Yamaha MX88, Reference Manual

MX49 MX61 MX88 Reference Manual

2

Using the Manuals

Your MX49, MX61, or MX88 synthesizer comes with four different reference guides—the Owner’s Manual, the Reference Manual (this 
document), the Synthesizer Parameter Manual, and the Data List. While the Owner’s Manual is packaged together with the synthesizer as a 
hardcopy booklet, this Reference Manual, Synthesizer Parameter Manual, and the Data List are provided as PDF documents from the Yamaha 
Downloads web page.

Owner’s Manual (hardcopy booklet)

Describes how to set up your instrument and how to perform basic operations. It also has some useful, informative appendices for 
the instrument. This manual explains the following operations.

Reference Manual (this PDF document)

Describes the internal design of your instrument, how to use a connected computer, and all parameters that can be adjusted and set.

Synthesizer Parameter Manual (PDF document)

Explains the voice parameters, effect types, effect parameters, and MIDI messages that are used for synthesizers incorporating the 
Yamaha AWM2 sound generators. Read the Owner’s Manual and Reference Manual first and then use this parameter manual, if 
necessary, to learn more about parameters and terms that relate to Yamaha synthesizers.

Data List (PDF document)

Provides lists such as the Voice List, Performance List, Arpeggio Type List, Effect Type List, as well as reference materials such as 
the MIDI Implementation Chart and Remote Control Function List.

Using the Reference Manual

• Using the major function tabs along the upper part of each page from the 
Reference section, you can jump to the page for parameter explanations of 
the corresponding function. The list indicated at the right of each page in the 
selected function is equivalent to the function tree. By clicking the desired 
item from this list, you can jump to the page for the corresponding function’s 
explanations.

• You can click on any page number from the Table of Contents or within 
descriptive text to jump to the corresponding page.

• You can also click on desired items and topics you want to refer to in the 
“Bookmarks” index to the left of the main window, and jump to the 
corresponding page. (Click the “Bookmarks” tab to open the index if it is not 
displayed.)

• If you want to find information on a specific topic, function or feature, select 
“Find” or “Search” from the Adobe Reader “Edit” menu and enter a key word 
to locate the related information anywhere in the document.

NOTE

The most-recent version of Adobe Reader can be downloaded from the 
following web page.

http://www.adobe.com/products/reader/

NOTE

The names and positions of menu items may vary according to the version of 
Adobe Reader being used.

Information

• The illustrations and LCD screens as shown in this Reference Manual are 

for instructional purposes only, and may appear somewhat different from 
those on your instrument.

• Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft

®

 Corporation in the United States and other countries.

• Apple, Mac, iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.

• All other trademarks are the property of their respective holders.

• Setting up

• Basic operation and displays

• Playing the Voices

• Changing the tonal qualities of the Voice with the 

Controllers

• Using the Arpeggio function

• Keyboard Octave/Transpose settings

• Playing the Performances

• Playing the Rhythm Patterns

• Playing the Songs

• Creating an original Performance

• Switching Voices during live performance without the sound cutting off 

• Making global System settings

• Exchanging files with USB flash memories

• Connecting external MIDI instruments

• Shift Function list

• Display messages

• Troubleshooting

• Specifications

Son

g

/Pattern

File

Utility

Remote

Performance

MX49 MX61 MX

88

 Reference Manual

Performance

Performance Play

Performance Select

Performance Part Select

Performance Edit

Common Edit

Chor

u

s Eff

Re

v

er

b

 Eff

Master EQ

Arp S

w

itch

General

Name

Part Edit

Play Mode

Filter/EG

Arp Select

Rc

v

S

w

itch

Voice Edit

Voice Insert Eff / 
Dr

u

mKit Insert Eff

Voice LFO

Voice Ctrl Set /
Dr

u

mKit Ctrl Set

Voice Name /
Dr

u

mKit Name

Voice Jo

b

Voice Store

Performance Jo

b

Initialize

Recall

Copy

B

u

lk

Performance Store

S

u

pplementary 

Information

40

Reference

Performance

A Performance is typically made up of multiple Voices, allowing you to sound them together in various ways. For 
example, you can play a richly textured sound on the keyboard by combining two Voices (of Parts 1 and 2), or play 
multiple Parts simultaneously by using an external sequencer or MIDI data. This section explains all the Performance 
parameters, divided into six categories (Performance Play, Performance Select, Performance Part Select, Performance 
Edit, Performance Job, and Performance Store).

Performance Play

This corresponds to the top or main display of the instrument. In this display, you can select/play Part 1 or Part 2, play 
different Voices of Parts 1 and 2 together in a layer (Layer function), or play one Voice of Part 2 with your left hand while 
you play a different Voice of Part 1 with your right (Split function).

1

Performance number

The selected Performance number is always displayed in this three-digit display. When editing Performance 
parameters, a dot (.) is shown in the lower right of the screen. This provides a quick confirmation that the current 
Performance has been modified but not yet stored. When you want to store the current status, execute the Performance 
Store function (

page 56

).

2

Voice of Part 1

3

Voice of Part 2

Indicates/determines the Voice assigned to Parts 1 and 2 of the selected Performance. The Voice category, Voice 
number, Voice name are displayed in order from left to right. User Voices are indicated by a “u” mark at the beginning of 
the Voice name. When a category contains User Voices, the User Voices are listed after the Preset Voices of the 
category. A cursor (

>

) is displayed between the Voice category and number of the selected Part.

4

2 

(Edit) indicator

When the Voice assigned to Part 1 or Part 2 has been modified, this indicator appears to the right of the Voice name. 
This gives a quick confirmation that the Voice has been modified but not yet stored. When you want to store the current 
status, execute the Voice Store function (

page 53

).

5

Keyboard icon

When playing the keyboard, this icon appears to the right of the Part that is currently sounding. When the Layer function 
is active, this icon appears to the right of both Parts, since both Parts will sound. When the Split function is active, the 
icon appears at Part 1 when you play the right side of the keyboard (right of the Split Point; 

page 45

), and appears at 

Part 2 when you play the left side. 

Operation

Call 

u

p Performance Play display 

b

y pressing [EXIT] repeatedly 

 Select Part 1/2 

w

ith C

u

rsor [

u

]/[

d

] 

bu

ttons 

 Select Voice 

w

ith [DATA] dial.

AP 
STR:081:Amb

m

Pizza

001:CncrtGrand

c

n

2
2 n

2

3

1

5

4

Select a major function

Select a function