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The Yamaha Motif series represents over two decades of evolution in professional workstation synthesizers, spanning from the original Motif's introduction in 2001 through to the last-in-series XF generation. Each iteration has built upon its predecessor's foundation while introducing significant technological advances that have kept the Motif line at the forefront of music production. This comparison highlights the key specifications and features across all four generations, with highlighted entries indicating the most significant improvements in each model. Whether you're considering an upgrade from an older Motif or evaluating the series for the first time, this table provides essential information for understanding each model's capabilities and evolution.

The Yamaha SY85 and Yamaha Motif are advanced music workstations with robust features for musicians. Both use Yamaha's Advanced Wave Memory (AWM) technology. The SY85 offers 30-note polyphony and a 6 MB waveform ROM, while the Motif has an 84 MB equivalent waveform ROM and 62-note polyphony. The SY85 features 256 voices and 128 performance combinations, whereas the Motif provides 384 factory voices and 128 user voice memories. Both have programmable digital filters and high-quality effects, with the Motif offering more comprehensive effects processing. The SY85 includes pitch and modulation wheels with eight slide controls, while the Motif adds four assignable sliders and knobs. The SY85 has a 9-track, 10-song sequencer, and the Motif boasts a 16-track linear/pattern-based sequencer with a 110,000-note capacity. Storage methods differ, with the SY85 using floppy disks and the Motif utilizing SmartMedia cards and SCSI drives.