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POWER USER
Motif ES and the Modular Synthesis Plug-in
System
PLG100-VH
Vocal Harmony Effect Processor
Plug-in Board

A Getting Started Guide

Tony Escueta & Phil Clendeninn
Digital Product Support Group
©Yamaha Corporation of America

• The PLG100-VH board is part of the Modular Synthesis Plug-in System. It is an effect processor that can be
used in Performance mode or ‘live’ in a Song or Pattern to effect a microphone plugged into the A/D input
(analog-to-digital), it can be used in a sampling session to record the Vocal Harmony effects to tracks of the
sequencer or it can be applied to audio samples after the fact. Please follow all the instructions in the Owner’s
Manual concerning installation. You can verify proper installation by powering up and viewing the UTILITY/ F6
PLUG /SF Status screen. This Guide will take you through setting up the A/D input and editing the PLG100-VH
from the front panel of the Motif ES. (There is also available a VH EFFECT EDITOR that brings the front panel
parameters to your computer screen).

This Guide assumes you are at the Motif ES with the PLG100-VH properly installed in slot 1 and have a quality
microphone plugged into the LEFT (L) A/D input on the back panel of the unit. Follow this guide step-by-step at least the
first time through. When you are comfortable with the setup procedures feel free to experiment creating your own
setups.
Some terminology that you will find in the VH area:

Lead (Melody) – Refers to your natural voice or the synthesized lead Voice w/pitch correction. Can be assigned an
independent MIDI channel from the Harmony
Harmony (H) – MIDI controlled backing vocals (3 max.) follow chord/MIDI input. Can be triggered on it’s own channel.
Gender (G) – male or female voice. Change gender without expensive, painful medical procedures.
Depth (Dpt) – how much a parameter will effect the sound
Threshold (Thresh) - the level at which a particular effect kicks in. Signals below the threshold are not effected.
Pitch Correction (PchCorrect) - when activated and a Gender type is selected you can create a ‘vocode’ effect that will
follow your played notes. You can balance this with your normal voice or mix it completely to the vocoder effect.
ABOUT THE PLG BOARDS 1 Orange wire) in order to use the microphone
The PLG-Modular Synthesis Plug-in System: input. Be sure to place the board in the slotted
This innovative feature allows you to add grooves and that boards do not touch each other
hardware plug-in boards that can be either or the chassis of the Motif ES. You can check your
complete synthesizers or specialized effect installation by navigating to the UTILITY/ F6
processing, as in the case of the PLG100-VH. PLUG/ SF1 STATUS screen.

The PLG 100-VH Vocal Harmony

The PLG100-VH provides a sophisticated vocal
effect that takes a microphone input and
reproduces up to 3 harmony parts. These parts
can be voiced under MIDI control to make for
intricate 4 part choruses; (3 synthesized voices +
your voice). This MIDI control can be real time, as __________________________________
you play or controlled from a prerecorded MIDI Using a Microphone & the A/D Input
track. You can have a prerecorded track the Before we get started with the PLG100-VH, it is
controls the harmonies. It can also create effects necessary to understand how to use the A/D Input
where you control the pitch of a lead "synth voice" of the MOTIF ES.
from your keyboard, and where you can transpose
the pitch you are singing and can change the This next section of the guide will instruct you
gender of the voice, as well. This is great, allowing how to use the A/D input of the MOTIF ES with a
you to talk, grunt or otherwise make noises and microphone, in conjunction with the PLG 100-VH.
turn them into musical pitches or into wild robot- You can sing into a microphone that is plugged
like sound effects. into the MOTIF ES and apply effects to the vocals.

Once it is connected, the PLG 100-VH becomes Plug a microphone into the left A/D Input of the
another effect block in the Motif ES and can be MOTIF ES. Check the MIC/LINE parameter found
applied to one of the Parts within a in [UTILITY]/ [F2] I/O /SF1 Input. Select MIC.
PERFORMANCE, or in a MIX. Although Harmony
can be applied to normal instrument Parts, it is
designed specifically to work with the A/D Input.
You can also set up to sample through the Vocal
Harmony effect into the Motif ES’ Integrated
Sampling Sequencer.

