Yamaha MOTIF XS7 Manuel D’Utilisation

In addition to its use in the Voice and Performance modes, the Sampling mode can also be entered from the Song and 
Pattern modes. This lets you record audio (such as vocals, electric guitar, or audio from an external device), and use it 
directly on a Song/Pattern track as a Sample Voice. This section covers the Sampling functions when entering the Sampling 
mode by pressing the [INTEGRATED SAMPLING] button in the Song mode or the Pattern mode. 

n You can also enter the Sampling mode by pressing the [INTEGRATED SAMPLING] button in the Voice mode or the Performance 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 161 for instructions on using the Sampling function in the Voice mode/Performance mode. 

In this section, you’ll learn about the structure and organization of Samples when recording audio to a Song/Pattern, as well 
as the relationship between Samples, Sample Voices, and Mixings. 

n For details about Samples, Waveforms, and Key Banks, see page 161. 

Because Songs and Patterns on the MOTIF XS handle only 
MIDI data, audio signal cannot be recorded directly to a 
track even by executing the Sampling operation. 

Audio data you’ve recorded to a track via the Sampling 
operation will be stored as a Sample Voice to a Song/
Pattern. The stored Sample Voice will automatically be 
assigned to the Mixing Part corresponding to the recorded 
track. In addition, the MIDI data for triggering the Sample 
Voice will be recorded to the track. During playback, the 
MIDI data of the track will trigger the Sample Voice. 
Consequently, the resulting track effectively functions as an 
Audio track. 

The Slice function is an important operation of Sampling in 
the Song/Pattern modes, since it allows you to easily divide 
the audio into smaller parts which can then be triggered 
and controlled in many musically useful ways.

Slice actually performs two operations on a Sample 
simultaneously.

First, Slice creates a Sample Voice by dividing the original 
Sample into smaller Samples of a specific note value (such 
as 8th notes or 16th notes) depending on the rhythm, then 
assigns the Samples to Key Banks. The created Sample 
Voice is automatically assigned to the Mixing part 
corresponding to the recorded Track. 

Second, the Slice function creates sequence data 
consisting of note events to which the sliced Samples are 
assigned in order. The note events in the created sequence 
data are arranged according to the Key Bank assignment 
chromatically, with each gate time of the note events 
matching the original Sample’s rhythm (e.g., 8th notes or 
16th notes). 

The end result is that you can hear the same sound from 
both of the original Sample and the sliced Sample. If this 
were the only result, Slice wouldn’t be of much use. 
However, once a Sample is ‘sliced’ in this way, it can be 
changed and played back in many convenient and 
creative ways. 

Firstly, you can change the tempo of the Sample in real 
time. While the MOTIF XS features a Time Stretch Job for 
changing the tempo of the Sample, this Job cannot be 
used in real time during your keyboard performance 
because it takes some time to convert the Sample data. On 
the other hand, by using sliced Samples, you can change 
the speed of Sample playback by changing the tempo 
value of the Song/Pattern in real time. 

Sequence data 
(Song, Pattern)

Track 1

Track 2

Track 3

Track 16

MIDI data

Audio

recording

Audio data

Sample Voice

Assigning 
Sample Voice

Recording

Audio data

MIDI data for triggering the Sample Voice

Audio data is recorded to a Sample Voice which is to be assigned to a 
Song/Pattern, and note on/off events for triggering the recorded audio 
signal are recorded to Track 3. 

Part 1: Voice 1

Part 2: Voice 2

Part 3: Sample Voice

Part 16: Voice 16