I recently bought the 80’s soundset from playkeyz.com. They were delivered as either a single patch for one soundset or multiple sounds for 1 preset(i.e. Frankie Goes to Hollywood song “Relax” has 5 individual sounds for 1 preset). If I had the actual keyboard instead of rack, I would have received the sounds to use in the “multi” setup instead of individual ‘voice’ sounds. I need to have these layered accross the keyboard so how do I do this? Is it a midi issue? Please help. Thanks.

Sorry, your question is not clear. Could you describe the sound set you are working with - assuming that we all know that particular library will limit the number of people who could help. And the terminology you use is definitely not clear - there are no “patches”, “soundset” or “presets” in a library that you purchased.

Is it a library made for the Motif-Rack ES - you don’t say but mention something about the keyboard version and a MULTI - the keyboard Motif ES does not have a MULTI - MULTIs are found only in the Rack ES. In the keyboard the equivalent of the MULTI is called a SONG MIXING or PATTERN MIXING program. So again - we are not clear on what you are dealing with..

It is either Voices/Performances, Multis or User banks - try and use the terminology of the product you are talking about because - although I think I know what you are talking about - combine the strange terms you are using with the fact that I don’t know the library you are talking about and its is totally confusing.

Help us help you…

I do apologize. I’ve been using Korg & Roland so long, I’m stuck using they’re terms. Anyways, I have an ES rack. I have been using that as a sound module every since I have owned it(Original owner-5 years).
I purchased recently a “soundset” that has sounds from the 1980’s. These sounds, as I understand, were created on a Motif ES7. The “creator” had created each song file to be used in the performance mode, with up to 5 different parts.
When I received the download, I was told they were not compatable with the ES rack as for use in the performance mode. So each part is separate, although it may take up to 5 parts to make a complete song.
I was able to to go into the performance/multi mode & take an exisiting file & overwrite it with the parts I needed. The problem I am having is this: in performance mode, I took part one & replaced it with the part I need. I did the same for part two. When I play the keyboard, I hear only part one, not part two. I believe I should be hearing both parts, not just the first one. I also need to separate the ranges of the keyboard for each part.
I realize my termanology still is off but I hope this makes it a little easier to understand. Thanks, Bill.

When I received the download, I was told they were not compatable with the ES rack as for use in the performance mode. So each part is separate, although it may take up to 5 parts to make a complete song.

So the data you purcahsed will not work in the Motif-Rack ES. My question is what type of file format - your use of the terms makes reading your post very (very difficult) - are you saying the original file had sequences in it? (SONGS - the word in the Motif ES keyboard refers to one of the two Sequencer modes) - I use all capitals when referring to a word that is a MODE. We can agree that “Girl from Ipanema” is a song. But that SONG refers to a mode found in the Motif keyboard.

The Motif-Rack ES has PERFORMANCE mode, it does not have a SONG mode.
There is an equivalent to the keyboards SONG MIXING setup - in the Rack ES it is called MULTI

Why were you told they were not compatible. WHat will help (since the terminology is difficult for you) is the file format. Was the file a:

.W7A/.W8A? “All” data file
.W7S/.W8S? “All Song” File
.W7E? “Motif ES Edtor” File

?

The “creator” had created each song file to be used in the performance mode, with up to 5 different parts.

So is it really a SONG file? Because in Motif/Yamaha-speak a “song file” cannot be used in the “performance mode” - that is an oxymoron.

A “song file” would be .W7S/.W8S would include the MIDI event data associated with the sequencer, and the multi-part setup that configures the Voices. Basically the SEQ and the TONE GENERATOR data. The Motif ES keyboard has both. The Rack ES does not, it does have the TONE GENERATOR portion - called a MULTI.

If you are building these sounds in the Motif Rack ES’s MULTI mode, then you need to assign MIDI channels. All PARTS assigned to the same MIDI channel will sound when you transmit into the Rack ES on that MIDI channel.

Here is some important information:
_ When in VOICE mode you address the Motif Rack ES on one MIDI channel. The parameters is the UTILITY MIDI parameter called BASIC RECEIVE CHANNEL.
_ When in PERFORMANCE mode you address the Motif Rack ES on one MIDI channel. The parameters is the UTILITY MIDI parameter called BASIC RECEIVE CHANNEL.
_ When in MULTI mode you address the Motif Rack ES on 16 MIDI channels, one MIDI channel per PART is the default, but unlike the PERFORMANCE mode you can change the MIDI Receive channel of each PART as you desire.

If you set five PARTS of the MULTI to the same Receive Channel - you will be able to play them all at one time from your MIDI controller. You can Set the NOTE LIMIT parameter for each PART to create either SPLITS (by setting limits) or LAYERS (by overlapping the limits).

Ok...maybe start a little more from the beginning....In the ‘Voice’ mode, there are different ‘Banks’ such as PRE 1; PRE 2; PRE 3; PRE 4; PRE 5; PRE 6; GM; USR1; USR2; USR3; PLG1; PLG2.
In my USR1 Bank, I have these “sounds” loaded in there. There is 128 of them, all from the download. All these “sounds” (or parts) trigger no problem. I can here each one. No problem. As an example, the first one(USR1:001) reads; Sc:Runaway(meaning Runaway from Bon Jovi). The second one reads; Sc:SeprtWays (meaning Separate Ways from Journey).  Now lets move ahead to the 5th one & I will try to explain what I need. The 5th one reads; Sc:RebelClick & the 6th reads; Co:RebelPad & the 7th reads; Ba:RblLead & the 8th one reads; Sc:RblSqreLd.  I need for example the 5th thru 8th to be layered together since the particular sounds all petain to one particular song(namely Rebel Yell by Billy Idol). So for each song, there may be mutiple sounds(or parts) pertaining to a particular song(Rebel Yell) such as bass, lead, string, pad, etc.

How can I do this?

How do I address each one its midi channel? This is where it seems I am having the most problem. I scroll thru the menus but cannot find where to change the midi controls(voice or multi).

If you don’t have one, you should download a manual. Even a cursory glance should prove quite helpful. The terminology may be a drag but it needs to be understood to communicate effectively.

You have installed 128 voices from a yet unknown file type. For your Rebel Yell scenario you should create a new performance. This is where we create layers and splits, made of up to 4 different voices. This is an excellent exercise in learning how to use your rack. Fundamental actually if you’d like any measure of success. Sadly, it would take me 5 times longer to type the instructions than to have you read them. Sorry. Once you are accustomed to performance mode you can dive deeper into the unit. Are you driving this rack with one controller?  I’m unsure as to your midi channel question.

Stone