Just got an XS 6. Can someone tell me the latest OS version. Thanks.

Also I noticed songs do not erase on power down but patterns do. Or am I doing something wrong?

Welcome to the forum.

The most recent XS OS is version 1.60, available here:
https://usa.yamaha.com/support/updates/21001_en.html

PeteParsons - 21 August 2020 04:43 PM

Also I noticed songs do not erase on power down but patterns do. Or am I doing something wrong?

Press [STORE] to retain data in non-volatile memory. See page 218 of the XS Owner’s Manual.

Thanks. I had the ES for a while. Is the sequencer much different besides the visual layout?

PeteParsons - 22 August 2020 01:54 PM

Thanks.

You’re welcome.

 

PeteParsons -

I had the ES for a while. Is the sequencer much different besides the visual layout?

That depends on what you mean by “different”. One thing you may miss on the XS, if you previously used it on the ES, is step recording.

Here are some support articles which (to at least some extent) cover the XS sequencer functions/improvements:

http://www.motifator.com/index.php/support/view/secrets_of_the_sequencer

http://www.motifator.com/index.php/support/view/whats_new_in_the_motif_xs

http://www.motifator.com/index.php/support/view/new_functions_in_motif_xs

Hopefully some XS users who owned an ES before will join in.

Thanks, I will check out the articles. I never used the step sequencer so not an issue. The visual layout is better. Also you don’t have to store mixing data apart from sequence data which I like. Arps seem easier to apply on a recording.

One thing I did not see in file mode was Performance. Did I miss something? I didn’t get a manual so I will have to download. I really hope they did a better job on it than the ES manual.

PeteParsons - 23 August 2020 11:38 AM

Thanks, I will check out the articles. I never used the step sequencer so not an issue. The visual layout is better. Also you don’t have to store mixing data apart from sequence data which I like. Arps seem easier to apply on a recording.

One thing I did not see in file mode was Performance. Did I miss something?

As with the ES, saving an “All” file on the XS includes Performances. That way any User Voices that Performances are based on will also be saved. A single Performance can be loaded from an “All” file - Load Type “Performance” is available when in Performance mode.

 

PeteParsons -

I didn’t get a manual so I will have to download.

The XS Owner’s Manual and others (Data Lists, New Functions for OS v1.50 and v1.60, etc.) are available for download here:
https://usa.yamaha.com/products/contents/music_production/downloads/manuals/index.html?l=en&c=music_production&k=motif+xs

 

PeteParsons -

I really hope they did a better job on it than the ES manual.

Probably better, but the Motifs are deep and it’s hard to cover every detail clearly. This forum should be able to help when needed.

Thanks once agàin.

I remember some debate on the ES as not inserting a USB stick when it was already powered up. Is this true for the XS?

PeteParsons - 24 August 2020 12:49 PM

I remember some debate on the ES as not inserting a USB stick when it was already powered up. Is this true for the XS?

A USB flash drive may be left connected, removed, or inserted at any time, except (of course) while the XS is performing a Save or Load operation or otherwise transferring data.

I pulled out my ES7 which has been sitting for years so I could transfer voices and performances to the XS. I had the sequencer set to MTC as I was using an AW1600 at the time. I changed the utility to internal to try the sequencer as stand alone. I also stored it in utility, however when powering down it reverts to MTC. What step did I forget besides store?

PeteParsons - 25 August 2020 08:17 AM

I pulled out my ES7 which has been sitting for years so I could transfer voices and performances to the XS. I had the sequencer set to MTC as I was using an AW1600 at the time. I changed the utility to internal to try the sequencer as stand alone. I also stored it in utility, however when powering down it reverts to MTC. What step did I forget besides store?

Setting MIDI Sync to “internal” and pressing [STORE] is all that’s required - that is, unless you then load an “All” file that was saved when the setting was “MTC”.

If the setting is changing back to “MTC” each time the ES is powered up, then it’s likely you have Auto Load turned on, and the file being loaded (from either a SmartMedia card or USB device) has MIDI Sync set to “MTC”.

To prevent that behavior, either turn Auto Load off, or after changing the MIDI Sync setting to “internal” save a new “All” file and direct Auto Load to the new file.

See page 135 of the ES Owner’s Manual for details.

Yep. You’re right. Thanks.

PeteParsons - 25 August 2020 03:20 PM

Yep. You’re right. Thanks.

No problem, glad to help.

In Pattern, is there a way I can scroll thru arps while playing something I already recorded. Currently I have to hit record to access the arps which means I can’t try various arps without recording them while playing the track I already payed down.