Yamaha Motif XF Mini-Review - Big Bad Workstation

New features of the XF version (tested with OS 1.12)

We made the most comprehensive list possible of the Motif XF new features (compared with the Motif XS):

– 741 MB extended ROM with more than 50% new samples

– New sounds and arpeggios: 128 voices, 128 performances, 8 drum kits, 1248 arp styles, and 32 masters

– Internal 128 MB SD-RAM for sampling (volatile)

– Two slots for 512 or 1024 MB of optional FlashRam

– Improved file management

– Sample auto-mapping

– Improved category search page. The Main, Sub and Voice lists can be accessed using the software buttons 1–3. You can now search within all waveforms and arpeggios.

– Tap tempo function via the software button SF6 in voice, performance, song, pattern, and master modes

– Independent settings for both assignable buttons (on the front panel to the left) for each part of a performance or mix

– Possibility to keep bass drum and snare sounds between all five arpeggio variations of a Drum program when other kits are programmed in different variations

– “Arp Play Only” function for the different channels in performance and mix mode, which allows you to trigger sounds only when the arpeggiator is on

– Direct editing of drum programs in mixing mode with the possibility to save the newly created kit (using the “Vce Edit” software button SF6)

– Fast conversion into Mixing Voices of samples captured from the song or pattern mode without having to change mode

– Multiple Wav/AIFF loading from the same repertory with auto-chromatic sample assignation across the keyboard within the same multisample

– New key-follow sensitivity parameter for the release segment of the volume envelope

– Customization of the text color and screen layout