Yamaha's much-loved MOTIF-series workstation synths have achieved industry-standard status for their rich, deep soundsets. But at well over $3000, an 88-key MOTIF is prohibitively expensive for the typical gigging musician. What's a cash-strapped keyboardist to do? Enter the Yamaha MOX8. One of the most powerful lightweight workstations around, the MOX8 packs the same 1200+ sounds, powerful arpeggiators, and 256 Performance presets from the MOTIF XS into a portable 33-pound package. In fact, Yamaha calls the MOX8 "the mobile MOTIF." But an MOX8 is much more than a gigging workhorse: the on-board 16-track sequencer is at your service as a composition sketchpad, while the built-in 4-in/2-out USB audio interface and bundled Cubase AI software make the MO' the heart of your home studio. All told, the Yamaha MOX8 is simply the most cost-effective way to expand your stage and studio soundset to MOTIF-size magnitude.
MOTIF-quality Sounds And Effects
If you're familiar with Yamaha's MOTIF XS board, the MOX8's expansive arsenal of sounds needs no introduction. Here you'll find everything from guitar, drum, bass, brass, woodwind, strings and ethnic percussion sounds to vintage and modern synths. Each voice on the MOX8 layers as many as 8 elements, while Yamaha's eXpanded Articulation (XA) buttons add detail and articulation to must-have instruments like Yamaha's CFIII concert grand piano, or the tear-jerking solo violin. Category Search mode breaks down the library of 1,270 voices, making it easy to find what you need in a hurry. And if your favorite synth voice needs a little customization, it's a piece of cake to use the MOX8's knobs to dial in rich, nuanced effects like chorus, reverb, or delay. Yamaha's Virtual Circuitry Modeling technology recreates the fat, warm sound of a stockpile of vintage effects, just like the effects-processing engine found on Yamaha's flagship MOTIF boards. There's even a Vocoder effect -- simply plug in a microphone to the 1/4-inch input to run any sound through one of the most dynamic filters on the planet: the human voice.
Performance Presets: Up Your "Fun Factor"
A "Performance" is Yamaha's term for a saved preset with up to 4 voices layered/split across the keyboard, along with an individual arpeggiator for each voice. The Performance Creator buttons lets you build and save your own splits, layers, and arpeggiator settings fast -- without endless menu-scrolling. Or call up any of 256 factory Performance presets, like Psychic Trance, Philharmonic, or Funkhunters. The "fun factor" is huge here -- you'll be jamming along with the MO's arpeggiators in minutes. The 6000+ arpeggio patterns are designed to sound like real instruments, playing the repeating phrases that make your favorite bass lines or guitar parts memorable -- from simple to complex. Grab the set of 4 lower knobs to modify your arpeggio pattern's tempo, octave range, gate time, and more. It's easy to see how Performance presets can spark ideas in the studio, but they're also perfect for stage use: you can save your own splits, layers, and arp settings for fast, easy access during the gig.
Total Integration With Free Cubase AI Software
Like all respectable workstation keyboards, the MOX8 has a built-in 16-track MIDI sequencer, so you can record your music without ever firing up your computer. But since Yamaha knows the future of home recording is in computer-based digital audio workstation (DAW) software, they've bundled a special version of Steinberg Cubase AI that integrates perfectly with your MOX8. Press the "DAW Remote" button, and your MO' becomes an audio interface and control surface for Cubase, transmitting digital audio and MIDI to your computer over one USB cable. The MOX8's sequencer's play, stop and record buttons now control Cubase, and it even comes with two software synths that you can play from the MOX8 with perfectly integrated control. If you already use Cubase, it's a no-brainer.
