I just recently purhased a Motif rack XS at a good price. I did a searh on “Rack XS for tempo change on this forum.  All I seem to get were responses for the keyboards but not the rack.  Maybe I’m doing something wrong. I am aware that there are more modes on the keyboards than than the Motif rack.  I would like to know is it possible to bring up say a preset drum beat on the rack XS and change the tempo in a certain mode, and is this possible on multi as well?  Thank you-

Yes, it is. The arpeggiators in the Rack XS reference the internal clock when the MIDI SYNC parameter is set internal. You can have it slave to external clock with the other settings.

You set this parameter as follows:
Press [UTILITY]
Select MIDI
Cursor to the MIDI SYNC parameter

Setting the Tempo in Multi mode is handled via the Tempo Knob
Use the [SELECT] button to choose the active functions for the knobs

Access to arpeggio parameters in MULTI mode
Press [EDIT]
Select COMMON
Select ARPEGGIO

Four Parts can access arpeggios
While in [EDIT]
Select a Part [1]-[16]
Select ARPEGGIO
Here you can find the gateways to all the Arp setup parameters for the currently selected Part.

From a previous post........

Assigning a MIDI Controller to select Arps in Real-time

You can assign a MIDI controller to select the arpeggio pattern in real-time. Each program (Voice, Performance, and Multi) can have up to five different arpeggio types associated with it. The Motif-Rack XS has a method for you to either increment through them 1␣2␣3␣4␣5, or you can assign a controller where a specific value (direct) will recall a specific pattern.

Here’s how it works:
In [UTILITY] you will find the “Utility Controller 3/3” screen. The parameters that control the Arpeggios are here. “Arp 1-5 Ctrl No” and “ArpAsgnMode” (arpeggio assign mode). The default ArpAsgn control number is 85 – you can change this as necessary but cc85 is as good as any – because it does not have a defined function in MIDI...so you can use it for this. You will be able
to select either “inc” (increment) or “direct” as the Arp Assign Mode.

INC – With this setting anytime, any value for controller 85 is received the unit will increment to the next higher numbered arpeggio, 1-5.
DIRECT – any value for controller 85 between 0-25 will select Arpeggio 1, 26-50 will select Arpeggio 2, 51-76 will select Arpeggio 3, 77-101 Arpeggio 4 and 102-127 will select Arpeggio 5.

If you have a foot switch, “INC” might be the best. Set the foot switch to send cc085 and when you step on it the arpeggio will advance. If the foot switch is a momentary type (like an FC4/FC5 sustain pedal), when you press it down it will advance, when you release it, it will advance. If you have an assignable button on your controller this would also be a good selection.

If you have an assignable sweep pedal, knob control or control slider that you can assign to this parameter, then the “DIRECT” might suit your needs better. A typical knob will sweep from 7 o’clock (minimum) to 5 o’clock (maximum).

This translates to:
7-9 on the clock dial = Arpeggio 1
9-11 on the clock dial = Arpeggio 2
11-1 on the clock dial = Arpeggio 3
1-3 on the clock dial = Arpeggio 4
3-5 on the clock dial = Arpeggio 5

Tip: you would not want to assign a knob or slider to control this if you selected increment. Because increment advances anytime a value (any value) is sent. This will send the Arpeggio selection parameter crazy. Likewise, you would not want to assign a momentary foot switch to direct – because a typical foot switch sends 0 or 127 (no values in between). So choose your controllers wisely.

DAMN! I can all ready see I’m going to really enjoy the heck out of this very, very, VERY informataive site!!!

Thank you Bad_Mister!  THANK YOU!!!

Just one more thing, as I"m typing this my brother Tim who has the Motif Rack ES wants to know if you can control the tempo or do something similar to this on his unit.  Is that possible?  Thank you-

Control the TEMPO? Well, yes, of course, an arpeggiator would not be that useful if you could not adjust the tempo.

There is an ARP EDIT button where the TEMPO will appear. If you do not see a number but the word “MIDI” instead, the Rack ES is waiting for an external MIDI clock.

Set MIDI SYNC = internal
This will allow the Motif-Rack ES Arpeggiator (there is only 1 in the ES) reference the internal clock.

The Motif-Rack ES has just one arpeggiator, your Rack XS has four simultaneous arpeggiators. The Rack ES has but 1789 arps, while your Rack XS has over 6600 arps. You might conclude that the arpeggiator has taken a major step in between ES and XS models…

The switching between arps1-5 on the Rack ES works exactly the same as I explained it to you for the Rack XS.

Thanks again, I’ll tell my brother, he’ll be happy to know how it fuctions!!! Love this site, wish I knew about it earlier!!  Thank you!