Arduous...? Arduous would be doing them over! 🙂 If you don't want to do that, then how you save your data will be very important in what you are able to recover when you get your MOXF.

Here is what I recommend: Not only do you need to save each SONG as a SMF _ this will ensure that your MIDI Event data will be preserved, since you have PATTERNS, each PATTERN SECTION must be saved as a separate SMF. (MIDI protocol does not have Pattern Sections, that is pretty much a Yamaha idea as implemented in the Motif/MOXF series).

You can make this task less tedious by taking your PATTERN Sections and converting them into a PATTERN CHAIN (take each Section and have it play once so that your Chain winds up A - B - C - D - E - F - G and so on. Each Section set to play its full length once. Then CONVERT that PATTERN CHAIN to a linear Motif XS SONG.

This will allow you to make a single SMF from that data instead of each Section as a separate file. Later in the MOXF, when you load that SMF to a SONG, then you can use the "SPLIT SONG TO PATTERN" function to re-divide it back to PATTERN mode. Otherwise you will need to make an individual SMF for each SECTION A.mid, B.mid, C.mid, D.mid and so on.

Make sure that each SECTION is clean... by that I mean that notes are not CLOCK SHIFTED by the PLAY FX, that notes are clearly *within* the SECTION... a common error is to have notes are actually meant to be on the downbeat of measure 001, beat 1, clock 000 but are actually in the last measure of the phrase, 4th beat, clock 479... Or to have notes that extend longer than the Section...

Do not be afraid to use a PAPER and PENCIL to write down notes to yourself. Like SECTION LENGTHS. If you have Sections that are all 4 measures in length, then no paper and pencil is necessary, but if some of your Sections are 9 measures others 13 measures while others are 4 and 8 or 32... you will want to have that information to refer to when you have to use the SPLIT SONG TO PATTERN function.

All of this will preserve your MIDI event data _ that data that is actually stored to the MIDI Tracks. It does not preserve your MIXING setups.
And because the Preset VOICE locations in the MOXF will be inevitably different than in the Motif XS... you want to have a record of your VOICE selections...

The Yamaha Motif XS Editor can help, before you sell your XS, use the EDITOR to capture each of your MIXING setups, one by one.

ALTERNATE METHOD to Transfer your Motif XS data to the MOXF
An alternate method to creating the SMF would be to make sure all your data is in SONG mode (remember, MIDI specification does not recognize the PATTERN or the PATTERN SECTION, that is Yamaha's thing) so a SONG is the entity that MIDI protocol deals with, which as you realize is a linear structure, SONG is what will be recognized. From the MOTIF XS you can use IMPORT MOTIF XS SONG function to capture both the MIDI data (data on the tracks) and your MIXING setup.

This is outlined in the article here: Import Motif XS Song

This allows you to capture the entire SONG (MIDI events and will document the MIXING setup) Cubase is able to gather this information from your Motif XS ALL data files (.X0A). This is better than having to write down your MIXING setups, because at least you will have an accurate record of the VOICES you used in the XS, and it will ease the task of rebuilding the MIXING setups in your new MOXF.

If you have never used Cubase before, or if Pattern Chaining is new, let us know (we can give you more detail about these). Care you take now, will mean less frustration later (when you get your new MOXF). They are similar, in the same family, but different enough so that care must be taken to ensure that your data can be successfully ported over.

Basically, with this alternate method, once you have your PATTERN SECTIONS 'chained' and converted to linear SONGs... SAVE a Motif XS ALL data file (.X0A).

With Cubase and the Motif XS Editor VST, you will be able to have a complete record of each SONG... the MIDI data and the MIXING data.

Since Cubase can open and extract data from your XS ALL data files, later when you get your MOXF, you can open Cubase and rebuild your data as necessary from your files.

Let us know.

Thank you. It is not so bad after reading your explanation.:) I started to save the sections and I am getting through it faster than I realized. I assume I would have to do this even if I was able to buy an XF, but this route is fine. One more question. I saw different versions of the Melas Tools and I am not sure which one is necessary for library conversion. Do I purchase the entire software or is there a specific version?

I assume I would have to do this even if I was able to buy an XF

Actually, the Motif XF will load the Motif XS data directly. Being the same level (top-of-the-line) the XF can directly load Motif XS SONGs (MIDI Track data, MIXING data, everything).

As to whether you purchase the whole Melas Tool set... there are two major components... The Complete Set which includes:

Tools Complete Pack is a complete editor/librarian solution consisting of:
for MOXF...
Total Librarian
Voice Editor
Drum Kit Editor
Performance Editor
Mix Editor
Master Editor

Separate but of interest to you if you are getting a MOXF is the:

Motif Waveform Editor
This is a powerful and easy to use editor that helps you create and edit User Waveforms for the Motif XF, MOXF and Motif XS in the most convenient way.
It can act as a librarian for Voices and User Waveforms at it imports and converts Voices and User Waveforms among different Motif XF, MOXF and Motif XS files!

If you plan on getting a Flash Board and loading your own custom samples to the MOXF the "Motif Waveform Editor" is going to be essential. This deals with Waveforms and Samples and (as we discussed earlier) can transfer Samples... you do so by actually creating a FILE that can be transferred from your computer and loaded into your MOXF via a USB drive. As mentioned the size of Samples precludes bulk dumping protocols, so you actually make a Motif XF File (.X3A) and the MOXF can load Motif XF files.

If you have any questions about exactly what you get, please reach out to John (you will find John Melas personable and responsive)!

Email him directly: info@jmelas.gr