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Use the faders to tweak parameters on the fly during playback.

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The Motif range has been one of Yamaha’s longest running range of keyboards, and since its inception back in 2001 it’s been successfully revamped, remodelled and re-invented to suit all kinds of needs and budgets. The workstation market has hotted up again recently, and the big three manufactures have been packing as much bang for buck as possible into keyboards. Since the MotifXS isn’t cheap, it needs to be damn good to justify its price.

It’s not just a new name for the next-generation Motif, but a new colour as well. Slate blue, to be a little more specific. This gives the synth a nice metallic sheen, and looks gorgeous in the flesh. despite being a 17kg bruiser, thanks to its solid metal chassis.

This 76-key XS7 model we have on test has channel aftertouch and a very nice action when played - the weighting is much more solid than a typical synth board, which is a big necessity, since the XS is a player’s instrument and needs to respond accordingly. The XS8 88-key version ups the ante adding a balanced hammer effect keyboard, which has a more convincing piano-style feel.

In detail

This is the first time any Motif has been graced with a large, full-colour LCD screen bringing it bang up to date with its competitors. There’s been a bit of an oversight in as much as the viewing angle can’t be tilted to quickly adjust visibility but the contrast control can help sort this out. A tilt would have been cool though.

Unfortunately, this new screen isn’t a touchscreen, so as tempting as it may be to prod it, navigation is still done via the tried-and-tested cursor keys, function buttons and the large data wheel. Nevertheless, a colour screen is undeniably easier on the eye than greyscale, especially when getting down to the nitty-gritty of complex programming.

To the right of the LCD lies an armada of buttons, the first batch select between the different performances, sequencing and utility modes. On the far side, the grey set are used for searching and selecting the sounds, and underneath these, the black buttons select parts, mutes and arps.

The left-hand side adds fun to the functionality and in a prominent position are the multi-faceted collection of eight faders and dials.

This doubles the amount found on the MotifES and the extra potential has been put to use to edit parameters in performance mode, and for controlling eight channels of a mixer within computer-based software such as Cubase.

The sequencer buttons also stand out by being much bigger than the other buttons (and because they’re gleaming white). They work with the internal sequencer and as a remote control for your DAW.

Sounds like?

Yamaha are keen to point out that this isn’t just a bunch of recycled sounds; in fact 80 per cent of the 353MB of waveform ROM has been freshly created especially for the XS.