MOXF Getting Started: Category Search

Getting Started: CATEGORY SEARCH

CATEGORY SEARCH is a basic skill that will serve you well when using other more advanced routines on the MOXF6/MOXF8. With more than one thousand VOICES on-board being able to find them efficiently makes Category Search the first skill you should master. This article goes over this function and applies it to the PERFORMANCE CREATOR feature – which allows the user to assemble multiple Voices into a program for real time play.

Hear the Sounds
• Make sure the MOXF is hooked up and panned out in Stereo to a high quality sound system. We recommend professional Studio monitors like the Yamaha HS8 monitors.
• Push the [VOICE] Button to start in VOICE Mode.

Selecting a Voice using the Category Search

1) Press the [CATEGORY SEARCH] button in the Voice Play display. The Category Search display appears.

CategorySearch1

2) Move the cursor position to “Main” (Main Category) with the Cursor UP button, and use the [DATA] dial to select the Main Category.

3) Move the cursor position to “Sub” (Sub Category) with the Cursor DOWN button, and use the [DATA] dial to select the Sub Category.

4) Press the [ENTER] button, or Cursor [>] button to actually call up the selected Category.

The Voice List of the selected category is shown.

CategorySearch2

5) Select the Voice with the Cursor [UP]/[DOWN] buttons or [DATA] dial. If you want to change the Category, press the Cursor [<] button or [EXIT] button and go back to step 2.

6) Press the [ENTER] button to actually call up the Voice. This closes the Category Search display.

The Voices are in a long list according to the selected Main Category; you jump down the list by selecting the Sub Category. On the extreme right side of the screen you will see a “ruler” that indicates just how far you have advanced down the Voice List in this Category.

Registering your favorite Voices to the Favorite Category

1) Perform steps 1 through 4 of the “Using the Category Search function” instructions to call up the Voice List of the selected Category.

2) Select the desired Voice with the Cursor UP/DOWN buttons or [DATA] dial.

Favorites

3) Press the [F5] SET/CLR button to turn on the Favorite mark. This operation will turn on the Favorite mark, making it solid ( ), and the selected Voice will be registered to the Favorite Category. Pressing the [F5] SET/CLR button again will turn off or “ghost” the Favorite mark ( ). To register other Voices, repeat steps 2 through 3.
To remove all the Voices from the Favorite Category, press the [F6] CLR ALL button.

4) When you complete registering Voices to the Favorite Category, press the [ENTER] button to return to the Voice Play display. This operation will exit from the Category Search display and store the Favorite Category settings to internal Flash ROM. To register/remove the current Voice to/from the Favorite Category, simply hold the [SHIFT] button then press the [FAVORITE] button.

Alternate Method to register FAVORITE: (QUICK KEYS)
When in VOICE mode:
Select the VOICE
Hold [SHIFT] + [FAVORITE]
The MOXF will write your preference to internal memory.

TIPS and TRICKS: Getting the most out of your MOXF
You would mark a VOICE as a Favorite as a reminder to yourself that this is a sound you enjoy playing. With so many variations on instrument sounds, it can be very important to mark the ones you find interesting to play. You may think you will remember the name of the Voice but marking it as a Favorite will serve to keep you certain about Voices you find inspiring to play. A marked FAVORITE will have a small heart icon on the top line of the main VOICE screen. And all your marked Voices will appear in a custom list when you press the dedicated [FAVORITE] button located just below the [CATEGORY SEARCH] button.

Just FYI: the order in which the Voices appear in the “Favorites list” is a result of their numeric position in the Banks and is not customizable. If you wish to place your Favorite PRESET VOICES in a specific order, that is exactly what the purpose of the [USER 1], [USER 2] and [USER 3] Voice Banks. When you first get your MOXF out of the box, the Voices contained in these USER Voice banks are all “placeholder” Voices – you will find they are all repeats from Voices found in the permanent PRESET 1 – PRESET 9 Banks. Same goes for the 32 USER DRUM Kits, they are simply repeats of Kits found among the 72 permanent PRESET DRUM Kits. You are meant to store your own customized versions of data to the “USER” banks – and thus the name.

Feel free to recall your Favorite Preset Voices, then press [STORE] and direct it to the USER bank and number position you would like to have this VOICE. In this fashion you can create a custom order of VOICES.

Performance Creator: LAYER
This makes it possible, without being a programming guru, to make splits, layers and add drum accompaniment without ever having to push the [EDIT] button. The first key to understanding how to use this powerful tool is to begin in VOICE mode.