As long as your own voice is in pitch and you play • Press STORE to store the UTILITY settings.
the appropriate chords, the PLG 100VH ensures __________________________________
that the harmony “voices” will be enharmonically Three Easy Steps To Using The A/D Input
correct and stay in pitch with the chord changes and the PLG 100-VH.
of the song. Each PERFORMANCE stores A/D input settings and
these can be unique per Performance or per Mix.
It also includes a gender changer effect that turns We will follow the steps of setting up a
a male voice into a female voice (or vice versa), Performance. You can also apply these setting to
and a vibrato effect that can add vibrato to your a SONG or PATTERN Mix in a similar fashion or
voice. copy the PLG-EFF settings from a Performance to
any MIX.
The VH EFFECT EDITOR
There is a free PLG100-VH Effect Editor available. To start from the beginning you will need to
It gives you comprehensive control over all “initialize” a PERFORMANCE. If you have a
PLG100-VH settings and parameters. It also PERFORMANCE that you want to use, skip step 1.
provides exceptionally easy and intuitive editing,
with graphic controls. This Editor is available in a 1>Initialize A PERFORMANCE:
stand-alone version and as a ‘plug-in’ editor for • Select the PERFORMANCE you wish to
OPT compatible sequencers like the Yamaha “Initialize”.
SQ01. • Push [JOB]. Select the Initialize job [F1].
• Push [ENTER] and then push [INC/YES]
BOARD INSTALLATION
To install the PLG100-VH, follow the instructions 2>Select the Source Input Level:
in the MOTIF ES Owner’s Manual. The PLG100-VH • Press the [PERFORM] button to select the
must occupy slot 1 of the Motif ES (All Blue wires, main Performance screen.

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 • Press [EDIT]/ then [COMMON] to enter currently selected. When you install a PLG board
Common level parameters that is an effect board, the “PLG-EF” box (which
• Press [F5] AUDIO IN to make and verify represents the VH board in this case), will display
microphone settings. a button [SF3] that will allow you to drop down
• Set the VOLUME = 127. Adjust the signal and see the native PLUG-IN EFFECT parameters.
“gain” level by turning the small GAIN To return to this screen while editing the Vocal
knob (located next to the left input jack). Harmony parameters remember to hit [SF1]
• Set the MONO/STEREO input to “L mono” Connect.
(we are using the Left input jack). This
will place your voice in the center of the What Are the Four Vocal Harmony Types?
mix.
VOCODER HM: This produces up to three synth
voice harmony notes whose pitches correspond to
the exact notes you play on the MOTIF ES. In
other words, you can sing the melody and "play"
harmony parts from the keyboard (or have them
follow from a sequencer track). The Harmony
sound can be edited. The Lead voice can be
• Set any Reverb and Chorus effects or pan synthesized, as well (Pitch Correct = ON). This is
position to taste. very useful when you want to force the sound of
• Output Select: You can route your vocal to your voice to the notes you play on the keyboard.
the regular stereo L&R or to any available You can edit this synth lead voice from 'almost'
assignable outputs (with the vocal effect). natural to robot-like to munchkin-like (Lead
Gender Depth). You can use your mouth shape
3>Applying the PLG100-VH: and the sound of your voice to create unusual and
• Press [F6] EFFECTS/ [SF1] CONNECT. The bizarre out-of-this-world vocal effects. Changing
PLG100-VH is an effect processor and logically the gender of the Voice uses one of the harmony
this is where you will program all of its voices and reduces the number of synth backing
parameters. (Your PLG1 button will not work. voices from 3 to 2.
The PLG100-VH is an effect processor and
does not have Voices, per se). Chordal HM: This produces up to three harmony
notes that correspond to the chord-type you play
on the MOTIF ES (or chords recorded to a
sequencer).
For example, if you play a C major triad
on the keyboard and sing a ‘C’ note (and Chordal
Mode is set to “trio”), the resulting harmonies will
be ‘C’, ‘E’, and ‘G’. Thirty-four different chord
• In the upper left corner of the screen you will types are recognized in this mode - giving you an
see a an Input reserved for the PLG-EFF or amazingly full and flexible palette of harmonies,
Plug-In Effect Processor. That’s us! It reads suitable for nearly any music style. The number of
“off’ initially. Move the cursor down to harmonies produced and their position above or
highlight the word “off”. below the melody is set in the Mode parameter.
• Use the Data Wheel to set the EFFECT PART
as “PART A/D” (your Microphone) DETUNE HM: This produces a slightly “detuned”
• Highlight the PLG-EF box to view the various pitch and mixes it with the input signal for a rich,
VH board modes: Thru (bypass), Vocoder HM, chorusing effect. The amount of the detuning is
Chordal HM, Detune HM, Chromatic HM. Use editable via the MODE parameter.
the Data Wheel to make selections. MIDI note data from a keyboard or
sequencer has no effect in this mode.

CHROMATIC ([Link]): This produces a

harmony at a fixed pitch interval from the original
sound (such as an octave, or a third). The amount
of the pitch shift is set with the MODE parameter.
MIDI note data from the MOTIF ES or sequencer
Important navigation tip: The screen above is has no effect in this mode.
very informative and changes when you activate
or highlight particular areas. Notice in the screen
shot above both F6 (Effect) and SF1 (Connect) are

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EXAMPLE 1 you have 3 parts so playing more notes than that
This first example will use the PLG100-VH’s is, well, silly.
VOCODER Harmony type and the MOTIF ES A/D
Input. Using the PLG100-VH in this manner will allow you
To do this: to actually play your vocal parts from the
• Follow STEPS 1-3 of “Easy Steps To Using keyboard. The “synthesizer” harmony pitches will
The A/D Input and the PLG100-VH”. be completely determined by what is played on
At this point, you should be able to: the keyboard of the MOTIF ES (when applied in a
a) Hear audio through the microphone MIX the harmony pitches can be determined by a
b) Play the MOTIF ES and hear a keyboard track of the sequencer). Controllers such as pitch
Voice. bend can also be applied to the harmonized effect.
c) Sing into the microphone while playing a STORE this Performance, if you would like to keep
chord on the MOTIF ES. The harmonies it.
produced (up to three harmony notes) are _________________________
pitches corresponding to the notes you EXAMPLE 2
play on the MOTIF ES. the “Classic” Vocoder setting
The next setting will give you the classic robot-like
• Now let’s turn the Keyboard Voices down so vocoder-effect with key control.
that we can concentrate on the Vocal
Harmony board. To do this use the CS To do this:
controls to lower the Volume of the Keyboard • Follow STEPS 1-3 of “Easy Steps To Using
Parts. The A/D Input and the PLG100-VH”.
• Push Program (Track) button [1] to select
*At this point, you should only hear the original PART 1
microphone signal and the harmonized parts • Turn down the keyboard Part assigned to the
(when you play the keyboard and sing into the Performance with the CS
microphone).
*At this point, you should only hear the original
The next objective will be to alter the balance of microphone signal and the harmonized parts
the harmony signal so that no actual dry (when you play the keyboard and sing into the
microphone signal is heard, just the VOCODER microphone). If not, check the Lead/Harmony
effect. balance (L=H).

While still in EDIT mode, press [COMMON]/ [F6] The next objective will be to:
Effect/ [SF3] PLG-EF. • Adjust the settings of the PLG100-VH to put
• We now can view the edit parameters of the the finishing touches on the robot-like voice
VOCODER. effect.
• Use the right cursor to select the page with • Alter the balance of the Lead/Harmony signal
the [Link] (Lower Gender Depth) and so that no actual dry microphone signal is
the Lead/Harm (Lead/Harmony) balance heard, just the VOCODER effect.
parameters in the right column.
• Adjusts the balance between the “lead” and Set the parameters as follows:
the PLG 100-VH’s vocal harmonies. • ‘Mode’ to –1 OCT
• Set the L=H parameter to “L<H63” • ‘[Link]’ (Harmony gender)to auto
• ‘[Link]’ (Lead gender) to male
• ‘Pitch Correct’ to ON
• Upper Threshold to “5”
• Set Lower Thrsh to “6”.
• Set Upper Gender Depth to “+00”.
• Set the ‘Lower Gender Depth to -20 (minus
values move toward Barry White (may he
R.I.P.); positive values toward mechanical-
*At this point, you should only hear the
man
harmonized parts (when you play the keyboard
• Lead-Harmony to L63>H
and sing into the microphone). Don’t be afraid to
sing OUT LOUD. Many people never hear the
*The idea of this setting is to get a monotone,
effect because they don’t give up enough signal to
robotic sounding effect. At this point you are
the microphone. But don’t overload the signal
ready to determine what pitch the PLG board will
either. It may take a minute for you to adjust to
drive by simply playing a key on the MOTIF ES.
how to sing to get maximum benefit. Remember

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Please feel free to experiment with a parameter.
Certain parameters will work together. For
example, with the Pitch Correction ON – the VH
will force the ‘lead’ voice to the pitch you play on
the keyboard when you select a Lead Gender
Type, male/female. The Threshold parameters will
set sensitivity for the male or female, or upper
and lower voices.
• In the upper left corner of the screen you will
Keep in mind how you ‘shape’ your words (shape see an Input reserved for the PLG-EF or
of the mouth), the register of your voices and Plug-In Effect Processor. The VH! It reads
volume that you speak or sing into the “off’ initially. Move the cursor down to
microphone, all determine the results of the highlight the word “off”.
synthesized voice(s). This allows endless and • Use the Data Wheel to set the EFFECT PART
unique performance possibilities. as “PART AD” (your Microphone)1
__________________________________ • Highlight the PLG-EF box to view the various
VH board modes: select Chordal HM. Use the
EXAMPLE 3 Data Wheel to make selections.
This next example will use the PLG100-VH’s
CHORDAL harmony type and setup for a In general, the Chordal Type will allow you to
SONG/PATTERN Mix. It is virtually the same. If simply play the chords and have the Harmony
you are applying this effect to a MIX that already effect - automatically sort out the suitable notes.
exists skip step 1. Select the parts that the synth voice will create:
duet, trio, above, above & below, below, etc.
To do this:
1>Initialize a SONG Mix or PATTERN Mix: The same setup method can be applied for using
• Press [MIXING]. DETUNE and CHROMATIC types.
• Push [JOB]. Select the Initialize job [F1].
• Push [ENTER] and then push [INC/YES] Additional settings can be altered within all of the
Harmony Types to change the type of voicing of
2>Select the Source Input Level: the harmonization, gender type of the harmonies,
• Press [EDIT]/ then [COMMON] and detuning, transposition and pitch correction
• Press [F5] AUDIO IN to make and verify parameters.
microphone settings.
• Set the VOLUME = 127. Adjust the signal You must name and save the PERFORMANCE or
“gain” level by turning the small GAIN the MIX you used to retain these changes. Backup
knob (located next to the left input jack). your data in an ALL Data file to an optional
• Set the MONO/STEREO input to “L mono” SmartMedia Card or USB storage device.
(we are using the Left input jack). This Performance data can be stored in the ALL data
will place your voice in the center of the type file (.w7a), or bulked to an external device as
mix. system exclusive data. Song/Pattern Mixes can be
stored in the ALL data type file or bulked to an
external device as well. In general, your
Performance data will remain in memory even
after power down but you should back up all data
as a good habit.
Can I record the Vocal Harmony in the Motif
ES Integrated Sampling Sequencer?
You can record any of the Insertion Effects in the
• Set any Reverb and Chorus effects or pan Motif ES including your vocal using the Vocal
position to taste. Harmony board, directly. Simply setup the Vocal
• Output Select: You can route your vocal to Harmony effect you want to use, go to Integrated
the regular stereo L&R or to any available Sampling mode set the input to A/D and your
assignable outputs (with the vocal effect). sampling through the VH Effect. What you hear is
what you get… You can also apply the powerful
3>Applying the PLG100-VH: DUAL INSERTION EFFECTS to the AD input (it can
• Press [F6] EFFECTS/ [SF1] CONNECT. The
PLG100-VH is an effect processor and logically
this is where you will program all of its 1
If you are applying the VH effect to a sample audio
parameters. track you would dial up the PART 01~16 here and apply
it.

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be applied to any eight PARTS of a MIX – this stand alone Editor you can store your setups in a
includes the AD input and PLG150 boards). When special file and archive that file on your computer.
in a Performance or Mix you will find the
parameters for the AD input found in COMMON/ Screen shots of the VH EFFECT EDITOR
F5 Audio In/ SF2 INS TYPE:

You select which eight Parts of your MIX will have

the Insertion Effects active in COMMON/ F6
EFFECT/ SF2 INS TYPE:

Once you have set up the microphone, the AD

parameters, the Insertion Effects and the Vocal
Harmony you can go to INTEGRATED SAMPLING
and what you hear is what you will be able to
sample. The Source will be “A/D”.

By assigning the Harmony parts to follow a

specific MIDI channel you can ‘orchestrate’ your
backing vocals with any track containing the
controlling note data. The notes on that MIDI
channel can be used to conduct the harmonies
and you can choose to have it audible or you can
set its volume to zero and just use the notes to
control the vocals.

Visit [Link] and download the FREE

files called “VH_PLG_2.w7a” and “VH_PLG_2.w8a”
for the Motif ES and transfer them to your
SmartMedia card or USB drive. There are 15
examples. Ten are Chordal setups, 1 Detune, and
4 are Vocoder examples. Also you will find several
Song Mixes setup to use the various setups. Plus
a bonus Pattern setup dedicated to Barry White.

PLG-EFF setups can be copied from Performance

mode to a SONG or PATTERN Mix using the PF
COPY function.

VH EFFECT EDITOR:
Stand-alone / OPT Plug-in VH Effect Editor
This program will let you setup the various
parameters for the Vocal Harmony board. The OPT Tony Escueta and Phil Clendeninn
compatibility means you can open this Editor File examples prepared by Athan Billias
while running the OPT compatible sequencer (like Technology Products
the Yamaha SQ01) and you can have the software ©Yamaha Corporation of America
insert the setup data into a track for recall. As a