TONE GENERATOR SERIES: Exploring a Voice in VOICE mode
PRESET 1: 001(A01) Full Concert Grand
You can learn a lot about a program from a
close inspection of the screen. Let’s begin
this series of articles with an overview of
the VOICE screen and learn how to
intelligently approach exploring it and/or
any VOICE in the Motif XF. Shown at left is
the Main screen of the “PRE 1:001(A01)
Full Concert Grand” Voice.
The “tab” in the extreme upper left corner
will always indicate what MODE you are in
currently: [VOICE] mode. You can also see
the current transmit channel, the current
Octave transposition and Tempo.
The Transmit Channel can quickly be changed
by pressing the [TRACK] button so it is lit and
then using the numbered buttons [1]-[16].
The Octave can be quickly changed using the
dedicated OCTAVE [DOWN]/[UP] buttons to the
left of the screen.
The TEMPO can changed by using the [SF6] TAP button, or the dedicated TEMPO knob or by navigating to the [F4]
ARPEGGIO screen. The Tempo parameter refers the current tempo in Beats per Minute of the assigned arpeggio types.
The “tabs” along the bottom of the screen will tell you what QUICK ACCESS screen you currently viewing;
these are selectable via the six [F] or Function buttons:
[F1] PLAY
[F2] PORTA (Portamento)
[F3] EG/EQ (Envelope Generator/ Equalizer)
[F4] ARPEGGIO
[F6] EFFECT> Goes to Edit mode. You may notice that [F6] has an arrow after the word EFFECT – this is to
denote that it is a ‘shortcut’ into full EDIT mode when you press it – just as if you had actually pressed
[EDIT], [COMMON EDIT] then [F6] EFFECT to navigate to the EFFECT screens.
The first five [SF] Sub-Function buttons, 1-5, select the Arpeggio phrase (these will only sound if an eighth
note icon appears and additionally the [ARP ON/OFF] button is illuminated). The current arp Tempo is
display at the very top of the screen.
The [SF6] button’s function will change depending on the screen you are viewing – on this main PLAY screen
it is the [TAP] function (Tap Tempo button). Pressing this button several times will determine the playback
tempo of the Arpeggio.
The [F6] button at times will read [LIST] allowing you to view a list of parameters or options. And at other
times it will read [CHAR] or Character allowing you to enter letters/numbers, etc., when naming a program.
In the screen you can see eight knobs and eight sliders icons. Notice that a red arrow indicates the stored
value for that knob or slider… the graphic fader and knob icons mimic the actual position of the physical
knob or slider. All 8 Control Sliders have a red indicator. The red indicator will appear initially only when the
knob or sliders position is different from the stored value. Only when you move a knob or slider past the
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