Important Panel Buttons - Category Search, Dual, Split, Store, [Performance Bank], [Exit], [Edit], [Utility].
Important Concepts - What you can store & What you can record.
What Else is on the Site - Behind the Manual, Forums, MotifMart, MoRadio. |
The MM6 and MM8 are the latest in an impressive line-up of keyboards that began with the Motif back in 2001.
The ‘Mini Mo' takes Motif technology – sounds, effects, arpeggio-control and more – and places it in a real-time performance, or idea-generating context where you can play for hour after hour over a selection of infectious backing grooves; tweaking sounds, creating new layers, altering balances, playing with arpeggios… all on the fly.
The killer punch is that you can also just slide into record and capture the grooves, sounds and effects you've been experimenting with. Plus, overdub fresh parts if you need.
These ‘Songs' can be stored internally, or can be saved externally using a USB storage device. You can even store (and load) Songs as SMFs (MIDI Files) if you think you'll want to develop them further, or add vocals using a DAW such as Cubase LE that helpfully comes bundled with the MM6.
Some of this you should hopefully know if you've just purchased a MM6/8. Below are some practical tips on getting started with the Mini Mo, plus a quick guide to what else you can find here on Motifator.com to get you to the next level.
A. IMPORTANT PANEL BUTTONS
CATEGORY SEARCH: The 8 category buttons here let you see all the different voices once you have selected a category. Use the data wheel or [INC / DEC] buttons alongside it to select a new voice. Press [EXIT] to get back to the main screen.
DUAL : If you want to layer two sounds on top of one another press [DUAL]. Press and release and the last stored dual voice will be playable. Holding down the [DUAL] button for a few seconds and the voice list appears. Use the Category Search buttons to choose the voice you'd like to layer. A page under the [EDIT] button lets you alter MAIN and DUAL voice volumes. To de-activate the Dual-Voice feature, press [DUAL] again and the layer will be removed.
SPLIT: If you want to split two sounds across the keyboard press [SPLIT]. Press and release and the last stored split voice will be playable. Hold down the [SPLIT] button for a few seconds and the voice list appears. Use the Category Search buttons to choose the voice you'd like to add to the lower keyboard range. Pages within [EDIT] let you alter MAIN, DUAL, and SPLIT voice volumes. To de-activate the split-voice feature, press [SPLIT] again and the split will be removed. The Split Point page in [UTILITY] lets you change the split point.
STORE: You can store a lot of things in the MM6/8: tweaks to a voice, effects, custom combinations of voices, etc. and these are all stored in PERFORMANCE MEMORY.
To store any of these changes, press [STORE] followed by one of the Performance Memory buttons. A screen prompt will tell you not to switch off during the storing process.
[PERFORMANCE BANK INC & DEC] There are 64 Performance Memories. Use these buttons to step through the 8 Banks. Press [EXIT] after changing Banks to get back to the main screen.
[EXIT] This button is your friend! It'll always take you back to the main screen after you've made a new bank or sound selection etc.
[EDIT] This button reveals several pages of simple but powerful things you can do to customize sounds and effects. Use the [CATEGORY INC / DEC] buttons to step through the pages, and the data wheel (or the INC / DEC buttons alongside the data wheel) to make your adjustments.
If you like what you've edited and want to save that setting, press [STORE] and then select a free Performance Memory.
[UTILITY ] This button reveals several pages of controls that govern the MM6/8 as a whole. Initially, the pages you'll use most are probably setting your preferred REVERB, CHORUS, and DSP type, PATTERN volume, and the fingering style you want to use (see IMPORTANT CONCEPTS list).
B. IMPORTANT CONCEPTS
WHAT YOU CAN STORE
You can store almost anything you can do on the MM6/8. This ranges from tweaks you make to a voice using the 4 real time control knobs, to edits to the effects settings, splits, and layered combinations of voices, to arpeggio types.
The process:
Use the panel and edit controls to create a sound you like. Press and hold [STORE] followed by one of the Performance Memory buttons. You have 8 banks of 8 Performance Memories in which to store your own sounds and effects.
These customizations will be stored in memory and will remain until you overwrite that memory location. You can also save and load Performance Memories externally via USB.
WHAT YOU CAN RECORD
The Mini Mo has an incredibly powerful real-time recorder. You can record almost anything you can do on the MM6/8 in real time. Plus.
This is designed as a beat-generator and idea-inspirer, not a fully-functioning sequencer, however, so after recording editing is minimal. If you need to edit material, you can save your song as a SMF on a USB stick and then load the file into Cubase LE for full-range computer editing.
Here are some typical recording scenarios with step-by-step instructions:
1. Recording just your playing – no backings / no patterns / no arpeggios.
Press [SONG].
Press [USER] and select a free location.