VoiceMode
VoiceFullCnctGrnd

Starting from [VOICE] mode, select the Full Concert Grand piano Voice.
The Performance Creator makes programming Performances a very intuitive process… building up from single sound to completed combination.
First, let’s build a simple Performance Layer.

PERFORMANCE CREATOR Buttons

PerfCreatorButtons

• Press the [LAYER] button
• You have created a Layer
• Immediately, you are seeing the “STRING” Category in the window and you are layered with Piano and Strings across the keyboard.

PerfCreatorStrings

StrgLayer

PErfCreatorList

• The Performance Creator takes you immediately to the Category Search function and now you can easily find the type of Voice that you would like to layer. Press [ENTER] and you will be taken to the NEW PERFORMANCE screen.

NewPERF

• Later you can tweak parameters, name and store your creation to the USER PERFORMANCE Bank where you will find locations for your own combination programs.

Performance Creator: SPLIT
Now lets build a SPLIT Performance:
• Start over again by repeating the same starting point in VOICE mode (_very important_)

VoiceMode

VoiceFullCnctGrnd

• Return to [VOICE] mode and recall the “Full Concert Grand” piano VOICE
• Press the [SPLIT] button
• You have created a Split

BassSplit

PERFcreatorBassSplit

• Immediately you are seeing the “Bass” CATEGORY SEARCH in the screen and you have created a Split Performance with a Bass on the left and Piano on the right. Play the keyboard. You can cursor down and select a KEY for the SPLIT POINT.

• To complete the process, select your bass sound, press [ENTER] you will be taken to the main NEW PERFORMANCE screen.

• The LO/UP (lower/upper) parameter allows to quickly swap the left hand (LO) Voice with the right hand (UP) Voice. If you had started with the Bass sound (the lower sound) when making this SPLIT, this would allow you to conveniently swap them.

The Voice that is automatically selected for the Layer process is customizable and so is the Voice that is automatically selected for the Split process. Yes, you can have the split point at any spot on the keyboard… the SPLIT POINT parameter is immediately in the screen and available for you to set.

And as we will see, it is just as easy to add a Drum kit w/arpeggio to a LAYER or to a SPLIT.

Quick Keys for SPLIT POINT:
Move the Cursor down to highlight the SPLITPOINT parameter
Hold [SHIFT] + [Touch a key]
The Key will become the lowest note for the right hand.
 
Performance Creator: DRUM ASSIGN
• After creating either a LAYER or SPLIT, or even directly from a single Voice, it is very simple to add a drum arpeggio pattern to your program.
• Press the [DRUM ASSIGN]

DrumAssign

DrumAssign

• You will be taken to the Category Search for Drum Kits.

There are over 2300 Drum grooves among the 7981 arpeggios on-board.
When you recall different KITS, you will hear different arpeggio patterns. Later you can customize exactly what drum arpeggio you wish to use. As you call up different Drum Kits, the assigned arpeggios change. This is simply because different kits have different arpeggio patterns associated with them. This is quick and easy.

POWER TIP: Any time you are playing the keyboard in VOICE Mode and would like to add a drum groove, the quickest way would be to press [DRUM ASSIGN] and select a DRUM KIT… it will be immediately assigned to PART 4 of a PERFORMANCE and assigned an ARPEGGIO pattern. 

POWER TIP: You can customize which Voice is the default VOICE that is selected when the [LAYER], [SPLIT] and [DRUM ASSIGN] buttons are pressed. This is an option found in [UTILITY] mode > [F1] GENERAL > [SF4] PERF CRE (Performance Creator). Here you can set the default selection for Layer, Split and Drum Assign. Use the [<]/[>] to see multiple pages.

Selecting Arpeggio Types
Press the [PERFORMANCE CONTROL] button on the right front panel the PERFORMANCE PARTS and their current status are shown by the [1]-[16] buttons. The Performance Creator will always place the Drum Kit in PART 4 of the NEW PERFORMANCE program. If you would like to audition different drum arpeggios patterns, the simplest method is to simply choose a different kit. The ROCK Kit has Rock arps assigned, the HIP HOP Kit has HipHop arps assigned, looking to swing, try the Jazz Kit and so on.  However, if you would like to find a specific arpeggio pattern you can do so as follows:
• Press [EDIT]
• Press PART SELECT button [4]
• Select “Arpeggio” in the screen Edit Select options
• Cursor to “Arp 1 Type” and press [ENTER]. Here you can see the MAIN Category is Drums and Percussion and you can cursor down to the SUB Category and TYPE options to select from individual Arpeggio Types.

