Yamaha has upgraded the operating system for the XS line of keyboards. Highlights are below. The most significant enhancement is that you can now record your Performances directly to WAV format on USB media (only 16 bit @ 41khz but that will have to do). This is a major development for Yamaha. It doesn't quite satisfy my wishlist (the ability to export an entire pattern or song to individual WAV files), but it proves the XS's OS (MonteVista, an embedded Linux operating system -- you can read the original case study here: http://www.mvista.com/download/case_study_MontaVista_Linux_and_Yamaha.pdf) is more than up to the task. Then again, Yamaha wants everyone to own mLan and transfer via Firewire, so it may never happen. I will install this update tonioght and give it a whirl. I sincerely hope Yamaha has optimized the code and made the screen redraws faster. One of the things I adored about the Es was how fast the screens were. I miss that immensely..
In addition to the new OS, Yamaha has also updated the XS editor, too. Here are the links
to download...
Please let us know how you go in the forums!
XS V.1.50 New features
- With the newly added Audio Record / Play function, you can now record your performances on the MOTIF XS as WAV-format audio files (44.1-kHz, 16-bit, stereo) on a USB storage device or a computer connected via a network.
- Whenever using the [F1] File display of the File mode to transfer files to or from a USB storage device or a networked computer, the new Audition function makes it easy to preview WAV or AIFF files before importing them into the MOTIF XS.
-The Cursor up/down buttons can now move the cursor in the Directory list, Sharing Point list and Device list of the File mode. Also, the Cursor left/right buttons can move the cursor from or to the list box in the display of the File mode. Pressing the Cursor left button moves the cursor up, and pressing the Cursor right button moves the cursor down.
-The Sampling Main display now contains a list of the Key Banks that make up the selected Waveform. In this display, the Cursor [<]/[>] buttons can now move the cursor up/down.
-You can now edit the following parameters of the [F2] Parameter display in the [F1] Trim display from Sampling Edit.
Level, Pan, Coarse Tune, Fine Tune, Play Mode, Key Range, Velocity Range
-The initial settings of the "Play Mode" have been changed from "one shot" to "loop" in the [F1] Trim display of the Sampling Edit mode.
-When you press the [SF4] Apply button from the Sampling mode to temporarily modify data, it will be replaced with a Cancel button.
-Sequence data bars on the Song Play Track View display now indicate the relative pitches of note events with higher-pitched notes being displayed at a higher position.
-You can now customize MOTIF XS displays using file sharing functionality via a network.
-A message "Press [ENTER] to set." now apper in the Input Character window.