Yamaha MOTIF XS8 User Manual

The MOTIF XS has a powerful Sampling function that lets you record audio signals—such as vocals from a microphone or 
electric guitar—and integrate the resulting Samples with the Voices and Performances of the instrument. When you enter the 
Sampling mode from the Voice mode or Performance mode, you can create your own original Samples, edit them, assign 
them to a Waveform, and then assign the original Waveform to a User Voice or Performance.
This section covers the Sampling functions when entering the Sampling mode by pressing the [INTEGRATED SAMPLING] 
button in the Voice mode or the Performance mode. 

n You can also enter the Sampling mode by pressing the [INTEGRATED SAMPLING] button in the Song mode or the Pattern mode. Keep in 

mind that the Sampling functions differ depending on from which mode the Sampling mode is called up, the Voice/Performance mode or the 
Song/Pattern mode. See page 242 for instructions on using the Sampling function in the Song mode/Pattern mode. 

In this section, you’ll learn about the structure and organization of Samples, Key Banks and Waveforms, as well as their 
relationship to Voices and Performances. 

A Sample is digital audio data, made by directly recording 
a signal, such as that of vocals or electric guitar, to the 
MOTIF XS. Throughout this manual, the words “Sample” 
and “Wave” are sometimes used interchangeably; 
however, you should be careful to distinguish between 
“Wave” (raw audio data) and “Waveform” (collected audio 
data used to make up a Voice).

Samples can be obtained into the instrument via the 
following methods: Recording audio signal in the Sampling 
mode, loading a WAV file or AIFF file from the USB storage 
device connected to the MOTIF XS in the File mode, and 
loading a WAV file or AIFF file from the hard disk connected 
to the network to which the MOTIF XS is connected. 
Because the obtained Sample data will be lost by turning 
the power off, Samples residing in the MOTIF XS internal 
memory should be saved as digital data (in WAV or AIFF 
format) to a USB storage device or to a computer 
connected via network to the MOTIF XS. 

Samples are assigned and stored to Waveforms on the 
MOTIF XS. Before you can actually record a Sample or 
load a Sample from a USB storage device, you’ll need to 
specify a Waveform number as a destination. This 
Waveform then serves as the “container” for the Sample. 

Each of the Waveforms can contain multiple Samples. To 
assign these Samples to a different space or container, you 
can set the key range and velocity range for each Sample. 
With this setting, the different Sample is played back 
depending on the pressed note and its velocity. The note 
range and velocity range to which each of the Samples is 
assigned is called the Key Bank. 

You can play the Waveform by assigning it to a Voice then 
playing the keyboard with that Voice. You can assign the 
Waveform to an Element of the Voice in the Voice Element 
Edit mode (page 112). The Voice Edit mode lets you assign 
the Waveform you’ve created with the Sampling function to 
the edited Element, just as you would any of the 2670 
preset Waveforms included on the instrument. 

n Keep in mind that you can assign the User Voices created in 

the Sampling mode entered from the Voice/Performance mode 
to Mixing parts of the Song/Pattern. You can also assign the 
Waveforms created in the Sampling mode entered from the 
Song/Pattern mode to Elements of the Voice in the Voice Edit 
mode. 

40

127

D#2

A#2

G#2

F4

Velocity

Sample 1
(Key Bank)

Sample 2
(Key Bank)

Sample 4
(Key Bank)

Sample 3
(Key Bank)

Sample 5
(Key Bank)

Waveform

Key Number 
(Note Number)