how do i record from performance mode to cubase directly with 4 different parts of performance each in separate track in cubase?
as soon as i switch motif to performance my VST editor goes off line and if i turn online it automatically goes to song mode.when i record directly everything goes to one track.

The Editor VST does not have a Performance mode. You can see in the upper left area there is "Voice, Song, Pattern" - the modes that the Editor supports. If you exit from these modes the Editor goes OFFLINE, naturally.

i don't want to record performance into motif memory and then run with usb stick back and forth to my computer.

You do not have to, but you should recognize that when you opt out on recording to the internal sequencer, you opt out on the easy way. You can manually route each Part to a separate MIDI CHANNEL, and setup to record this to Cubase.

i need to be able to record performances directly to cubase as i play then mix them up with different plugins and so on ....and i need have each part of performance in a separate track cause i want to change some voices to voices from my plugins etc.
is that possible?

You will first set the Parts of the Performance in question so that they are transmitting OUT via MIDI.

You must analyze exactly what each Part is set to Output (I say this because until you do you will not know what to expect and what yo keep). A Performance is played/triggered by you from the keyboard. You are set to control as many as 4 PARTS... some directly, some via the arpeggiators. Some are regional across the entire keyboard, some are set to receive only in a specific key region.

When set each Part's data to go OUT a via MIDI please realize that the data works for the internal tone engine only because the receiving tone generator Parts match the regions of data, both velocity and key mapping. When you export this data, to be played externally you may find you will need to note limit the receiving device in a similar fashion.

In Performance, determine which Parts you are triggering direct from your key presses, and which Parts are under control of an arp.
Press [EDIT]
Press a Part number 1-4
Press [F3] ARP OTHER
Here you can route those Parts under control of an arpeggiator OUT via MIDI and select a specific MIDI Channel.
Make sure each Part is set to its own discreet MIDI Channel. The Part you are playing directly needs its own discreet channel as well.

In Cubase setup a single MIDI Track set to the Channel = "Any" - thus is so all received channels are kept discreet.
Cubase will need to be set as MIDI CLOCK MASTER, the XF will be set to MIDI SYNC = AUTO.
The XF should be set to QUICK SEQ SETUP = #4 Record Arp on computer
The MIDI OUT of the single Cubase track should be set to "Not Connected"

This way the XF follows tempo from Cubase, Note-Ons and Arpeggio Output are send via Midi and arrive in Cubase where they "dead end" on the Midi Track. You want LOCAL CONTROL = ON so you can trigger the tone engine and arpeggiators with the keyboard... And no data is echoed back to the XF. You don't want data coming back to the XF - it can only receive incoming data on a single Midi channel at a time in Performance mode - so chaos would ensue if you tried to playback your channel separated data to the XF.

In order to play it back to the XF you would need to COPY the Performance as a "Template" to either Song or Pattern Mixing mode, where each Part could then be set to a separate Midi channel.
Press [MIXING]
Press [JOB]
Press [F5] TEMPLATE
Press [SF2] PERF
Set the Performance and it will be copied so each Part is set to the corresponding MIDI CHANNEL by number, 1-4. It will also copy all the NOTE LIMIT regions that allow the Part to sound just the intended notes.

You can use the Cubase "MIDI" job DISSOLVE PARTS to separate your single track to separate tracks by midi channel. This will allow you to send each to whatever plug-in you want to use. You may not understand what I mean about the note regions and limits, until you encounter it, but understanding what's in your Performance will become a necessity when you endeavor to map it to external devices.

thanks a lot
i think i'm succeeding , i have recorded 4 midi tracks into cubase including arpeggio , could replace some instruments with plugins,
i dissolved only one track from 4 and it separated into 4 separate tracks. thats correct right?
is it possible to dissolve drum truck into separate drum parts like snares and kicks so they are on separate tracks as well?

is it possible to dissolve drum truck into separate drum parts like snares and kicks so they are on separate tracks as well

That can be done in the Motif XF using the DIVIDE DRUM TRACK Job.

Not sure what your purpose is in Cubase, I'm sure there is a way to select all of a specific drum key and cut and paste it to new track. There is no special job to accomplish it. Maybe what you need to do does not require separate tracks, what's your immediate goal for separating the drums?

what i'm trying to accomplish is to record the performance to cubase and then replace the drums with other high quality VST drums . so i need to pick kicks,snares,drums separately and then assign each part of the drums correctly. maybe i do should copy and paste ........? is that the best option?i would just have to look at one midi channel with all drums together from performance and try to figure out what is what , like where are kicks ,snares and so on........this option might get confusing though i think.......

Perhaps a better workflow would be to decide and write your drum groove using the actual sounds you wish to use. Keep the data as MIDI in the XF where you have tons of tools to divide, and manipulate your drum performance. I'm a big believer in finding the "best tool" for a specific job, and then using it.

You may find the Drum Editor in Cubase a compelling "best tool" for you to work with. It allows you to manipulate and try data. I'm not trying to make you pick a particular method, but I am asking you to explore your options. Separate tracks is not the only method.

Drums are something you can spend quite a bit of time manipulating until you are happy. Using the XF's powerful Pattern mode to construct your drum tracks (no matter which device you trigger). For tips and tricks using Cubase, please participate in the Steinberg.net Cubase forum, (while I know scores and scores of tips and tricks concerning using your XF, I'm quite sure there are as many for manipulating data within Cubase. Definitely, explore the the Drum Editor in Cubase, before you go putting drums on separate tracks. It will help you identify your drums and manipulate them.

Separate MIDI tracks are not necessary, you'll quickly learn that your kick, snare, hihats, toms and cymbals are fairly easy to find. And as mentioned in the DIVIDE DRUM TRACK job - you can easily separate them, then easily audition substitute sounds. I highly recommend you do this "in context" - that is, while your rhythm section is playing... So you hear how they work within the context of the music. Drums that sound great alone, often sound quite different when played with other instruments. Tune the bass drum that has a lot of pitch so it's basically in tune with the song!

_ Learn how to route your MIDI performance to the device you want to sound that specific data. Do not assume that a plugin has better drum sounds, you'll find there are no "better" drum sounds, there are only *appropriate* or *inappropriate* drum sounds within the context of your music.

_ Learn how to tune drums. I've spend hours in the studio with people who audition hundreds of snares and kicks... And I've watched several of them "go down that rabbit hole" yo their own peril... Instead of trying to tune or mold the kick or snare drum, they wind up just hearing a few strokes and move on, hear a few strokes and move on, etc., etc., quickly they get so used to saying "no" they don't even remember what they are looking for.

_ Find a kick and snare that initially has something you like, then spend time editing it. Tune it, change its shape (using the AEG), change its energy with a multi-band compressor.... You'll learn more about the drum sound, you'll find out what you like and what you don't like, it will give you an idea of what will work and more importantly what doesn't). But the fact that you are playing with a particular sound will "teach" your ear what works and doesn't. Then if you start to audition others you will have a list of things you know you like... Rather than just blindly hoping you'll stumble into a perfect kick or snare in some plugin library. (How boring and impractical) good luck on just lucking into a perfect fit. In the ten years I spent as a full time recording engineer, I don't ever remember any (save one) perfect snare drum walking into a session. You learned to work with the snare and try to get something that compliments the particular musical composition.

Anyway, find your own "best tools" - we have several tutorials on Drum Track Construction here on Yamaha Synth using just the XF, there are Steinberg videos on the Drum Editor tool in Cubase...

Explore!