Owner`s manual

2
PLG100-XG: XG/GM Multi Board
The PLG100-XG is a 16-part multi-
timbral synthesizer on a board. Sounds are
accessed via a Song or Pattern mode mix, as
Parts 17-32 when used in the Motif 6/7/8
synthesizers. Because it is multi-timbral the
board must be installed in a specific expansion
slot within the Motif, slot #3. And it can only be
accessed via SONG or PATTERN mode (never
Voice mode). The PLG100-XG board is unique
and behaves differently than the other PLG series
boards that are available for use with the Motif.
Even if you are familiar with one or more of the
PLG series you will want to pay close attention to
how this board works within the Motif products.
You play the PLG100-XG sounds normally
from SONG or PATTERN mode. The Voice mode
[PLG3] button will not work to access the sounds
on the XG board – because the board is multi-
timbral. Think about it, you wouldn’t want to
push that button multiple times to select among
16 Parts, would you? It makes more sense to
access a multi-timbral board from the multi-
timbral mode. This is different from the normal
internal Motif sounds that exist in Voice mode
and are then assembled in a mix. The XG sounds
are only accessible via this mix. This is in part
due to the fact they are on the PLG board and
you are addressing them using the Motif as a
controller. They are a part of a separate synth
engine. They even have their own System
Effects. From the “MIXING” screen you can
access the XG board sounds as PARTS 17-32 and
you can use the sixteen Part/Track select buttons
to access the sounds quickly. The Motif’s own
internal AWM2 sounds occupy Parts 1-16. The
PLG100-XG Voices occupy MIDI channels 1-16.
But, hey, so do the Internal AWM2 Motif Parts.
How do you not play both simultaneously?
Shouldn’t both internal and XG boards sounds
react to data on a MIDI channel? That is the
purpose of this document. First, let’s see if you
really need the PLG100-XG board for your Motif.
Here are the facts: although the Motif is not
technically a GM/XG machine, it does have a
built-in bank of 128 sounds in GM order and a
GM drum kit mapped accordingly. Actually in
some cases (most actually) the Motif sounds are
bigger, fuller, more layers etc. That is not to say
that automatically every GM file will sound better
on the Motif than on the PLG100-XG board…it will
depend on the programming. XG has specific
protocol that allow the programmer great
flexibility when it comes to customizing effects,
EQ, envelopes, tuning, etc. A proficient
programmer of XG can work absolute magic. In
GM, and therefore also in XG, you do not store
your ‘multi’ setups in the tone engine – the setup
data is stored in the sequencer as program
change, control change and system exclusive
messages. The Motif is not an XG device and will
ignore some XG specific messages. The Motif
‘multi setups, of course, can be saved in a MIX. A
Mix is associated with each Song or Pattern you
create in the Motif. So do you need the XG board
with a Motif? You can already playback and re-
voice GM files with relative ease with the sounds
provided by the Motif GM bank.
The PLG100-XG board will be of use to Motif
owners who:
•
…need strict XG compatibility to create
and/or playback XG/GM format songs.
•
The most important thing this article can tell
you follows: If you want the PLG100-XG for
its GM/XG compatibility, its additional 32-
note polyphony and its 16 additional Parts,
then plan on using an external sequencer via
the USB(MIDI) connection.
This is the only way to take full advantage of the
additional parts and polyphony. The XG board in
the Motif will work if you are using the USB-
(MIDI) multi-Port connection from an external
computer sequencer. In this scenario you can
address the internal AWM2 sounds of the Motif
on PORT 1 (MIDI ch. 1-16) and the PLG100-XG
on PORT 2 (a separate set of MIDI ch. 1-16).
Each PORT represents a complete set of 16 MIDI
channels, completely independent of each other.
This takes advantage of USB’s ability to have
multiple 16-channel MIDI connections
simultaneously. Each engine can be addressed
separately by the external sequencer that
typically would have more than 16 tracks (the
internal Motif sequencer is only 16 tracks and
therefore can only address 16 parts
simultaneously). With the USB multi-port
interface you can take advantage of the full 32
parts.
Checking Installation
Check to make sure your board is properly
installed. Here’s how:
On the Motif: Press [UTILITY]/ F6 PLG/ SF1
Status. The board should appear in slot 3 (ALL
Blue wires, 1 Green wire) see Owner’s Manual for
installation info.
I just installed the board and I want to hear the
sounds:
To audition the sounds on the board: (using
just the Motif…no external sequencer
hooked up)
•
Select any SONG or PATTERN
•
Press [MIXING] it lights up RED
•
Press [TRACK SELECT] (red) select Part 1