Oh, forgot to mention. The other big reason to put up with the memorization on instruments like the Motif is the speed that you can work once you memorize what you need. I can go to a blank sequence, dial up instruments and effects, record and edit while a PC user would be still waiting for the computer to boot, Sonar to load, new project, insert softsynth, select voices, insert effects, etc etc. There are lots of high end virtual instruments that have better instrument sounds than the Motif, but they take ages to setup by comparison. The computer is a great place to get that ultimate version of a track recorded, but, for example, it doesn't do as well as a place to write. I can rapidly throw together song ideas on the Motif that I would say are about 70% of the instrument and mixing quality I could achieve on the computer, but it probably takes me a fourth of the time. Having said that, though, the Motif loses all of its speed and efficiency once you stop sequencing and get in to using live audio. The Motif uses it's sampler for recording audio tracks. That is a much more clunky way than the computer's approach; the Motif triggers sampled clips of audio, while the computer works more like a linear tape recorder. A keyboard workstation and a computer are organized to work better in different situations. You can write in Sonar, but I promise it's slower than the Motif. You can record a live band with the Motif, but it will be much more clunky than a computer. Bryan -----Original Message----- From: ddots-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:ddots-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Bryan Smart Sent: Tuesday, May 05, 2009 2:45 PM To: ddots-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [ddots-l] Re: motif That's true. The Motif is the most accessible current/modern keyboard workstation that is out there. It isn't the most accessible workstation ever, and it isn't the easiest one to learn. When I say accessible, I mean that it is possible to use all features without sight, but not that it is simple to use all of those features without sight. For comparison, consider the Korg M3 or Oasys, and their touch screens. You might be able to accomplish some tasks on those workstations, but there are many areas of the workstation that won't be accessible to you, no matter how much memorization you attempt. One of the good things about the Motif's design as it relates to accessibility, though, is that the Motif is organized in layers. Simplified versions of most every feature are available from a knob, slider, or one or two button presses. For most people with basic needs, this means that you can access a majority of the Motif's features without having to memorize menus. With a few more button presses, the intermediate functions are available. When you need to get detailed, there are low-level edit modes. Here is an example. There is a group of 8 knobs in the mixer section of the control panel that can provide real-time control over a voice, mixing settings, etc. There are two buttons that are used to select between 6 different modes for these knobs, giving you access to a total of 48 functions. Suppose you're in voice mode. You find a voice that you like, but you'd like it to have a longer decay/release. You can use the buttons to select the tone1 mode for the knobs. In this mode, four of the knobs provide direct access to attack time, sustain time, sustain level, and release level. For many people, this is all they'll need. However, if you press F2, you'll go to the the envelope/tone settings display. In here, you can adjust attack/sustain/release independently for the filter and amplifier envelopes (the knobs adjust both envelopes at once). In fact, if you turn the knobs on the front panel while this screen is visible, you'd notice that the values change as you turn the knobs. This screen also allows you to adjust the depth for each of the envelopes, which is something that you aren't able to adjust with the knobs. This screen will give the picky user a way to make more detailed tweaks than they would be able to from the knobs, and the layout is still fairly uncluttered and easy to memorize. However, if you're still not getting enough control, you can press the edit key, followed by one of the part keys. This brings up the detailed edit screens for each of the 8 elements/oscillators that make up a Motif XS voice. Now, you can press F2 for pitch, F3, for filter, or F4 for amp, and each of those screens has detailed settings for its individual envelope generator, including velocity sensitivity, velocity curve, extra stages, etc. These screens are complicated. You can memorize them if needed, but most of the time, if you need to get this detailed, you'd probably use the talking PC-based editors. Most all of the Motif is organized this way. The top level screens and functions are simplified views of lower level screens. This keeps the details out of your way until you need them. It also means that, if you're blind, you can memorize the top level screens, which have simple layouts. Most of the time, that's all you need. Bryan -----Original Message----- From: ddots-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:ddots-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Tim Burgess Sent: Tuesday, May 05, 2009 8:51 AM To: ddots-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [ddots-l] Re: motif Hi,I wouldn't stress Over this - it just goes to show that accessibility is a somewhat nebulous term and that a method that works for some doesn't work for all. If it makes you feel any better, I'm rubbish at working things by remembering patterns of button presses with no feedback. Best wishes. Tim Burgess Raised Bar Ltd Phone: +44 (0)1827 719822 Don't forget to vote for improved access to music and music technology at http://www.raisedbar.net/petition.htm -----Original Message----- From: ddots-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:ddots-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Steve Wicketts Sent: 05 May 2009 12:19 To: ddots-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [ddots-l] Re: motif Hi all, Darren H just informed me that a lot of the musicians on this site use the Motif? talk about putting my big foot in it? Well truly against the ropes, I must say, it was the Yamaha RM1X more than the Motif that used to fry my Brain. The RM1X is a Dance Station accessible by counting cursor positions, counting clicks on knobs and all that Jazz. I use to use it mainly as a sequencer. The Motif I used was the rack Version, not two many of the buttons were dual function so it wasn't too hard to navigate. Please don't tell me there are RM1X fans on this site? I'm beginning to feel like Ricky Hatton. Steve W ----- Original Message ----- From: Steve Wicketts <mailto:steve.wicketts@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> To: ddtots <mailto:ddots-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Tuesday, May 05, 2009 1:12 AM Subject: [ddots-l] motif Hi all, Regarding tutorials for the Motif, it's a real brain drainer! remembering all the Pages and having to count cursor movements and values. I'm proud to say, thanks to you guys at DD I'm able to put my Motif in the loft. Goodnight Motif. Steve W PLEASE READ THIS FOOTER AT LEAST ONCE! To leave the list, click on the immediately following link: ddots-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe If this link doesn't work then send a message to: ddots-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx and in the Subject line type unsubscribe For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the immediately following link: ddots-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq or send a message, to ddots-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx and in the Subject line type faq PLEASE READ THIS FOOTER AT LEAST ONCE! To leave the list, click on the immediately following link: ddots-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=subscribe If this link doesn't work then send a message to: ddots-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx and in the Subject line type unsubscribe For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the immediately following link: ddots-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subjectúq or send a message, to ddots-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx and in the Subject line type faq PLEASE READ THIS FOOTER AT LEAST ONCE! To leave the list, click on the immediately following link: ddots-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe If this link doesn't work then send a message to: ddots-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx and in the Subject line type unsubscribe For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the immediately following link: ddots-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subjectúq or send a message, to ddots-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx and in the Subject line type faq