I looked into the DataList and found some instructions there but they're a bit cryptic for a beginner. I have some basic familiarity with midi controllers.

Programming via Parameter Change message is not only a bit cryptic, it is generally something that should be avoided by the beginner. Most things can be accomplished in another way.

Some of the tasks I want to perform are:
-Turn an insertion effec on/off or modify it's parameters on the fly.

This is outlined here:
Motif XF System Exclusive to turn Insert Effects On or Off in Song or Pattern mode

Thanks for the link Phil! I've done some research and found many links and instructions but then every time I ask a similar question I will feel guilty because It seems like I can learn how to do it but I'm asking others to do it for me...

I'm looking for a reference which can help me to understand how to write my own bit and/or hex strings and how to use the tables in the datalist manual (the program change and SysEx).

Is it too much to ask and anyone here willing to help?

Program Change is fairly easy to use.
Sysex is at the deeper end of the pool.

The article in the link explains how to turn on and off INSERT EFFECTs on PARTS. There can only be 8 PARTS with their dual Insertion Effects active simultaneously. While this is very complicated, there are certainly methods to get around this in most musical situations. Certainly in recording scenarios you can avoid having to address your data via SYSEX.

Thanks again Phil. Mind if I ask you for some good resources to start learning about the MIDI Program Change programming?

Hi again! I've waited about a week hoping for an answer but no luck yet. Is there anything wrong with the questions I asked that it's being ignored? I asked a similar question few posts ago and followed it but no one answered my question again.

I know that Phil and the rest of the moderators here are mostly spending their time to answer MONTAGE related questions and issues, but at the same time answering these questions for MOTIF XF should be straight forward.

I need to adjust the master effect parameters in the PATTERN mode but I can't use the SCENEs to store them. I also want the foot pedal to act as a START/STOP arpeggio and then back to sustain.

I appreciate if someone shed some light on this. It doesn't look too complicated but I'm confused about how to use the datalist manual. It doesn't say anything about how using the tables, where to put the numbers, and so on. If there are some general midi programming concepts that I should learn, I appreciate it if someone posts some links so that I can read and learn them.

Many thanks.

Hello A.
I'm not sure if this might help.....have you found "Working with and Creating Proper GM Files"
Also, I did a Google Search of "create custom midi messages to Program Change with Motif XF" sometimes different search terms/words produce different results...

I don't actually do midi messages or much fancy studio things being out of school 🙂 but am getting better with Cubase and Motif XF Editor.
Let us know....

https://www.midi.org/

With the Internet it is almost a rhetorical question about learning anything. Start with the link above.

:p For those of limited funds there's a lot of accurate and 'free' instruction available.
Meaning no disrespect EVER and forever toward Bad Mister who has taught so many of us so much for just that! 😉
So much so, some of us would like to hire this excellent 'old school' musician/engineer and possibly producer to review our newest collection of music for the next release. ?

For those with limited funds, there is so much free stuff there at that site (if you care to explore) that by the time you read through it all you'll then be better able to decide if you want to sign up for a course. I'd highly recommend reading all the free stuff first even if you have tons of money! :p

Start here:
https://www.midi.org/articles/an-intro-to-midi

.... can't blame us for trying Captain! 🙂

@ A
The best way to learn about all of this is a little at a time.

We can certainly help you get started with creating your own Sysex messages. It is a huge subject, and often there are simpler methods to accomplish something than typing out a System Exclusive message. And the problem with learning about these "exclusive" types of messages is they all start the same and they all end the same, but the stuff in the middle varies completely from manufacturer to manufacturer... Thus the "exclusive".

F0 = start of Sysex message
F7 = end of Sysex message

All the stuff in the middle, is exclusive to the manufacturer.
Right after the "F0" comes the byte that defines the manufacturer... For example a message that starts "F0 43 ......"

"Four-three" being the Manufacturer ID for Yamaha Corporation... Everything after that will only be interpreted by a Yamaha product.

In Yamaha synthesizers, the third group (byte) would be the "type" of message and the "device number"
Message "Types" are: Parameter Change, Bulk Dump, Dump Request, Parameter Request.
"Device number" allows you to differentiate between multiple units of the same model connected at the same time

The next group is the Product ID - this tells the receiving Yamaha synth if the meat of the message concerns it.

So a native Parameter Change message for a Yamaha Motif XF synth begins: F0 43 10 7F 12 (see page 125 of the Data List)

F0 = start of exclusive
43 = Yamaha ID
10 = native Parameter Change, Device number (zero) means the first device
7F 12 = Motif XF Product ID

What follows this you find among the listing as "High-Mid-Low" Address - which hones in on the exact parameter for the Mode.
Next is the DATA BYTE which is the parameter value.

Finally F7 = end of exclusive.

I have been away only a day and now I have so much to read and do!

You guys rock! I couldn't be happier now. Specially that I just purchased the firewire interface 😀

Thank you Buba and Phil.