You can open the .mid files directly in the Motif XF or you can play them from Cubase to the Motif XF.
You can choose sounds to play the file in the Motif XF or you can use the XF Editor to choose the sounds.

This may not sound helpful, but you have all these options open to you.

Place the Motif XF in a multi-timbral mode (that is, either SONG or PATTERN mode). Here you can press [MIXING] and select as many as 16 VOICES, one for each of the 16 PARTS.

Importing a .MID File directly to the Motif XF
If you want to load the .mid file directly to the Motif XF sequencer, simply place the file on a USB flash drive you use with your Motif XF
Press [SONG] to place the XF in a multi-timbral mode
Select a blank location
Press [FILE]
Set the TYPE = SMF (Standard MIDI File)
Move the cursor up into the Directory area - Use the Data Dial to highlight the .MID file name
Use the RIGHT CURSOR arrow to move to the bottom of the screen and set the target SONG location...
Press [SF2] LOAD

This will import the .MID file to your Motif XF sequencer.

Using Cubase
If you wish to use Cubase you simply need to setup Cubase so that when drag and drop the file into an empty project it sets up to play from the Motif XF. Here's how:
In Cubase you can setup so that your MIDI file will be quick and easy to assign all the tracks to Motif XF
Go to your Cubase "Preferences..." > MIDI > MIDI FILE > you want to set the IMPORT OPTIONS:

Check: "Import dropped File as single Part"
Clear all the others options.
Click APPLY
Click OK

When this is activated and you drag and drop a MIDI file into the project, the whole file will be placed on a single track. This is exactly what we want. But before we actually do that you can setup the Motif XF as a VST within Cubase.

Launch Cubase
Open a NEW PROJECT > use the EMPTY template
Create a NEW FOLDER on your computer (not on the USB stick) to house your Project as directed by Cubase

Go to DEVICES > VST INSTRUMENTS > Click in the first empty item on the instrument rack > EXTERNAL > Motif XF VST

You will be asked if you want to create a MIDI Track assigned to this VST device... Create it.
By creating a track assigned to the Motif XF VST, this prevents us from having to individually assign each track (manually).

Set the MIDI CH = ANY (literally "ANY" )

You can now drag 'n' drop the .MID file in the empty track data area, at Measure 1.

You can use the MIDI > DISSOLVE PART function to split the MIDI data out to separate tracks, by MIDI Channel, if you wish (you only need to if you need to edit it, some prefer it, some don't). If when you click on MIDI, the DISSOLVE PART function is "greyed out" - you must highlight (select) the track data area in Track view window. Set the dialog box that opens to separate the data by MIDI channel.

Very Helpful, thanks Phil!

I tried loading a .mid file directly to the XF and it states "no data", shows 4.0kb for the file. These same files load to Cubase with no problem. Have any ideas?:o

I tried loading a .mid file directly to the XF and it states "no data", shows 4.0kb for the file. These same files load to Cubase with no problem. Have any ideas?:o
I tried attaching the file to this reply, but "The file LoveWillKeepUsAlive.mid, which you are attempting to upload is in an unsupported format."

Zip it (compress it) first.

I have a question on midi files. When I download a .mid file to Cubase AI 8 the file separates into 12 tracks(see attached).
When I import the file to the XF7 it opens only 6 tracks and the instruments are very different from Cubase (Cubase sounds like the record). I have tried changing the instruments in SONG and PATTERN modes, going into RECORD, selecting a new instrument, storing the file. When I hit play the song or pattern reverts back to the original instruments imported with the .mid file. This is my first experience using SMF’s, but not having much luck. Why doesn’t the Motif open a .mid file the same way Cubase does?

I have a question on midi files. When I download a .mid file to Cubase AI 8 the file separates into 12 tracks(see attached).
When I import the file to the XF7 it opens only 6 tracks and the instruments are very different from Cubase (Cubase sounds like the record). I have tried changing the instruments in SONG and PATTERN modes, going into RECORD, selecting a new instrument, storing the file. When I hit play the song or pattern reverts back to the original instruments imported with the .mid file. This is my first experience using SMF’s, but not having much luck. Why doesn’t the Motif open a .mid file the same way Cubase does?

I have a question on midi files. When I download a .mid file to Cubase AI 8 the file separates into 12 tracks(see attached).
When I import the file to the XF7 it opens only 6 tracks and the instruments are very different from Cubase (Cubase sounds like the record). I have tried changing the instruments in SONG and PATTERN modes, going into RECORD, selecting a new instrument, storing the file. When I hit play the song or pattern reverts back to the original instruments imported with the .mid file. This is my first experience using SMF’s, but not having much luck. Why doesn’t the Motif open a .mid file the same way Cubase does?
I have tried zipping the files to show what I am talking about, but they are larger than the 2mb allowed