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TOTAL INTEGRATION OF MIDI AND AUDIO: YAMAHA MOTIF MUSIC PRODUCTION SYNTHESIZER BUENA PARK, CA (March 20, 2001)—Yamaha Corporation of America, Digital Musical Instruments, unveils a new dimension in creativity, the Motif Music Production Synthesizer. In one incredible package, Motif combines the sonic power of the world's most advanced synthesizer, the hands-on immediacy of a groove box, the revolutionary concept of an Integrated Sampling Sequencer (ISS) and a user interface which puts this powerhouse at the user's fingertips.
The 61-key Motif 6, 76-key Motif 7 and weighted action 88-key Motif 8 feature initial and aftertouch and full 62-note polyphony. Yamaha's AWM2 tone generation and an amazing 85MB of Wave ROM (when converted to 16-bit linear format) provide a complete palette of high-quality sounds: stereo acoustic instruments, cutting-edge dance sounds, ambient textures, plus many of the best waveforms from Yamaha's acclaimed S80, 9000 Pro and EX family of synthesizer products. An improved Category Search function provides quick access to favorite sounds. "The possibilities of Motif are virtually endless," notes Athan Billias, marketing manager, Digital Musical Instruments. "Motif can, of course, handle the traditional linear method of song production. However, cutting and pasting different sections of music and audio phrases, or 'motifs,' is an integral part of today's music-making process. Motif takes that creative process to a whole new level."
The main concept behind Motif is the Integrated Sampling Sequencer (ISS), which is designed to seamlessly integrate audio and MIDI. Any of the 16 tracks in the sequencer can be either MIDI or Stereo Audio Phrases. Audio can be recorded using the built-in, high-quality stereo A/D converters, external digital sources or by digitally re-sampling internal voices, performances and sequences. These phrases may be recorded using the Internal Sampling Sequencer's "Sample with Note" or "Slice with Sequence" methods. Sample with Note automatically creates a sample "Voice." This voice is mapped to the keyboard and triggered with a MIDI note. Slice with Sequence is a process whereby recorded audio is analyzed and "sliced" into pieces (based on time segments and amplitude peaks). Motif then generates an accurate MIDI sequence to re-trigger the audio. The sliced phrases can then be modified using MIDI controls to change the Tempo, Swing or any other musical parameter controllable by MIDI. Both Linear Song and Pattern Modes are available in the 200,000-note onboard sequencer.
Once song sections—complete with Audio phrases—are created, they may then be arranged and remixed in real time using Motif's Real Time Pattern Chain Recording, which allows hands-on recording of Section Changes, Song Scenes and Mute buttons. Sampling memory may be increased up to 64MB using PC SIMMs for a maximum time of 6 minutes, 20 seconds of stereo sampling at 44.1 kHz and up to 8,192 individual samples. In addition to ISS-style sampling, Motif offers extensive import capabilities including AIFF and WAVE formats, plus import functions for Akai and Yamaha A Series samplers that include both sample mapping and program parameters. Motif offers complete hands-on control. Four physical sliders and four physical knobs work as 16 Virtual knobs and 16 Virtual sliders via the Track Select and Knob Select buttons; in Mix Mode, these sliders and knobs provide all the capabilities of a 16-channel digital mixer. In addition, templates are included for using Motif as a remote control surface for the most popular software sequencers (including Cubase VST, Logic, Cakewalk and Pro Tools). In Remote Control mode, Motif's Transport Controls, Track Selects, Mutes, 16 Virtual knobs and sliders all provide a physical interface to the external software sequencer. "Hands-on song creation and remixing can really inspire new ideas," adds Billias. "Motif is bound to revolutionize the way music is made." Three expansion slots allow Motif to accept Yamaha's PLG Modular Synthesis Plug-in Expansion boards, resulting in new sounds, effects, additional notes of polyphony and new synthesis engines. Motif also contains a built-in USB MIDI interface, SCSI port and SmartMedia card slot, and is compatible with Mac (iMac, G4 or G3) or USB-equipped Windows PC platforms (Windows 98 or higher), resulting in unprecedented expandability. Motif is ready for both the current generation of Yamaha mLAN expansions and future mLAN products.
© 2001 Yamaha
Corporation of America |
