When Yamaha released the Motif XS in 2007, they essentially redefined what a mid-range workstation could do—nearly doubling the waveform library compared to its predecessor and packing it into a machine that felt genuinely inspiring to sit down at. The XS arrived as a serious production tool that didn't require you to compromise on sound quality or workflow.
The Motif XS comes in three flavors depending on your space and playing style. The XS6 offers 61 keys with a natural FSX action, the XS7 steps up to 76 keys with the same keyboard, and the XS8 is the full 88-key version with a weighted hammer-action keyboard that mimics grand piano response. All three share the same core engine: Yamaha's AWM2 tone generator with expanded articulation, 355MB of waveform ROM containing 2,670 multisamples and drum kits, and a massive 128-note polyphony ceiling. Each voice can layer up to eight separate sound elements, which means you can build remarkably complex and nuanced timbres. The control surface is genuinely hands-on—eight 60mm sliders and eight center-detented knobs let you tweak parameters in real time, whether you're adjusting filter frequency and resonance or dialing in arpeggiator swing. There's a full-color LCD display, a 16-track sequencer with room for 64 songs and over 6,000 arpeggio presets, and sampling capabilities that let you load AIFF and WAV files into 64MB of available RAM.
The XS series earned solid respect in production circles for delivering studio-grade sounds and workflow without the price tag of flagship workstations. The inclusion of Cubase AI software sweetened the deal for anyone looking to integrate hardware and DAW-based production. Some users noted the physical footprint of the XS8 is substantial and the machine weighs enough to justify a wheeled road case, but that heft came with the territory of a serious production workstation. The connectivity is comprehensive—USB, Ethernet, S/PDIF, MIDI in/out/thru, and support for two foot controllers and assignable sustain switches give you flexibility whether you're performing live or locked into a studio setup.
