sample larger than 128MB
> natively on the Motif, but, since that is enough for about 6 minutes of
> stereo recording, most people will never run in to that problem. Should you
> need to work with larger samples, the Motif XF can now transfer samples from
> the computer. John, and others, already have completed software for doing
> this.
>
> The reason for shrinking the sample memory is to free up part of the 4GB of
> potential addressable memory for the new feature, the permanent flash memory.
> The new flash memory is where samples are stored when they are loaded, but
> you aren't editing them.
>
> On earlier models of Motif, when you created samples, they were stored in
> sample memory, and you had to save them when turning off the power, or they'd
> be lost. When you turned the Motif back on, you had to load the samples back
> in from a memory card or flash disk. Now, though, when you save samples that
> you've created, they are stored in the flash memory, just like your preset
> voices, performances, etc. That means, if you turn off the power, and turn it
> back on, the samples are there immediately, without having to wait for them
> to be loaded. If you're in the middle of working on a big sampling project,
> and the power accidentally goes off, your samples will be safe in flash
> memory. If you have a large set of samples, and make a change to just a few
> of them, there is no need to wait for 5 minutes or more while your entire
> collection of samples is saved from sample RAM out to your USB drive.
>
> If you don't sample, but like to use Motif sample libraries, then the flash
> memory is a great feature for you, too. When voices were loaded in to older
> Motifs, any samples that they used were loaded in to the sample RAM. If you
> had a large set of sample libraries that you liked to use for live gigs, you
> had to wait 5 or more minutes after powering on the Motif before your voices
> would be ready to play. On the XF, when you load any voices that use samples,
> the samples are loaded in to the flash memory. Once they're loaded, they are
> there for good, until you erase them. You can fill your Motif with up to 2GB
> of sample libraries, power down, and those libraries will be instantly ready
> as soon as you turn on your Motif. That's great insurance against a power
> failure or someone tripping over a cord at a gig. Previously, you had to
> improv, or get the other musicians to cover for a few minutes, while you boot
> up and load everything back in. That isn't an issue anymore.
>
> You can still save all of your voices, samples, etc to an all file, but the
> main reason to do that now is to make a backup of what is in memory. You
> aren't required to save an all file each time you shut down, anymore.
>
> Yamaha also added another bank for user voices. There is now room for 4 banks
> of user voices. This now makes the Motif a little like an expandable rompler.
> If you just would like to add more sounds to your Motif, you can load up to
> 2GB of them to be permanently added to the Motif's on-board samples, and can
> use them in up to 512 user voices.
>
> So, when fully expanded, the Motif XF can start up, and have immediate access
> to nearly 2,000 voices/patches, that can use up to nearly 2.8GB of samples.
> That's pretty massive for a workstation keyboard.
>
> The XF will also have a tap tempo button. I harassed the fuck out of some
> people for this. Glad that they listened.
>
> However, my request for an un-do button was ignored.
>
> Also, as far as I've been told, there is no change to the synth engine. The
> synth engine is the same as in the XS. So, this means that the glide issues
> are still there. From what I'm told, this will not be fixed until the synth
> engine is redesigned. Changing it now would require that additional voice
> parameters were added, and doing that now would break compatibility with the
> XS.
>
> The already huge arp library on the XS has been increased by another 20% or
> so for the XF. Also, thankfully, they've now included a category search
> feature for arps. I mean, there are lots of really good arps in the XS, but
> finding the one that you want in the sea of thousands has always been
> extremely difficult. Maybe category search will make it easier to use them.
>
> Other things... While the synth engine is the same, the D/A converters have
> been upgraded. The XS always sounded a tiny bit dull compared to the ES. The
> new converters may fix this. There is also a new Firewire interface card that
> is designed to fit the new case, but it doesn't have any new capabilities:
> still 16 channels to the computer, and 6 back to the Motif.
>
> What has not changed? The keyboard actions are the same. The I/O options are
> the same. The controllers (pitch/mod/ribbon) are the same. The control panel
> is supposedly almost the same, but has a few additions.
