Yamaha MOTIF XS7 Manuel D’Utilisation

Congratulations and thank you for your purchase of the Yamaha MOTIF XS6/MOTIF XS7/MOTIF XS8 Music Production Synthesizer! 
You now own what is perhaps the best-sounding, most versatile, and certainly most powerful synthesizer and total music 
production instrument on the planet. We strove to put virtually all our synthesizer technology and music making know-how into one 
instrument—and we succeeded. The new MOTIF XS not only gives you the latest and greatest sounds and rhythms (as well as the 
ability to create and sample your own), it gives you powerful, easy-to-use tools for playing, combining and controlling these 
dynamic sounds/rhythms—in real time, as you perform! 
Take time to look through this manual carefully. It’s packed with important information on how to get the most from this amazing 
instrument. Dive in now and enjoy!

The documentation for MOTIF XS consists of the following booklets. 

■ Owner’s Manual (this book)

This tutorial section gives you a guided tour through the various 
functions of this instrument, and provides important hands-on 
experience in playing and using it.

In this section, we’ll show you how set up the instrument with a 
computer (via USB and mLAN) and how to use it with software 
programs such as the MOTIF XS Editor and Cubase. 

• Basic Structure (page 54)

This section provides a detailed overview of all of the main 
functions and features of this instrument, and shows how they fit 
together. 

• Basic Operation (page 81)

This section introduces you to the basic operating conventions of 
this instrument, such as editing values and changing settings.

• Connections (page 83)

This section covers how to connect the MOTIF XS to various 
external devices such as MIDI instruments, computers and USB 
storage devices. 

This is the MOTIF XS encyclopedia. Here, all parameters, settings, 
functions, features, modes and operations are explained in full 
detail. 

This section contains detailed information about this instrument, 
including Specifications and Alert Messages, as well as instructions 
for installing optional equipment (e.g., DIMM modules and the 
mLAN16E2 interface).

• Troubleshooting (page 288)

If this instrument does not function as expected or you have 
some problem with the sound or operation, refer to this section 
before calling your Yamaha dealer or service center. Most 
common problems and their solutions are covered here in a very 
simple and easy-to-understand way. 

■ Data List (separate booklet)

This contains various important lists such as the Voice List, 
Waveform List, Effect List, MIDI Data Format, and MIDI 
Implementation Chart. 

■ Data List 2 (separate online documentation)

This contains various lists such as the Performance List, Master 
Program List, Mixing Template List, Arpeggio Type List and Remote 
Control Function List. This special online documentation can be 
downloaded from the Manual Library site. 
http://www.yamaha.co.jp/manual/

AC Power cord
Owner's manual (this book)

Data List
Disc x 1 (containing DAW software)*

• The contents of this Owner’s Manual and the copyrights thereof are under 

exclusive ownership by Yamaha Corporation.

• The illustrations and LCD screens as shown in this owner’s manual are for 

instructional purposes only, and may appear somewhat different from 
those on your instrument.

• This product incorporates and bundles computer programs and contents 

in which Yamaha owns copyrights or with respect to which it has license to 
use others' copyrights. Such copyrighted materials include, without 
limitation, all computer software, style files, MIDI files, WAVE data, musical 
scores and sound recordings. Any unauthorized use of such programs 
and contents outside of personal use is not permitted under relevant laws. 
Any violation of copyright has legal consequences. DON'T MAKE, 
DISTRIBUTE OR USE ILLEGAL COPIES.

• This device is capable of using various types/formats of music data by 

optimizing them to the proper format music data for use with the device in 

advance. As a result, this device may not play them back precisely as their 
producers or composers originally intended.

• Copying of the commercially available musical data including but not 

limited to MIDI data and/or audio data is strictly prohibited except for your 
personal use.

• Windows is the registered trademark of Microsoft

®

 Corporation.

• Apple and Macintosh are trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc., registered 

in the U.S. and other countries.

• Steinberg and Cubase are the registered trademarks of Steinberg Media 

Technologies GmbH.

• ETHERNET is the registered trademark of Xerox Corporation.

• The company names and product names in this Owner’s Manual are the 

trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.