...Or Use Your MO' With the DAW Of Your Choice
The MOX8 works as a 4-in, 2-out audio and MIDI interface with Digital Performer, Sonar, or Apple Logic. Want to record yourself playing guitar, or singing along live to a beat you've made on the MOX8's sequencer? Just plug in your guitar and microphone to the two 1/4-inch A/D inputs on the back of your MOX8, connect a USB cable, and presto: your MO' is now a 44.1 kHz, 24-bit audio interface ready to record all four channels into your computer. Or try playing the keyboard live to backing tracks from your computer: the MOX8 has a dedicated slider to control the relative volume of your DAW's playback, perfect for performing live with your laptop. Even if you're not a big DAW user, you can still take advantage of USB connectivity, using Yamaha's free editor software to quickly edit your MOX8's voices and Performance settings from the comfort of your computer screen. It's all designed to help you get the most out of your MOX8.
Features:
- 88-key Graded Hammer Standard keyboard that replicates an acoustic piano
- At 32.6 pounds, it's a truly portable workstation synth
- MOTIF XS sound engine, with 1200+ voices and Yamaha's Expanded Articulation (XA) to add realism to acoustic instruments
- 256 Performance split/layer presets
- Category Search helps you find the right sound fast
- Performance Creator section -- build your own splits and layers
- Over 6000 arpeggiator patterns ignite your creativity
- High-quality Effects, including Virtual Circuitry Modeling and Vocoder
- 16-track Sequencer with real-time and step-based recording
- Voice Editor software lets you edit the MOX8's sounds from your computer via USB
- Bundled Cubase AI DAW software integrates perfectly with your MOX8 as a 44.1 kHz, 24-bit, 4-channel USB audio interface
- Two 1/4-inch inputs for guitar, bass, or microphone
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Product Description
For the past decade, Motif synthesizers have been the industry standard for both live performance and studio production. Combining Motif technology with multi-channel USB computer integration technology and bundled VSTs, the MO X6 and X8 are the most powerful, mobile and affordable Yamaha music workstations ever. They are destined to bring Motif music production to this generation of players and producers.
The MOX combines a MOTIF XS sound engine (with 355MB of Wave ROM, over 6000 arpeggiator patterns, and VCM effects), a MIDI keyboard controller (with AI knobs and extensive DAW/VST control), and advanced multi-channel USB audio computer integration together in one convenient package. Add to that, the built-in direct performance recording, song/pattern sequencing and the included Cubase AI software plus two unique VST instruments packed into lightweight bodies, and you get pound-for-pound the most powerful, mobile and affordable Yamaha music workstation ever.
Motif XS Sound Engine
MOX has the exact same 1270 sounds as the acclaimed MOTIF XS covering a wide variety of music styles. Starting with the Yamaha's acclaimed Concert Grand Piano CF3 grand piano sound; all the acoustic instrument sounds (strings, brass, guitar, bass, drums and more) that made the Motif XS so popular are covered. Of course the 8 element voices, 18 different filter types and extensive effects section are also great for creating the vintage analog and modern digital synthesizer sounds that are used in the electronic and hip hop music scenes. All the sounds you'll need for both live performance and music production in a variety of styles are contained in the MOX.
Performance Mode
You can combine multiple Voices together (up to 4 parts) and play them on one MIDI channel in performance mode, so you can play dynamic layered sounds or play solos along with drums and bass backing tracks. With the interactive Arp engine, even playing simple chords or just one finger give you complete musical performances to spark your creativity. The MOX has 256 preset performances in a wide variety of music style (Rock, World, Hip Hop Jazz, etc).
Easy Operation
Category search mode makes it fast and intuitive get to your ideal instrument. 16 different instrument categories with sub-categories make it quick to get the sound you need. With the Performance Creator (a feature taken from the S90XS, you can easily build up layer or split Performances by a single button press. Start with a Voice you like, press LAYER and a suitable layer sound will be chosen. Press SPLIT and a left hand Bass sound is called up automatically. Go to DRUM ASSIGN and you can play along with the tons of built-in rhythm patterns.
Sequencer mode to build up your inspiration as quickly as possible
MOX features a built-in sequencer which lets you produce high-quality music productions without the need for a computer or any other external devices. The sequencer features both real-time recording, which records your performance data as you play it, and Step recording, which is suitable for recording precise phrases or other difficult passages. Moreover, you can use the creative inspiration from Performances and directly record them to a Song/Pattern simply by pressing the [REC] button. After creating the outline, in a matter of seconds you can easily edit and refine your song to final completion right on the MOX.
