I own the MOTIF XS 7. I’ve had it since 2010. And I’ve had several issues with the black keys only. Most of my black keys became very noisy (like metal on metal) and very loose. When I bought replacement keys they worked just fine but eventually they went bad as well. Just the other day one of my keys actually popped out during a rehearsal. According to yamaha I am the only one with this problem. The thing that confuses me is why doesn’t it happen with the white keys and only on the black keys. I am a heavy player and I play quite often but with that being said shouldn’t this happen on all keys. It appears to me that there is some kind of flaw with the black keys! This also affects the feel and the response of the black Keys vs the white keys and it’s very frustrating during a performance. I wish that yamaha would look into this and correct the problem.

vincebel - 23 October 2017 03:35 PM

I own the MOTIF XS 7. I’ve had it since 2010. And I’ve had several issues with the black keys only. Most of my black keys became very noisy (like metal on metal) and very loose. When I bought replacement keys they worked just fine but eventually they went bad as well. Just the other day one of my keys actually popped out during a rehearsal. According to yamaha I am the only one with this problem. The thing that confuses me is why doesn’t it happen with the white keys and only on the black keys. I am a heavy player and I play quite often but with that being said shouldn’t this happen on all keys. It appears to me that there is some kind of flaw with the black keys! This also affects the feel and the response of the black Keys vs the white keys and it’s very frustrating during a performance. I wish that yamaha would look into this and correct the problem.

For an older guy, I have a reasonably good memory. Your post seemed somehow familiar, as if I had read it before. So I did a little Googling and found a post by “jasz21th” in this thread on the Music Player Keyboard Corner forum (where I’m a member):
http://forums.musicplayer.com/ubbthreads.php/topics/2150184/Motif_XS_bad_keybed

I assume that’s your over-three-year-old post, almost identical to the one above. Has the problem become worse in that time?

My own experience with Motifs is that, although not impossible, it takes a lot of effort to break a key. If replacements are breaking as well, it might be due to lack of lubrication, or incorrect lubricant that’s attacking the plastic. Also, “canned air” (sometimes used to “clean” key contacts) applied incorrectly can stress the plastic.

Perhaps you’re playing harder than necessary. Have you tried setting the Velocity Curve in Utility mode to “soft”?

Have any other Motifator members experienced breakage of black keys on an XS7 or XS6?

Yes that was my post about 3 years ago. I replaced the entire keyboard assembly but it seems like it has a 3 year life span. I play hard when I have to as well as soft when I have to depending on the song and the sounds that I use. For example when I’m playing horn sounds I may play a little harder. But for any matter I play evenly on all keys black and white. The big problem I’m having is that only The Black Keys seem to go bad. I never had to replace a white key on my keyboard. Certain songs I may play in the key of C or G in which most keys are white. I find it very hard to understand why only The Black Keys become noisy and or loose to the point that they pop out.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/5oj0lv2dn02t18r/20170909_103212.mp4?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/cy25pz0ygx82sea/20170909_141811.mp4?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/nr3xz5vdjokf4fk/20170909_141901 2.mp4?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/h0lya0g5k4btpis/20170909_142509.mp4?dl=0

Also attached please find videos of some of my performances and style of play

https://youtu.be/oBegSQW_j3s

https://youtu.be/mCMY3jZ39Aw

https://youtu.be/oBegSQW_j3s

https://youtu.be/iIO6aNbZnUo

https://youtu.be/wXbRuNHCEQ8

https://youtu.be/KERqXfR6AE0

The Dropbox videos certainly show the problem you’re referring to. Due to limitations of my internet connection, I haven’t seen the YouTube material and therefore can’t comment on your playing style.

The only observation I can make is that black keys, being short in comparison to white keys, probably see more force applied near the pivot point at the rear than white keys. White keys typically would be played further forward, and likely see less stress/wear at the pivot point.

Have you contacted Yamaha Support, and asked them if they can help? See the last page of the Owner’s Manual for contact information.

You bring up an interesting Theory about the stress of The Black Keys being more at the Pivot Point .  But I still don’t get why the felt wears quicker on The Black Keys. Never have I had a noisy white key. I’ve contacted Yamaha support and they are currently sticking with I am the only one that is having that problem in an essance suggesting that I am doing something wrong possibly my playing style is too much for their keyboard.