Have a new girl and her hame is XF.

Post by **Sharp** » Wed Nov 28, 2012 5:13 pm

Picked up a Yamaha Motif XF8 a few days ago.
I feel like I'm cheating with another woman by playing it while seeing my KRONOS in the next room.

Have to say, it's one hell of a bread and butter machine. Very impressive actually.

When it comes to synth sounds though, oh god help Yamaha. They are over a decade behind of everything I've tested in the last two weeks.

I'm totally ok with this though as I'm only interested in the Motif XF for bread and butter sounds. It's jam packed with them, and they are so good..!!! Yummy.

Regards
Sharp.

Synthoid · Post by **Synthoid** » Wed Nov 28, 2012 7:07 pm

I've owned the older Motif XS for a few years and agree it has excellent "bread and butter" sounds.

As far as Yamaha's synth programs go, they really aren't that bad after some basic tweaking. I like the Yamaha drums a bit better than most of Korg's as well. The Motif XS compliments my M3 quite nicely.

Yamaha needs to start using touch screens though.

Post by **Sharp** » Thu Nov 29, 2012 1:56 am

Thanks mate.
I look forward to exploring what can be done with regards to the Synth sounds, but I'm really very happy either way right now simply because of the bread and butter sounds.

It's a really nice machine. Very different from a KORG.

Your right on the touch screen too. lol... I have to admit, I've tried to press the screen with my finger a few times only to remember that it's not a touch screen.

Too many years using KORG's.

Regards
Sharp

fjs714 · Post by **fjs714** » Thu Nov 29, 2012 3:09 pm

Hi James,
Good luck with the keyboard.
You've got to teach me how you convinced your wife that you "really" bought it for here.

MrDuke · Post by **MrDuke** » Thu Nov 29, 2012 6:58 pm

Motif XF is good for various applications. I own one as well.

The Good:
- flutes and saxes, and winds/reeds in general...brilliant!
- very usable basses and guitars (but ONLY the acoustic and "clean" models...distorted gtrs are useless, as usual
- the Flash board, great for live applications, if you want to take a software instrument with you...you sort of can.
- I love the piano patch "Wooden Piano"!
- some very fun (new) Performances
- the workflow in Pattern mode, when a song idea comes to you.

The Bad:
- most / all synth stuff, apart from pads
- the drums...I think they're weak, both electric and acoustic (even though some of the new XF-only acoustic kits are ok)
- a few great trumpets, but brass in general is pretty weak (although I love the "Smooth Brass" patch...very usable in jazzy stuff!)
- it's "old technology"...with a modern pricetag.

Synthoid · Post by **Synthoid** » Sat Dec 01, 2012 4:11 pm

MrDuke wrote:- it's "old technology"...with a modern pricetag.

This is true. It's amazing how long Yamaha has been recycling the Motif... in various forms over the last 10+ years. It's definitely time for something new.

I hope they unveil something really unique at NAMM this winter.