History
One day, Yamaha decided to make a workstation-type of keyboard. Now, they'd tried this before, with the SY-99 series, and of course it sold it's usual million, but it did not make it's claim in the professional everyday user market.

This new keyboard is called the Motif, and what a wonder it is. It not only has an integrated sound module that sounds fantastic, but it has some incredible sequencing abilities and performance tools that have really raised the bar. They've called the main features the Integrated Sampling Sequencer.

The Motif seems to be more successful than the previous sampler incarnations. It can load all types of things and has an open architecture. It's slick interface and marketing toward MPC-types seem to secure it's place in the market.

In 2004 Yamaha pumped up the Motif's feature set and put out the Motif ES, which increases the memory capability and some other things. However, the basic programming and sample feature set remains the same.

In this document, the term "Motif" referes to both the original; Motif and the Motif ES, since as far as sample-playback they are identical (other than the memory capacity).

Architecture Description
Yamaha uses samples in groups they call "Waveforms." (This is a misuse of the term; ignore it, and think of it as a collection of samples. They call samples "Keybanks" (not common terminology). A "Waveform" is a collection of samples that can be placed in any sort of 3-dimensional outlay - each sample has it's own low key and high key, and low velocity and high velocity range. These can overlap as well.

The only catch is that each sample reference (Keybank) always contains its own data. So there is the potential in conversions that samples have to be replicated, thus wasting disk space, memory, and loading time.

Anyway, what you play on a Motif is a "Voice," which can contain up to 4 "Elements" (is the terminology making you dizzy yet?). Each Element can reference a... "Waveform"! Also, an Element can reference an internal sample and well as a user-loaded one, thus making the Motif similar to the Kurzweil in it's hybridness.

The Motif's limit is 64mb, which isn't too bad. The Motif ES expands this significantly with 1gig maximum, but long loading times put a damper on the feature.

File Format
The Motif reads and writes to DOS, cranking it up to modernity. It also reads Akai S-1000/3000 disks, and reads the proprietary A-Series Programs and Samples too.

Comments
After you play around with the Motif it grows on you and you really start liking it. It is fully capable in making complex keymaps and references. Easy access to creating them... well, it's not that good. (Most hybrid synth/samplers are that way.) The Motif has USB and an editor, but whaddya know - it doesn't support the sampling/mapping areas. See the Akai S-5000 description for information on aksys, a truly capable program for remote control and sample mapping and editing.

But the Motif sounds great and it is plenty capable. Worth the money!