I’m not sure if and for which purposes the 128Mb RAM of the XF are needed for writing multisample-patches to the Flash ROM?
Or for editing them into the needed format or whatever?
Is the amount of RAM essential for anything Flash related?

Or can bigger multisample patches be edited and written into Flash ROM directly by editor software without caring about RAM specs?

You can write directly to Flash memory from a file stored on a USB memory devices.

And editing of multisample patches bigger than 128 Mb can be done with editor software (obviously not directly on the XF), supplied with the XF, at the PC, and then be written to usb media?

I just want to be sure not to run into a dead end with some big sample libraries.

defrigge - 03 September 2010 05:17 AM

I just want to be sure not to run into a dead end with some big sample libraries.

unfortunately you will run into dead end eventually:

http://static.pyzam.com/img/funnypics/3/insanesigns.jpg

http://content.pyzam.com/funnypics/misc/mi7.jpg

this is yamaha motif’s final destination.

They have said, you can use Motif XS for sampling and programming sample libraries. Now, isn’t that interesting or what?

You could use the John Melas Waveform editor for editing larger banks on your PC and then loading directly to flash.  The JM waveform editor is not included in the box , but is very reasonably priced- 49.50 Euro and available here.  http://www.jmelas.gr .

Very interesting call by Yamaha not to include or allow for larger RAM to be installed, even if the user chose to purchase it themselves.

Is it a marketing ploy to get you to buy the FLASH or some technical limitation with mixing Flash with Regular RAM.

GospelMusicians - 03 September 2010 12:00 PM

Very interesting call by Yamaha not to include or allow for larger RAM to be installed, even if the user chose to purchase it themselves.

Is it a marketing ploy to get you to buy the FLASH or some technical limitation with mixing Flash with Regular RAM.

Yamaha US has explained this already - the XF’s system has address limits - 712MB of onboard ROM, 128MB of user RAM, and 2GB of flash RAM. Flash was added beacuse so many users asked that their samples be available whenever they powered up, rather than having to re-load sample-based libraries every time the Motif was booted. So that day is here.

If the 128MB user RAM limitation is a deal-breaker, then you should keep your XS and keep using it.

When the XS came out, a number of people complained because the plugboards had been discontinued, but those complaints eventually stopped and now you don’t see them anymore. The complaints about lack of 2GB of RAM in the XF will eventually die off too.

I just try to understand how a XF solution would work and what has to be invested to make it work.

I haven’t even talked about a dealbreaker or something. ;-)

The Flash ROM solution is a fine thing from my view, it just has to work in context. It is already fine, that it is possible to get bigger sample libraries into the XF without stumbling over the 128Mb RAM limit. So far the positive.

On the other hand, such a solution should be payable and convenient enough in everyday use.

Payable:
- 2850€ for an XF7
- ~500€ for 2Gb Flash (or ~250€ for starting with 1 Gb)
- 50€ for the Melas Wave editor
- 60-80€ (80$, I don’t know the Euro price) for Chickensys Translator Motif Edition to be able to import sample libraries in a halfway convenient way.

Makes roughly between 3200 and 3500€ for using an XF7 just as intended by concept. Even after selling old workstation gear at a good price that’s still around 2000€ just for a platform change (with pros and cons), plus the undoubted pro of being able to use the great Flash ROM feature.

Convenient:
The most convenient deal for a user would be an all-in-one solution for the available Flash-ROM sampling, no matter if developed by Yamaha or by someone else. As it is, the two programs mentioned may do well enough, but are no straight and intutive approach, like dealing with the machine within one direct and intuitive software for import and editing of multisample patches.

So still this all is no direct deal breaker. But I can’t deny, that at least it provokes some pondering and thinking about next generation workstations for someone already owning a modern workstation.  ;-)

Perhaps Yamaha could find a solution making the whole package at least a bit less expensive, and more tailored for everyday XF use with a nice software solution?

Well, I try to be realistic: probably rather not.
I just have to think this over ...