>
> Yamaha has announced that some of the XF features will come to the XS in
> another OS update. Of course, they can't add the new flash storage to the XS,
> but things like the arp category search will probably make it.
>
> I couldn't not be interested in what is going on with a new Motif. I feel
> like I've been so involved with Motif in one form or another for so long,
> though GF is probably the man on the list that has owned one the longest. I
> have no idea if I'll buy one. It sounds like a really great board. If you
> perform live a lot, the Motif XF certainly has some absolutely great
> advantages. However, I'm a studio cat, so its benefits aren't as important to
> me. Plus, I'm getting deep with Logic on the Mac, and the Logic instruments
> are every bit as good as, and in many cases much better, than the Motif.
> Fully outfitting an XF6 will cost something like $3,300. If I didn't get a
> Motif, that money could make many other things happen in my musical world. I
> think that the price is fair for what it can do, but I just don't know if I,
> personally, need it enough anymore to spend cash like that on it.
>
> That's everything that I know about the XF, I think.
>
> Bryan
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: moaccess-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:moaccess-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
> Behalf Of Vince Mistretta
> Sent: Monday, August 09, 2010 12:38 PM
> To: MoAccess@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: Re: [MoAccess] new motif
>
> A dealer friend of my says October shipping of all models.
>
> Prices XF8 - List 4035.99 - Dealer sale price $3495.00
> XF7 - $3495.00 - seale $3035.00
> Xf6 will be same price as XS6.
>
> 1GB Expancion Flash is going to be around $300. It will have capability of
> expanding to 3GB of Flash RAM.
>
>
> On 8/9/10, clarence griffin <goldfingas@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>> oh boy, guess I need to save my pennies. lol. I have to get the new
>> one, I had all the others. lol.
>>
>> GF
>>
>>
>> On Aug 9, 2010, at 12:15 PM, Damon Fibraio wrote:
>>
>>> They announced it last week. Should be seeing it in stores in October.
>>>
>>> --
>>> Damon Fibraio
>>> screen names -- aol: dfibraio...msn dfibraio@xxxxxxxxxxxx skype:
>>> dfibraio Find me on facebook as Damon fibraio or twitter as dfibraio
>>> personal music site: http://www.keyboardguy.com.
>>> Band web site: Days Before Tomorrow,
>>> http://www.daysbeforetomorrow.com
>>>
>>> From: moaccess-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>>> [mailto:moaccess-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
>>> On Behalf Of clarence griffin
>>> Sent: Monday, August 09, 2010 12:10 PM
>>> To: MoAccess@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>>> Subject: Re: [MoAccess] new motif
>>>
>>> its out, just not for sail yet, I don't think.
>>>
>>> GF
>>>
>>>
>>> On Aug 9, 2010, at 12:05 PM, <driza97@xxxxxxx> wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>> I think I read somewhere that it's supposed to come out this October!
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: Omar Binno
>>> To: MoAccess@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>>> Sent: Monday, August 09, 2010 11:21 AM
>>> Subject: [MoAccess] new motif
>>>
>>> Hello,
>>>
>>> Just curious: has there been any talk at all of a new motif being
>>> released next year? I figured it's been about 4 years since the xs,
>>> so maybe yamaha is planning something?
>>>
>>>
>>> Omar Binno
>>>
>>> Website: www.bigoproductions.net
>>> AIM: LOD1116
>>>
>>
>>
>
>
> --
> Vince Mistretta
> Call me at 561-234-7631
> Skype Name: vin5451 (Please email me first)
>
> For links to all Motif info for blind owners, visit www.MoAccess.info.
> To change your list options and view archives for the MoAccess list, visit
> www.freelists.org/list/moaccess.
>
> For links to all Motif info for blind owners, visit www.MoAccess.info.
> To change your list options and view archives for the MoAccess list, visit
> www.freelists.org/list/moaccess.
For links to all Motif info for blind owners, visit www.MoAccess.info.
To change your list options and view archives for the MoAccess list, visit
www.freelists.org/list/moaccess.
Other related posts:
