MoXF MIDI Programming: Configuring A Dual MIDI Controller Setup

A step by step guide on programming the Yamaha MoXF to play in concert with external synthesizers/MIDI devices.
I made this video due to a lack of proper tutorials on this subject. While it’s a more niche configuration, I’m sure there’s at least one person out there who needs a quick video for this type of setup as opposed to spending hours scouring old forums like I did.
This is only a guide on what buttons to push and when to push them. A more thorough education on MoXF’s MASTER Mode can be had by reading this article: yamahasynth.com/learn/moxf/un...
Timestamps:
Method 1: Disable LocalCtrl
Step 1: 0:50
Step 2: 0:58
Step 3: 1:27
Method 2: Create a MASTER Program
Step 1. 2:48
Step 2. 2:58
Step 3. 3:15
Step 4. 3:24
Step 5. Error 404 (Step 5 Not Found)
Step 6. 3:45
Step 7. 4:02
Step 8. 4:20
Step 9. 4:57
Steo 10. 5:10
Step 11. 5:24
Step 12. 6:05
Step 13. 6:53
When you’ve finished configuring your Program, you MUST STORE it into memory in order for the config to activate and work. You cannot test Zone settings without saving your MASTER Program first.

[@theleftymonster]

Thanks you Sir. 🙏

[@JLincW]

Update: There is also a very easy method for setting up external devices to be controlled/receive sequencer data in Song/Pattern modes: In the Song/Pattern Mode’s Mixing Menu, there are volume faders for parts 1-16. Each of these parts represent a MIDI channel. MIDI Channel 1 (Or whatever channel you have set to your other keyboard) will play only the part it is assigned, and the keyboard on the Yamaha will control whichever part is highlighted on your screen. All you have to do is turn the volume all the way down on the desired part and you can control/record a sequence from your external device on that channel without the voice from the MOXF layering with it. You can also remove the sound from the Yamaha by going into the adjacent menu in the Mixing window and toggle “IntSw” OFF, but in doing so you lose the ability to record a sequence, as, for some reason, it does not send sequence data to the external device without it.

[@mauricioolivera5423]

Thanks a lot. These kind of tricks are really hard to find in YT and the MOXF ends up not being used at full capacity.

[@JLincW]

This thing is ridiculously capable for such an affordable workstation. I can't even begin to use all its features.

[@DazLane123]

Hello you might be my lifesaver - I want to Using a Modx+ send transpose data to a Yamaha YC - idea is I have a song in my setlist on the modx+ and it's tranposed and will send transpose value along with program change in master mode to the YC - I cannot for the life of me figure out how to do it ... help PLEASE !

[@JLincW]

While I'm flattered by your faith, I don't know if I would be much help to you, as I have no experience using either one of those instruments. MOD X+ might have some similar modes to the MoXF, but the implementation could be far different than what I have on hand. To reiterate your comment, You have a MOD X and a YC. You'd ideally like to have a MASTER config that changes your MODX data AND sends out dedicated transpose values and program changes for the YC? I am recreating a similar configuration using MASTER mode on my MoXF to send dedicated transpose and program change data to my Korg synth. On my machine, the magic is in the ZONE EDIT menu (shown at 4:03) - In ZONE EDIT, I cursor over once to Zone 2 (The zone corresponding to my Korg) and in the NOTE submenu I can assign the Korg its own Transpose value. (Making sure, of course, Zone 2 is transmitting on the same MIDI Channel as my Korg is receiving (Channel 3) while also ensuring that my Korg's "Rx Program Change" and "Rx Bank Select" settings are enabled.) - In the same menu, I go into the Tx SW submenu and from there I can control which sorts of MIDI data will be sent to the Korg. Within it are toggles for Bank (MIDI) and PC (MIDI). With those set to "ON" the MoXF will send the Korg Bank directory data and Program Change data. -To control the Bank and Program data, I go yet another page over into the PRESET submenu. My first three options in this menu are BankMSB, BankLSB, and PgmChange respectively. When I adjust these values on the data wheel, the bank and program data are sent over to the Korg, changing the preset on it. At first, when I tried doing this, there was no data being sent, but I spied within that PRESET menu an extra button occupying my F6 key that says "SEND". When I pressed that key a little upward arrow appeared indicating that "SEND" was on and it began working as intended. To test my work, I saved the MASTER config, went to another program on my Yamaha, rebooted my Korg, and then opened that config again. The Korg's preset promptly changed and transposed up 2 semitones just as I had programmed it to do. I hope that you have all these functions available to you on the MODX+. I would expect a workstation as costly as that would have these same features.

[@DazLane123]

Thank You so much for your reply I am going to try this and will let you know , Is your korg in local off ? and do you have 2 midi cables plugged in ? thanks @@JLincW

[@JLincW]

@@DazLane123 I have only one MIDI cable going into the Korg. I am controlling Zone 1 (Yamaha) with an external controller while I use my Yamaha to control the Korg on Zone 2. The Korg minilogue xd doesn't have a toggle to disable Local Control (Unless you're PolyChaining two xd's where one is the slave), but it can receive Bank, Program, and CC data from external controllers.

[@DazLane123]

Thanks for your help @@JLincW

[@qv6792]

Hello Sir, I need help please! I would like to be able to transform my MOXF8 into an arranger keyboard using an auto-accompaniment software such as One Man Band 12 (OMB). So that, whenever I play the chords or melody on MOXF8, it would trigger/control the standard Style files from OMB software. I followed Method 1 instructions but could not get it to work as described above. Please help!

[@JLincW]

@@qv6792 I'd love to help, but I've installed OMB's demo to look around and I am a bit taken aback by the complexity of it. I'd be in over my head if I were to try and help you on this one! Do make sure to take a look at the yamahasynths article (in description) on using MASTER mode. Learning to make Master Programs will likely be essential to get your MOXF to play with OMB the way you want. I would be very surprised if you could not get it done.

[@qv6792]

@@JLincW Thank you for trying to help. As alternate solution, is there better (and simpler) auto accompaniment software that you could recommend for me to use?

[@jimmyjamz7400]

I need help! Watching this video gives me hope maybe you can help or someone who reads this! Ok i have a stage piano and a moxf6 The stage piano is coming from midi out to midi in on moxf6. All i want to do on the stage piano is play patch no program changing etc. On the moxf6 i have a bass on the left side and on the right side i have ep, strings and a bell that i want to trigger from the stage piano to the moxf6 only triggering the top 3 sounds and not the bass. The bass i need to play on the moxf6 but i need when i play the stage piano to have a layer of piano, ep, strings and bells… Ive tried 9 different ways to sunday to accomplish this without avail! And it’s frustrating because i had a roland fantom that did this easily 😢 please help Basically im playing or trying to play keys and bass…

[@JLincW]

I was able to recreate the setup you were wanting quite easily on my rig, but it mostly takes advantage of the capabilities of the Studiologic SL73 I use for a controller. You may not have these features on your stage piano. -1-On the MOXF, I went to Song Mode and went to an empty song. -2-When in Song Mode, I pressed the MIXING key. In Song Mixing there are 16 channels that show the preset category (PN, ST, BS, etc.), the panners, and the volume faders. These faders can be accessed by cursoring down with the arrow keys and then, when selected, can be moved up and down with the data wheel. -3- The presets can be changed by cursoring left or right to the desired MIDI channel (or using the 1-16 keys on the right of the board) and pressing CATEGORY SEARCH (Find your preset in this menu and select it with ENTER. You know the drill. Just don't forget to turn up or down the volume faders on each channel as you need to stay organized and avoid accidental sounds.) -4- Each of these 16 channels correspond to MIDI channels. So, you can have a Synth Bass on Channel 1 (controlled with the keyboard), and then have a piano, strings, and bells on MIDI channels 2, 3, and 4. Configure your Stage Piano to control these and you've got it. (Hopefully your device is able to send commands to multiple channels simultaneously on one MIDI OUT). On my SL73 I just configured 3 of the program boxes to control MIDI Channels 2, 3, and 4 through MIDI OUT 1 (Yamaha) and set the control range of each section to span the whole 73 key keyboard. Now each keypress causes 3 sounds to trigger at the same time while only the Yamaha board can control the fourth sound (Synth Bass). If I wanted to, I could set the range of just the bells to be in the higher octave of keys while the lower octaves just play the piano/strings layer (and so on and so forth) Let me know if this works for you! Just don't forget to save your "Song" to a MASTER Program so you can easily recall this config. P.S. Yamaha Keyboard will always play whichever channel you have selected on the mixing board, so make sure before exiting out of the mixing board you've got the desired channel selected. If your bass is on Channel 1 make sure you're hovering over the 1 in the Mixing menu.

[@jimmyjamz7400]

Thx for the reply i will attempt this today in the evening 🙏🏼

[@JLincW]

@@jimmyjamz7400You bet! I may use these comments to make another video about SONG Mode specifically.

[@jimmyjamz7400]

Unfortunately it didn’t work for me my controller only sends 1 midi channel what a bummer

[@JLincW]

@@jimmyjamz7400 That's too bad :( If you're desperate to make it happen, you might see if you can track down a controller with similar capabilities to mine. SL controllers are a bit on the pricy side ($400+) but not unreasonable considering their versatility. The software is really deep.