I have two questions I can’t figure out for my M08.

1) when changing Voices on the fly during a performance,
even with sustain pedal depressed, the 1st voice is cut off instantly as the keyboard changes to the new voice when the button is pressed.  Is there a way to allow the sustained sound of 1st voice to “overlap” to allow a more smooth transition?

2) I followed the instructions to enable a variable volume pedal but it doesn’t seem to work ... does it have to be the special PC7 pedal or can a generic volume rocker pedal be used connected to the Foot Controller jakc ?

1) when changing Voices on the fly during a performance,
even with sustain pedal depressed, the 1st voice is cut off instantly as the keyboard changes to the new voice when the button is pressed.  Is there a way to allow the sustained sound of 1st voice to “overlap” to allow a more smooth transition?

No. The concept of a PERFORMANCE is that you have already selected the sounds you want to play and are performing them.

If you want to change sounds without cutting off the previous Voice this can be accomplished by setting up your VOICES in the PARTS of a SONG MIXING or PATTERN MIXING program.

PERFORMANCES can be copied to a SONG MIXING or PATTERN MIXING program… and you can place as many sounds as you require on the separate PARTS of the MIXING program 1-16. Using the TRACK SELECT buttons you can choose which MIDI channel you are transmitting on… For example, if you have a STRING sound in PART 1, you can be playing it, hold a chord, press Track select [2] for a Piano sound… the string sound will continue to be held as long as you hold it (or have the sustain pedal hold it) while you play the Piano in PART 2.

2) I followed the instructions to enable a variable volume pedal but it doesn’t seem to work ... does it have to be the special PC7 pedal or can a generic volume rocker pedal be used connected to the Foot Controller jakc ?

It should be Yamaha FC7 pedal (as described in your Owner’s Manual)

Thanks ....

Just to clarify on your answer, that a ‘regular’ volume pedal will never work as a Foot Controller with the M08, that the only choice is the FC7 ? I do realize Yamaha recommends the FC7.