Choose your sound (This can be a Performance Memory, or a Voice - Single, DUAL or SPLIT).
Press [REC].
Press and hold [TRACK SELECT/MUTE].
Select a track (using 1-8 buttons). The selected track # is outlined in bold and the word REC will appear below it.
Start playing.
Notes:
a) To play the recording back, press [PLAY].
b) If you want to play to a click press [METRONOME]. To alter the tempo use [TEMPO + /-] then press [EXIIT] to get back to the main screen.
2. Overdubbing new parts to the above.
Press [REC].
Choose a new sound.
Press and hold [TRACK SELECT/MUTE].
Select a new track.
Press [START/STOP].
Notes:
You can do this over and over using up to eight tracks, each of which can have its own sound. You can only record one new track at a time. If you make a mistake a track can be re-recorded.
3. Recording a song with a drum backing only (no other accompaniment parts).
Press [PATTERN] and select the Pattern you want to play over.
Turn [FINGER] OFF so the green light goes out. Now you'll just hear the drum groove and no other accompaniment parts.
Choose your sound. This can be a Performance Memory or a Voice (Single, DUAL or SPLIT).
Press SONG.
Press [USER] and select a free location.
Press [REC].
Press and hold [TRACK SELECT/MUTE].
Press [PATTERN] and the word Pattern will light up in the bottom right hand corner of the display.
Still keeping the [TRACK SELECT/MUTE] pressed down, select a track to record on (using 1-8 buttons). The selected track will be outlined in bold and REC will appear below the one you select.
You can either press [START/STOP] to begin recording or press [SYNC/START] and the recording will begin as soon as you start playing.
Notes:
a) There are 4 variation beats for each Pattern (Buttons [A-D] under PATTERN CONTROL). You can step through each as you like during recording and your changes will be recorded.
b) Tempo can be varied in real time using [TEMPO +/-] buttons as you record and these changes will be recorded.
c) To overdub new parts onto your song follow the steps in Example 2.
4. Recording a song with a complete accompaniment backing
Follow the steps given in Example 3 but have or keep [FINGER] ON when choosing your Pattern.
5. Recording a song using arpeggios
Follow the steps given in example 3 but press the [ARPEGGIO ON/OFF] button so that it lights up. To select a different arpeggio, press and hold the [ARPEGGIO] button and then select your new arpeggio using the data wheel on [INC/DEC] buttons.
Notes:
a) You can record a voice with a different arpeggio on each track.
b) Playing with the arpeggios takes practice. The arpeggios will always play at the same tempo as the rest of the Pattern but if your timing is not accurate things can sound a bit lop-sided.
6. Recording sound changes / voice-edits
Just tweak the knobs in real time, and/or call up new sounds as you record. All such changes will be faithfully recorded!
7. Muting tracks
As your song plays back press the [TRACK SELECT/MUTE] button and de-select the tracks you wish to mute.
8. Clearing a song
In SONG USER mode, press and hold the[TRACK SELECT/MUTE] and [STORE] buttons. You will receive two prompts before the current song will be cleared.
C. WHAT ELSE IS ON THE SITE
GET THE DVD
Making Beats On The MM6 is an action-packed program that looks at the MM6 (and of course 100% compatible with the MM8) through the eyes and ears of hip hop producers David Bortnick, Daniel Goldstein (from Nobody’s Own), and Raymond Jones. This is a must-have DVD for all MM6/8 owners (or prospective owners) interesting in expanding their range of knowledge on these instruments. The program also contains valuable, step-by-step instruction on hooking up your MM Series keyboard to Cubase, the bundled DAW. More Details.
BEHIND THE MANUAL
The Newbie Zone is here to help you get up and running. Once you have grasped the basic concepts, the tutorials and Power User docs in Behind The Manual will greatly increase your skills on, and enjoyment with, the MM6.
Currently, you can find the official MM6 Owners Manual here, along with a full custom MM6 glossary, PDFs, and more. This area is constantly being added to so make sure you check in on a regular basis or add it to your RSS feed.
FORUMS
If you have a specific question that is not answered here or in Behind The Manual, go to the forums and post a question. You do need to be Registered to post a question but you should do this anyway in order to be kept up to date with OS and other MM6 news.
MOTIFMART
There are certain accessories you should definitely put on your list for the MM6. Amongst them are:
- UBS Memory stick (to save and load your Songs and Performances)
- Sustain pedal
- Gig bag or case
- Headphones / monitors
These and many other items can be found in the MotifMart. Items here have been tested with and are guaranteed to work with the MM6.
MO RADIO
Once you are comfortable with the Mini Mo you'll surely want to post your songs (as MP3s, please) on MO RADIO. This is a completely free service on Motifator.com where you can post and listen to music made on all Motif series instruments by genre or by artist.
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