Specifications

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A simple mapping of Waveform consisting
of several Keybanks (= individual samples)
could look like this:
Keybank 1 = C1
Keyboard zone C1 – D#1
Keybank 2 = F#1
Keyboard zone E1 – A1
Keybank 3 = C2
Keyboard zone A#1 – D#2
Keybank 4 = F#2
Keyboard zone E2 – A2
Keybank 5 = C3
Keyboard zone A#2 – D#3
Keybank 6 = F#3
Keyboard zone E3 – A3
Keybank 7 = C4
Keyboard zone A#3 – D#4
Keybank 8 = F#4
Keyboard zone E4 – A4
Keybank 7 = C5
Keyboard zone A#4 – D#5
Keybank 8 = F#5
Keyboard zone E5 – A5
Keybank 9 = C6
Keyboard zone A#5 – C6
This mapping uses two samples per octave.
A Keybank thus comprises six semitones.
Each sample is transposed up to two semi-
tones down and three semitones upwards.
Depending on the sound material this may
already lead to clearly audible changes in
sound. Because at the transitions of the
Keybank‘s keyboard zones a sample that‘s
been transposed three semitones up meets
a sample that‘s transposed two semitones
down.
In the past this had often to be taken into
account for the simple reason of memory
size.
In more recent samplings, however, the
trend is towards using much more Key-
banks for a Waveform.
If samples for one octave are taken in
four different pitches (eg C, D#, F#, A), a
Keybank only comprises three semitones.
A mapping for this scheme would mean
that each sample has to be transpo-
sed by only one semitone up and one
down. The transpose effect is barely au-
dible, or at least very inconspicuous.
Keybank 1 = C1
Keyboard zone C1 – C#1
Keybank 2 = D#1
Keyboard zone D1 – E1
Keybank 3 = F#1
Keyboard zone F1 – G1
Keybank 4 = A1
Keyboard zone G#1 – A#1
Keybank 5 = C2
Keyboard zone B1 – C#2
A Waveform mapping can also include
velocity ranges in addition to the keyboard
zones. Here samples of a certain pitch are
The sampled Waveforms are stored as a
Preset Waves in the MOTIF‘s Wave-ROM.
ROM is an acronym for „Read Only Me-
mory“. The Preset Waves in the Wave-ROM
can not be overwritten or deleted.
That Wave-ROM is the heart of every
MOTIF synthesizer.
And the Wave-ROM is always the first
step in the development process of a new
model.
In general, a large part of the Wave-ROM
from the previous model is taken and ad-
ded with an equally large new part. In the
last episode of this workshop we already
have shown that the size of the Wave-ROM
has dramatically been expanded with each
model.
available in different velocities and are
assigned to corresponding velocity-zones.
In Yamaha synthesizers this sample-based
tone-generation is referred to as AWM syn-
thesis. AWM stands for „Advanced Wave
Memory“. Sampled waveforms are used as
the basis for programming realistic imita-
tions of instrument and synthesizer sounds.
Parameters as envelopes, filters, modula-
tors and effects are available for further
shaping of the sound.
Perhaps you‘re wondering where to find this
heart of the MOTIF? The Preset Waves of
the Wave-ROM appear as „Oscillators“ in
the Voice mode.
You can learn more about that in the next
section.
vOIces and
eleMenTs
A sound stored in MOTIF is called a Voice.