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Quick Guide — Playing the MOTIF ES
Using the Plug-in Board
74
Owner’s Manual
Using the Plug-in Board
Plug-in Boards give you an enormous amount of additional sonic flexibility and power. When installed, they work seamlessly and
transparently within the system of this synthesizer – meaning that you can use their sounds and functions just as if they were built
right into this synthesizer at the factory.
The boards that are available for and can be installed to this synthesizer are described below.
Up to three Plug-in boards can be installed to the MOTIF ES. These boards are not simply a source of more Voices; they are also
full-featured, editable tone generators in their own right and extend the system-level specifications such as maximum polyphony.
In addition, they allow you to use synthesis systems besides AWM2. You can play Plug-in Voices just like ordinary internal Voices
and use them as Parts in a Song/Pattern/Performance.
This synthesizer is compatible with the Modular Synthesis Plug-in System (see below).
About MODULAR SYNTHESIS PLUG-IN SYSTEM
The Yamaha Modular Synthesis Plug-in System offers powerful expansion and upgrade capabilities for Modular Synthesis-
Plug-in-compatible synthesizers, tone generators and sound cards. This enables you to easily and effectively take
advantage of sophisticated synthesizer and effects technology, allowing you to keep pace with the rapid and multi-faceted
advances in modern music production.
Available Plug-in Boards
There are three types of Modular Synthesis Plug-in System-compatible Plug-in Boards: Single Part, Multi-Part and Effect Plug-in
Board. Using these, you can build your own system based on the sounds you require.
Single Part Plug-in Boards
Single Part Plug-in Boards let you add a completely different
synthesizer or single timbre tone generator (page 162) and
play its voices by using a single part of this synthesizer. Some
boards allow you to use synthesis systems besides AWM2.
● Analog Physical Modeling Plug-in Board (PLG150-AN)
Using Analog Physical Modeling (AN) synthesis, the very latest digital
technology is used to accurately reproduce the sound of analog
synthesizers. With this board installed, you have real-time control over
the playback of vintage synthesizer sounds as well as the very latest
sounds heard in today’s club-oriented music.
● Piano Plug-in Board (PLG150-PF)
A massive waveform memory is dedicated to the reproduction of
piano sounds. This board offers 136 stereo sounds, including a
number of acoustic and electric pianos, and up to 64-note polyphony.
You can even install two of these boards to double the polyphony to
128 notes.
● Advanced DX/TX Plug-in Board (PLG150-DX)
The sounds of the DX7 are available on this Plug-in Board. Unlike
PCM-based tone generators, this board uses the powerful FM
Synthesis system – the same as found on DX-series synthesizers – for
extraordinarily versatile and dynamic sound shaping potential.
Sounds are compatible with those of the DX7, and the board can
even receive DX7 data via MIDI bulk dump.
● Virtual Acoustic Plug-in Board (PLG150-VL)
With Virtual Acoustic (VA) synthesis, the sounds of real instruments
are modeled (simulated) in real time, giving a degree of realism that
cannot be achieved using conventional PCM-based synthesis
techniques. When playing these sounds using an optional MIDI Wind
Controller (WX5), you can even capture some of the physical feel of
woodwind instruments.
● Drum Plug-in Board (PLG150-DR)/Percussion Plug-in
Board (PLG150-PC)
Once connected and installed, the PLG150-DR/PLG150-PC
becomes a seamless additional sound source of AWM2 for the host
tone generator or synthesizer – providing a total of 88 drum/
percussion voices. Thanks to the built-in effect processing power, the
PLG150-DR/PLG150-PC has two separate effect blocks – Insertion
and Reverb – that can be applied to each kit.
Multi-Part Plug-in Board
Multi-Part Plug-in Boards let you add a completely
independent multi-timbral tone generator to the MOTIF ES
(page 162) — expanding the Voice capacity and polyphony
of the instrument with a full sixteen additional instrument
parts.
● XG Plug-in Board (PLG100-XG)
This Plug-in Board is a 16-part XG sound generator. You can play
back XG/GM song files using the rich variety of sounds and effects on
this board.
Effect Plug-in Board
Effect Plug-in Boards let you add a completely different effect
block to the host synthesizer.
● Vocal Harmony Plug-in Board (PLG100-VH)
With this board installed, you can add harmonies to selected parts
using four types of effects. Chorus parts for vocals can be created
automatically from chords that have been prepared and stored as
MIDI data. You can also use this synthesizer like a vocoder by
connecting and using a microphone while playing the keyboard.