Plenty of Effects
MOX has a wide variety of effects for both the internal keyboard sounds and for use with the A/D inputs including a Vocoder for vocal formant controlled synth sounds. Also Yamaha's proprietary VCM (Virtual Circuitry Modeling) technology that, rather than simply attempting to approach the desired sound using conventional digital audio methods, actually models the original analog circuitry - right down to the last resistor and capacitor. With the MOX, the high-quality effects found in the industry-standard digital recording consoles are at your fingertips.
MOX also includes the award-winning "REV-X" reverb, the same professionally renowned reverb found in the SPX2000.
Audio and MIDI Connections
A single USB cable lets you integrate both Audio and MIDI with your MAC or PC computer. MOX has a built-in 4" 2-out USB audio interface so you can record MOX's internal sound directly to your MAC or PC. Two dedicated audio inputs can be used to record guitars and vocals into your computer. Compatible with all the major DAWs including Cubase, ProTools, MOTU, and Sonar (in fact any program that support ASIO drivers), you can digitally record the sounds of the MOX and anything connected to the stereo analog inputs directly to your favorite DAW. Not only for music production, the USB connectivity and in-depth keyboard controller functionality lets you also playback and control your VST soft synths via the audio outputs of your MOX, allowing you to easily integrate VSTs into your live stage shows with no extra gear -- just add computer and play.
Bundled Software and Editors
The MOX comes bundled with a 48-track version of Steinberg's Cubase AI software, Prologue, Steinberg's VA soft synth for vintage analog synth sounds and a Yamaha Organ YC-3B "Clonewheel" organ emulation VST. (The installer package of Soft synthesizers is available at yamahasynth.com) Dedicated Editor Software lets you easily edit your MOX just like a soft synthesizer. In fact, by using the MOX Editor VST, you can turn the MOX into a hardware accelerated VSTi. Combined with Media Bay in Cubase, you can categorize and select MOX's sound from a unified universal library of all your VST sounds. There is even a special editor for setting up the MIDI keyboard controls and remote functions. The MOX is one of the best examples of Yamaha's commitment to integrating the keyboards into the computer music production environment.
88-note Graded Hammer Standard Action
The MOX8 features an 88-key GHS keyboard. This feature provides authentic, realistic keyboard response-much like the feel of an acoustic piano-with the lower keys being heavy in touch, the higher keys light, and all the natural gradations in between. The MOX6 features a recently developed, 61-key, semi-weighted keyboard. The keyboard has been designed and adjusted so that you easily and expressively play the rich variety of different sounds in the instrument.
Easy To Carry
The lightweight bodies (MOX6:15.4 lbs, MOX8: 32.6 lbs) make it easy to carry the MOX to rehearsals or gigs and make them pound-for-pound the most powerful workstations Yamaha has ever made. Both models are 50% lighter in weight than the comparable Motif models.
Features
- - 1217 Voices and 355 MB of waveforms taken directly from the Motif XS
- - XA (Expanded Articulation) tone generation system for incredibly acoustic instrument performance and more than 256
- - Reproduction of the unique, natural, warm sounds of vintage instruments via Virtual Circuitry Modeling effects
- - 6720 arpeggiator patterns and the 4 part interactive arpeggio engine from the Motif XS
- - Direct Performance recording lets you record your Performances straight into the sequencer
- - Category Search provides instant access to the Voices you want
- - Comprehensive sequencer for creating Songs and Patterns, including step recording
- - Recently developed 61 semi-weighted keyboard action
- - Built in 4 in 2 out USB Audio/MIDI interface
- - Bundled with Yamaha YC-3B Organ Emulator soft synth, Steinberg Prologue analog synth, and Cubase AI5.
- - Advanced Integration with PC and keyboard controller
