Yamaha MOTIF XF Reference Manual page 202

Audio Recording to Song/Pattern (Sampling mode)
Sliced, assigned Samples
About Slice
The Slice function is an important operation of Sampling in
the Song/Pattern modes, since it allows you to easily divide
the audio into smaller parts which can then be triggered
and controlled in many musically useful ways.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Slice actually performs two operations on a Sample
simultaneously.
First, Slice creates a Sample Voice by dividing the original
Sample into smaller Samples of a specific note value (such
as 8th notes or 16th notes) depending on the rhythm, then
assigns the Samples to Key Banks. The created Sample
C D E F G A B
Voice is automatically assigned to the Mixing part
Example 1
Phrase order to be played
corresponding to the recorded Track.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Second, the Slice function creates sequence data
consisting of note events to which the sliced Samples are
Example 2
assigned in order. The note events in the created sequence
data are arranged according to the Key Bank assignment
1, 3, 1, 4, 5, 8, 3, 6
chromatically, with each gate time of the note events
matching the original Sample's rhythm (e.g., 8th notes or
You can produce melodic or rhythmic variations simply by
changing the sequence of the note events.
16th notes).
The end result is that you can hear the same sound from
both of the original Sample and the sliced Sample. If this
were the only result, Slice wouldn't be of much use.
However, once a Sample is 'sliced' in this way, it can be
changed and played back in many convenient and
creative ways.
Firstly, you can change the tempo of the Sample in real
time. While the MOTIF XF features a Time Stretch Job for
changing the tempo of the Sample, this Job cannot be
used in real time during your keyboard performance
because it takes some time to convert the Sample data. On
the other hand, by using sliced Samples, you can change
the speed of Sample playback by changing the tempo
value of the Song/Pattern in real time.
The second benefit is that you can quickly and easily
create variations of the original Sample by changing the
playback of the sliced Samples.
For example, you could change the velocities and timing
points of the note events to which the sliced Samples are
assigned. This lets you create accents in the playback or
change the rhythm of the Sample to a swing feel, for
example. Furthermore, you can change the actual order of
the Sample slices (as note events), making it exceptionally
easy to come up with new and unusual sound variations.
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MOTIF XF Reference Manual