Yamaha MOTIF XS7 Manuel D’Utilisation

This block consists of the keyboard, Pitch Bend and Modulation Wheels, Ribbon Controller, Knobs, Sliders and so on. The 
keyboard itself doesn’t generate sounds, but instead generates/transmits note on/off, velocity and other information (MIDI 
messages) to the synthesizer’s tone generator block when you play notes. The controllers also generate/transmit MIDI 
messages. The synthesizer’s tone generator block produces the sound according to the MIDI messages transmitted from 
the keyboard and controllers.

The keyboard transmits the note on/off messages to the 
Tone Generator Block (for sounding) and Sequencer Block 
(for recording). The keyboard is also used for triggering 
Arpeggio playback. You can change the note range of the 
keyboard in octaves by using the OCTAVE [UP] and 
[DOWN] buttons, transpose the notes in the Play display 
(page 259) of the Utility mode, and set how the actual 
velocity is generated according to the strength with which 
you play notes in the same display. 

Use the Pitch Bend wheel to bend notes up (roll the wheel 
away from you) or down (roll the wheel toward you) while 
playing the keyboard. This wheel is self-centering and will 
automatically return to normal pitch when released. Try out 
the Pitch Bend wheel while pressing a note on the 
keyboard.
Each preset Voice has its own default Pitch Bend Range 
setting. The Pitch Bend Range setting for each Voice can 
be changed in the Play Mode display (page 98) of the 
Voice Edit mode. From this display you can also reverse 
the Pitch Bend function—so that moving the wheel up 
lowers the pitch, and moving it down raises the pitch. 
Functions other than Pitch Bend can be assigned to the 
Pitch Bend wheel in the Controller Set display (page 104) 
of the Voice Edit mode. 

Even though the Modulation wheel is conventionally used 
to apply vibrato to the sound, many of the preset Voices 
have other functions and effects assigned to the wheel. 
The more you move this wheel up, the greater the effect 
that is applied to the sound. Try out the Modulation wheel 
with various preset Voices while playing the keyboard. To 
avoid accidentally applying effects to the current Voice, 

make sure the Modulation wheel is set to minimum before 
you start playing. Various functions can be assigned to the 
Modulation wheel in the Controller Set display (page 104) 
of the Voice Edit mode.

The Ribbon Controller is touch sensitive, and is controlled 
by running your finger laterally across the surface. Various 
functions are assigned to each preset Voice. Try out the 
Ribbon Controller with various preset Voices while playing 
the keyboard. Various functions can be assigned to the 
Ribbon Controller in the Controller Set display (page 104) 
of the Voice Edit mode. You can also determine whether 
the Ribbon Controller value returns to the center, or stays at 
the point where you released your finger in the General 
Other display (page 100) of the Voice Common Edit mode. 

According to the XA (Expanded Articulation) Control 
settings in the Oscillator display (page 112) of the Voice 
Element Edit mode, you can call up the specific Element of 
the current Voice by pressing each of these buttons during 
your keyboard performance. You can select how the on/off 
status of these buttons is switched by using the Assignable 
Function 1 Mode and Assignable Function 2 Mode 
parameters in the General Other display (page 100) of the 
Voice Common Edit mode. Furthermore, you can assign 
various functions (other than calling up specific Elements) 
to these buttons. 

Pitch Up

Pitch Down

Maximum

Minimum