Yamaha Motif vs Motif ES

[pmarafio]

Can anyone shed some light on the differenes between the Yamaha Motif and the newer ES model? I've heard that the ES has some really incredible samples in ROM, particularly the keyboards. However, I'm concerned about the lack of SCSI interfacing since I have dozens of Akai/Kurzweil CD-ROMs. Can anyone tell me about the quality of the non-ES samples. Also, I've read that the interface is a real bear to work with (typical Yamaha) - anyone have a different opinion?

[Over The Edge]

Below is a list of improvements in the Motif ES series over the original.

1. 128 Note Polyphony
2. 175 MB Wave Rom
3. 768 Preset Voices, 356 User Voices, Unlimited Song Voices
4. New Three layer Yamaha grand piano sample
5. Guitar and Bass Mega Voices - MegaVoice arps to go with them
6. Completely new Orchestral Sound Library
7. New Ethnic instruments and Arabic Tuning Presets
8. New Filter algorithms with super fast EGs for more analog sounding filters
9. New Common LFO features like LFO phase on each element
10. 8 Parts with Dual Large Insert effects in Song/Pattern Mix
11. 16 Parts with individual three band EQs in Song/Pattern Mix
12. New Reverb and Chorus (Vintage Phasor and Flanger) Algorithms
13. Mastering effects including Multi Band compressors and DJ style effects
14. 5 Band Master EQ storable per Voice, Performance, Song or Pattern
15. 1700 Arpeggios with real time selection of 5 different arps in every mode
16. Arpeggios have chord recognition, track switching and fixed shift modes for more accurate replay of input data
17. 686 Drum phrases with lots of different styles
18. Real Time Loop Remix - The coolest feature from the RS7000
19. Double the sequencer memory
20. DIMM sample RAM support - up to 1 gigabyte
21. USB Hosting for storage to USB devices
22. New 16 channel 24bit/96kHz mLAN interface option
23. Ribbon Controller
24. New larger knobs and sliders
25. 4 Direct Access buttons for knob function selection
26. Voice Editing in Song and Pattern Mode while Sequence is playing
27. Song Voices (store your edits right along with the song)
28. 64 Pattern Chains (one for each Pattern)
29. Internal/external Switch for the Sequencer Tracks
30. 10 different click sounds to choose from
31. Sample pre count for count in for ISS sampling
32. A/D input can have insert effects
33. Sampling with Insert effects
34. Confirm Mode in Sampling
35. Next Mode (for automatic sampling of audio libraries
36. Auto Trim Calculations by Tempo or Measure
37. 32 Mix Templates
38. Remote supports Mackie Control protocol
39. Remote supports Logic Control protocol
40. Supports Digital Performer
41. Sampling directly into Drum Kits
42. Multi Part editor for Mix mode
43. CDROM with over 150 MB of new sounds including Motif piano, S90 piano, Sweet voices and many more
44. Monophonic Legato Mode.
45. Real time knob control of arpeggio Play FX – Swing, Gate, Unit Multiply and Velocity
46. 256 four track User Arpeggios. These can be loaded in or created directly from Song or Pattern mode
47. USER LFO editing implemented from front panel
48. “Key-on” start function in Pattern mode
49. New ‘SAMPLE VOICE’ File type. Load single User Song samples or User Pattern samples from within an ALL file type
50. Quick Access to EFFECTS from main Voice/Performance screen
51. Angled screen for easier viewing
52. All four Parts of a Performance can recall their Voice mode Insertion Effects
53. 1 pair of analog A/D inputs plus 4 Audio In pairs possible with mLAN expansion

--------------------
Mike Martin
YAMAHA US

[Enigma™]

and it'll do your taxes.

[Over The Edge]

Yeah, in the next OS version update. :lol:




FL
www.franklucas.net

[pmarafio]

Frank - remember me - it's Pat from Keyfest (with the moustache). Loved your piece. I hope you got a chance to go to the website I setup to pull down the mp3.

Do you own a Motif? If so, do you have the original or the ES? I gig a lot and like to use two keyboards to cover the usual piano, organ, clav stuff and to do the horns, strings, and synth punches. I use a Triton and a nord Electro but I'm looking to replace the Electro with something more like the Triton - cover more ground and provide sampling. The Motif supposedly has the best acoustic piano sample currently available for live performance. If you have a Motif, I'd be interested to hear about your experiences with it, particularly for live use.