Yamaha MODX: Working With Sounds

Yamaha’s MODX synthesizer has a very extensive sound engine that allows you to create almost any sound imaginable. So, in this guide, we’ll show you the basics of creating, editing, and saving sounds. Follow the sections below to get started.

1. MODX Parts, Performances, and Live Sets
2. How to create a Performance
   • How to import custom samples
   • Saving a Performance
3. How to create a Live Set
   • Saving Live Sets

MODX Parts, Performances, and Live Sets

Before we dive in and show you how to create your own preset, you need to know the MODX sound path and its terms. While you can edit sounds in an infinite number of ways, a preset on a MODX breaks down to three things: Elements, Parts, and Performances. You can then add Performancesto a Live Set. Think of a Live Set as a set list: a collection of presets that you can recall on the spot.

• There are three different elements: FMX (synth sound), AWM2 (used for a pitched instrument that is played over the full range of the keyboard like a piano), and Drum (percussion/drum sounds that are assigned to individual notes).
• You can add up to eight Elements to a Part, 16 Parts per Performance, and 16 Performances to a Live Set.
• Learn more about using the MODX Category and Part Search here.

MODX sound path

How to create a Performance

Creating a Performance on a MODX is straightforward. All you do is select one of the preset Parts, import one from a thumb drive or create one from scratch, and then save it as a user preset.

1. Press the Category Search button, and select the bank where the Parts are.
2. Press the Sound group you wish to choose from (e.g., Piano, SynLead, Pad/Choir),and then select the part you want to add. 
   • If you wish to create an empty Part, press the Init button, and select the Element: AWM2, FM-X, or Drum.
   • Preset Performances typically have multiple Parts, so you may need to edit them within the Performance Edit window.
3. Press the Exit button to return to the Performance Edit window.
   • To add additional parts, press the + button on an empty Part, and repeat steps 1 and 2.

How to import custom samples

To make your Performance sound genuinely unique, you can import custom MP3, WAV, and AIFF audio files using a USB thumb drive connected to the USB TO DEVICE port. Please note that the thumb drive needs to be in FAT format. You can either format the thumb drive on your computer or on the MODX itself.

1. Connect the USB drive to your computer and copy the audio file.
2. Connect the drive to the MODX, navigate to thePerformance Edit screen, and create an Init Part.
3. Press the Part’s name, press Edit, and select which Element number you want to load it to. 
4. Press Select Waveform and choose the audio file you want to add. 
5. After the file is imported, go back to the Element Edit screen, and press ON to turn on the Element.

Saving a Performance

IMPORTANT: Do not power off the MODX or disconnect the USB thumb drive while the content is being saved. This can corrupt data and cause damage to the USB thumb drive.

Performances are saved to the MODX’s internal memory, which has a capacity of 1GB. You can also save them to USB thumb drives. Whenever you perform a factory reset or firmware update, all user-created Performances (and general settings) are erased, so you’ll want to back up your Performances beforehand. Check out our MODX firmware update guide to learn more about how to back up your user data.

Save a Performance to the internal memory

1. Press the Utility or gear icon on the touch panel, then press Contents.
2. Press Store/Save, then Content Type, and choose Performance.
3. Press Store As New Performance, give it a name, and press Done. 

Save a Performance to a USB thumb drive

Save a Performance to a USB thumb drive

1. With a USB thumb drive connected to the MODX, open the Contents page.
2. Press Store/Save, select Content Type, then select Backup File.
3. Choose the USB thumb drive that’s connected and press Done.

Synth Tips | Import Dedicated Performances from Installed Library | MODX/MONTAGE

How to create a Live Set

Once you have created some Performances from scratch, the last thing to do is create a Live Set. The MODX comes with 16 factory Live Sets, but there are eight user banks of 256 Live Sets included, which means you can have a total of 2,048 user Live Sets! Live Sets can be changed using the touch panel, or if you use an FC5 foot pedal, you can assign it to toggle between Live Sets, which is very useful during live sets. Follow these steps to create a new Live Set.

1. Choose the Performance you want to use.
2. Press the Live Set button or press the Live Set icon on the display. A blank Live Set window should open.
3. Touch one of the empty slots to assign the Performance.
4. If you need to adjust the Live Set’s arrangement, press the EDIT button while on the Live Set screen, choose the slot of the Performance you want to move, and then press Swap. Lastly, select the place you want to move the Performance.

Synth Tips | Performance to Live Set Assignment + Re-organization | MODX/MONTAGE

Saving Live Sets

IMPORTANT: Do not power off the MODX or disconnect the USB thumb drive while the content is being saved. This can corrupt data and cause damage to the USB thumb drive.

Saving Live Sets is similar to saving Performances in that you’ll be navigating through the same menus. However, Live Sets are saved as libraries, which means all user Live Sets will be combined into one folder.

1. Connect a USB thumb drive to your MODX.
2. Navigate to the Contents page via the Utilities menu.
3. Select Store/Save and choose Library File from the Content Type box.
4. Press Library File, name it, and then press Done.
   • Press Store/Save, select Content Type, and choose Backup File to back up all User Content.

Synth Tips | Assigning Audio File to Live Set | MODX/MONTAGE

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