ArpSelectType

ArpeggioTypes

Six different Arpeggio Types can be associated with each program and are accessible via the six [SF1]-[SF6] ARP SELECT buttons.
Just FYI: Additionally, arpeggios can be assigned to as many as four PARTS at a time. The MOXF engine features four full featured, chord intelligent, interactive, customizable, arpeggiators. Take your time, there is much to explore. As you play through some of the PERFORMANCES loaded in the Factory Set, you will discover that in addition to rhythm patterns, arpeggios can be note flourishes, bass lines, guitar strums, horn riffs, trills, even controller data. Each of the six [SF] buttons can contain an arpeggio selection for its associated PART – so it is possible to organize different Sections of a composition for real time access.  

USB-MIDI QUICK SETUP GUIDE

This guide will take you through setting up your computer for MIDI communication with the S90 XS/S70 XS. This will facilitate MIDI recording and use of the Editor VST. (The Editor can be used with or without Cubase). It can be run as a standalone application. Or, as is outlined in this article, Cubase can encompass the Editor as a VSTi – which runs inside the DAW’s environment. The advantage in addition to all the signal routing and processing functions is that you do not have to bother save a separate file for your synthesizer, because when you save your Cubase Project it will automatically save all the settings for your S90 XS/S70 XS and keep them bundled together in the Cubase Project (.CPR) file. This means when you reopen the Project you can have the Editor’s total recall feature restore all the settings to your synthesizer just as they were when you completed work.

A word about AUDIO
The USB-MIDI connection is MIDI only. It does not allow you to route audio from the synthesizer into the computer. In order to transfer audio data in real time (i.e., record AUDIO TRACKS) you will need a separate audio interface.

The S90 XS/S70 XS offers you several ways to record audio data. Audio data, of course, is used to create .wav files that are used for audio CDs. Audio data can be turned into MP3 files that, due to their reduced size, are convenient for posting on websites or emailing to friends.

The subject of creating AUDIO data will be in a separate article.

Install, Activate and Register your copy of “Cubase AI” on your computer
Download and install the following software from the Official Yamaha Download site:

Download and install the latest “S90 XS/S70 XS Remote Tools”
Download and install the latest “S90 XS/S70 XS Editor Standalone/VST”
Download and install the “Yamaha USB-MIDI driver” for your particular computer type and operating system.

The editor requires multiple ports to connect with the S90 XS/S70 XS, therefore you MUST use USB-MIDI to utilize editors.

Connect via USB
• Connect the XS to your computer via USB.
Set the XS to MIDI IN/OUT = USB
• Press [UTILITY]
• Select “MIDI”
• Press [ENTER]
• Cursor down to MIDI IN/OUT
• Set MIDI IN/OUT = USB
• Press [STORE] to write this to your Flash ROM

Launch Cubase AI
• Click DEVICES
• Select DEVICE SETUP…
• Under the “MIDI” folder highlight “MIDI PORT SETUP”
• You should see your Yamaha S90 XS/S70 XS PORTS.

The example below uses an S70 XS
• Select only “Yamaha S70 XS Port1” as the “In ‘All MIDI Inputs'”

MIDIportSetup1

You do not have to worry about the “State” (Active/Inactive) as this is only a current status report. You do not want to have Port 2 marked in the IN ALL INPUTS column as this is reserved for REMOTE CONTROL functions. If you have another controller keyboard plugged into the MIDI IN jack of the XS, you could possibly activate Port 3 (this is the so-called “THRU PORT”). The “In ‘ALL INPUT'” function is for your keyboard or MIDI controllers only. This is the data that will be recorded to a Cubase MIDI Track.

• Under the “Remote Devices” folder highlight “Yamaha S90 XS/S70 XS”

If it does not appear click on the big “+” symbol in the upper left and ADD the “Yamaha S90 XS/S70 XS” device.

• Set it to Port 2 (YAMAHA S70 XS Port2) for both MIDI INPUT and MIDI OUTPUT

RemoteDevices

If you are using an audio interface connect that now under the “VST Audio System”. Use the driver that is appropriate for your interface. If you are only recording MIDI you do not need an audio interface (in which case you can skip this step).

• Click APPLY
• Click OK

• On the Cubase Toolbar click on DEVICES
• Select VST INSTRUMENT from the drop down menu
• In the “instrument rack”, click in an empty space and select EXTERNAL > S90XS/S70XS VST
This will launch the Editor VST application within Cubase.

