Very Nice Rack Synth

Pros
1. Many very useful voices right out of the box.
2. Very flexible and easy to maintain favorites list. Understand they are sorted by bank plus voice number.
3. With 5 encoders * 4 groupings, you can access 20 key parameters at performance time. 2 of these are assignable.
4. Category search is good but a properly maintained favorites may be faster for performance use.

Cons
5. I do not yet see a method for control input of Leslie speed from the master controller. There are no hardware control inputs on the rack that can be used. This is where the Motif or S90 would have an advantage.
6. The MIDI filters could be expanded / enhanced. Even though Program change is disabled, some parameters are changed with changes from the master controller.
7. This rack does not have a feature called patch remain. I.E., the currently sustained chord will drop out when switching voices.

Overall, this is great way to add voices to any configuration you may have. Most voices are good without any edits. This little box may make me into a pure Yamaha convert with regard to keyboards.

BUY THIS....

The title says it all. The motif rack is just as good as the full sized motif: you get all the patches, effects, and MIDI latency is pretty much nonexistant. The instruments sound great, especially the guitars.
And the effects are amazing. I don't think most people realize how realsitic the effects are on the motif, but the vcm compressor and EQs are dope. It actually sounds like I'm patching through an 1176 or 550: for example, driving the compressor hard will cause a nice distortion if you're looking for that.


Trust me, if you're looking for a keyboard, BUY THE MOTIF RACK!! You'll get the best features of the full size version for a third of the cost.

This Rack Has Exceeded My Expectations

I had an Oxygen 61 Midi Controller and wanted to get a new sound module. I like to keep my studio as compartmented as possible so I can switch out pieces rather than buy entirely new units. This way when I bang on the keys, if the keys break I can just go get a new Midi controller for about $200 instead of buying a $2500 keyboard.

I sequence and record with Pro Tools 8 LE and use the Yamaha software interface that comes with to control the Motif Rack. Long gone are the hours of trying to call up presets or save things manually, now I just conveniently call up any multi-voice setting whenever I want and save them as a file into a folder on my computer.

The voices and the sounds are really good. As with most modules or boards I've used there's that group of quality sounds you'll be attracted to. This rack has plenty. The Motif Rack XS is good for the electronic musician, great for techno, rap, hip-hop, and even can be used in rock music too.

I don't usually write reviews so it really takes a lot for me to say all this- but I feel obligated from my positive experience and the value which far exceeds the price tag.

Wow

Just got mine yesterday. Extremely useable sounds. Get yourself one. It's not very likely that you'll regret it.

SWEET

Man this is Sweet... I was told that this wasn't all that but it's nice.. I know there are the Fantoms and the M3's out there but if you already have a keyboard and looking to get some dynamite sounds then I would recommned this.. I went through all the sounds and they are unbelievable (in a good Way)... I love it and I'm glad to have it.. get one and enjoy...

Amazing stuff

This is my 7th sound module. I do a lot of sequences monthly for several groups. The motif offers the best pianos I have tried. The grands and the acoustic guitars sound very real and the list of basses is pretty long. The effects are very accessible with the knobs on the case. I can apply most of needed effects from the rack, if I dont want to use other hardwares. This module works flawlessly with Digital Performer. It amazes me every time. Glad I bought it.