• Go to FILE > SETUP on the Editor toolbar.

Here you want to setup the communication between the XS and the Editor.

• Select USB as the DATA PORT
• Set the DETAIL = ON (shown below)
Make settings for Port 1 and Port 4. 

USB PortSetup

Next you make a decision about the direction of communication. There are two things to consider:
1) When you open a New Project in Cubase, how do you want the Editor to behave?
2) When you open a previously saved Project, how do you want the Editor to behave?

Typically, when you create a New Project you will want the Editor to clear a new MULTI for you. Therefore you will want to have data sent FROM the Editor TO the XS. When you are restoring a previously saved Cubase Project you will want the Editor to send your saved data back to the XS. Therefore you will want to have data sent FROM the Editor TO the XS.

AutoSyncSetting1

As you can see I have the “Auto Sync Setting” set so both GLOBAL and CURRENT are going from PC > XS
This is so that the Total Recall function will send the UTILITY settings and the current MULTI from the computer to the XS when I open a Cubase Project. Restoring my MULTI to my XS. It will send an initialized MULTI setup to the XS when I create a New Project. Cool!

I have the VOICE option set to OFF, as I don’t often need to reload all the User Voices (but you can set this as your prefer). If set to ON, then the Editor can restore all your USER1, USER2, USER3 and USER Drum Kit Voices to your XS each time. It is your choice. If you have used a unique Library of sounds, they too can be recalled when you open the Cubase Project. These settings are important and should be considered on a per Project basis.

“Auto Start” is ON. You may opt at some point to turn this OFF. Until you are used to how the EDITOR works you may wish to leave AUTO START set OFF. When ON, synchronization takes places automatically.

Set the “GENERAL SETTING” area as you prefer. The “Keyboard Velocity” function when set to “FREE” will change how loud the note plays by where on the keyboard icon KEY you click. This is pretty cool…

• Click OK

ONLINE/OFFLINE
Clicking this radio button switches the status of the Editor between “ONLINE” and “OFFLINE.” When “ONLINE” is indicated, the edited status is completely synchronized between the S90 XS/S70 XS Editor and the S90XS/S70 XS instrument, meaning that any parameter edit you make on the S90 XS/S70 XS Editor is reflected in the same parameter on the S90 XS/S70 XS instrument and vice versa. When OFFLINE is selected, editing on the S90 XS/S70 XS Editor will not affect the S90 XS/S70 XS instrument and vice versa even if the S90 XS/S70 XS instrument is connected to a computer.

Note that the indication here is automatically changed according to the status of communication between the S90 XS/S70 XS Editor and the S90 XS/S70 XS instrument. For example, the ONLINE status changes automatically to OFFLINE when the cable is disconnected accidentally.

OnlineOffline

On the main XS Editor screen you want to make sure that the Editor is ONLINE.

A bright dot appears next to ONLINE when you are communicating. In the left upper corner you will see the Modes: VOICE and MULTI followed by the “ONLINE” button.
Communication is bi-directional and simultaneous so selecting the mode here will change your hardware and vice-versa.

The OFFLINE w/bright dot indicator is important because you will at some point need to make changes on the hardware and not have the software follow you. This can occur when you are searching for a VOICE or PERFORMANCE in the XS – the Editor will attempt to synchronize each time you select something. Therefore it is useful to click this option (go OFFLINE) when you want to temporarily break communication. You can click ON and OFFLINE, as necessary.

If you change modes and go to PERFORMANCE mode on the XS hardware front panel, the XS Editor will go temporarily *OFFLINE w/bright dot. You can bring it back ONLINE when you return to MULTI mode by simply clicking the word “OFFLINE” – the AUTO SYNC window will open and re-establish communication.

On the Toolbar of the XS Editor you will see the BULK option. This is what you use to request a bulk to (Transmit) or from (Receive) the XS. You can select the Current MULTI, and any of the USER Banks or ALL of the USER Banks.

Do not change your preference in the FILE > SETUP > AUTO SYNC SETTING – when you need to send or receive data from the XS use this BULK option.

• Click BULK > DATA SYNC

Set the attributes that you wish to send or receive, then click “START”.

{soundcloud}https://soundcloud.com/mp-yamaha/s90xs-s70xs{/soundcloud}

© 2025 Yamaha Corporation of America and Yamaha Corporation. All rights reserved.    Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Contact Us