Hello, Motifator Fam!

I just uploaded another video reviewing the brand new Yamaha MoX6!!!  I go over the differences between the MoX8 and MoX6:  build quality, weight, and keybed action.

Also, I was able to review a couple more features that are available on both the MoX6 & MoX8 like the USB audio interface, remote control functions, using Performance Creator to create layers and splits, etc.

Check out my video and let me know what you guys think?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEq6Px7cEPU

Thanks!

Jeff

Thanks for your review. Although you talk a bit like a salesperson :) I believe your review is completely impartial. You needn’t have praised the MoX as you own a higher grade keyboard but I think you looked quite surprised by the MoX.

Contrary to you, I think the all-plastic keys make the instrument look cheap. The MoX6 resembles my psr s900 pretty much by overall looks (plastic with plastic keys, same weight) but, of course, the MoX is a more capable machine for recording music and playing with sound ingredients. And, what is quite surprising to me, the MoX-6 is twice less expensive than what I paid for the s900 4 years ago - it seems back then I paid a hefty premium for those 300some styles that came with the arranger.

I was dismayed at the MoX ability to layer voices. The s900 can layer only 2 voices, the TOTL Tyros 4 can layer up to 3. The MoX seems to be able to layer up to 4 (?) voices but that’s where I think the 64 polyphony will take a hit. Perhaps if played along to pre-recorded WAV of a MIDI sequence, streamed from an iMac, the limit may be worked around. I am sure one can use split + layer 4 voices.

All in all, it looks very user friendly to me. I’ve never touched a synth but I think I will be able to work my way without the manual at least when the basic operations go. I wish you could have demonstrated playing sustained piano along the arpeggiator (or some dance MIDI track). As far as I understand, lady Gaga’s music has been (and will be) created on instruments like the MoX, Motif XS and the like. I am curious to know how the MoX can handle such a song when played through the sequencer.

What’s your opinion on that matter? You seem to be a very knowledgeable Motif player so your input will be highly appreciated.

Regards,

Troll.

Moomintroll - 16 May 2011 03:52 PM

Thanks for your review. Although you talk a bit like a salesperson :) I believe your review is completely impartial. You needn’t have praised the MoX as you own a higher grade keyboard but I think you looked quite surprised by the MoX.

Contrary to you, I think the all-plastic keys make the instrument look cheap. The MoX6 resembles my psr s900 pretty much by overall looks (plastic with plastic keys, same weight) but, of course, the MoX is a more capable machine for recording music and playing with sound ingredients. And, what is quite surprising to me, the MoX-6 is twice less expensive than what I paid for the s900 4 years ago - it seems back then I paid a hefty premium for those 300some styles that came with the arranger.

I was dismayed at the MoX ability to layer voices. The s900 can layer only 2 voices, the TOTL Tyros 4 can layer up to 3. The MoX seems to be able to layer up to 4 (?) voices but that’s where I think the 64 polyphony will take a hit. Perhaps if played along to pre-recorded WAV of a MIDI sequence, streamed from an iMac, the limit may be worked around. I am sure one can use split + layer 4 voices.

All in all, it looks very user friendly to me. I’ve never touched a synth but I think I will be able to work my way without the manual at least when the basic operations go. I wish you could have demonstrated playing sustained piano along the arpeggiator (or some dance MIDI track). As far as I understand, lady Gaga’s music has been (and will be) created on instruments like the MoX, Motif XS and the like. I am curious to know how the MoX can handle such a song when played through the sequencer.

What’s your opinion on that matter? You seem to be a very knowledgeable Motif player so your input will be highly appreciated.

Regards,

Troll.

Hmm...can I tell you a little secret?  I use to work for Sam Ash.  In fact in the same store where I did the MoX6 video review, but I didn’t do well there because I wasn’t good at sales...lol...go figure...it ended up working out well for me because now I’m in a field that I’m better suited for.  I work in IT.

It probably is just because I really do like the MoX for what it is.  I respectfully disagree when people comment about a more economical product not being as good as the premium flagship product.  Most of the time that just doesn’t make sense.  In some cases the lower end product will get some new features because it came out after the premium flagship product, but aside from that, I think people ought to be more realistic.

I played a track on my MoX8 review and I didn’t experience any drop outs.  It probably depends on how many elements are used in the voices that you use in your song.  Also, not just how many elements, but how many elements are used at one time.  For example, the Full Concert Grand uses 8 elements, but not all 8 elements are being used at once.

I hope that answers your question.  Please feel free to ask any more questions.

Moomintroll - 16 May 2011 03:52 PM

I was dismayed at the MoX ability to layer voices. The s900 can layer only 2 voices, the TOTL Tyros 4 can layer up to 3. The MoX seems to be able to layer up to 4 (?) voices but that’s where I think the 64 polyphony will take a hit. Perhaps if played along to pre-recorded WAV of a MIDI sequence, streamed from an iMac, the limit may be worked around. I am sure one can use split + layer 4 voices.

Yeah, to be honest, I’m not quite sure I understand why the Motif performance architecture is that way.  I’ve always wondered why the Motif was only able to layer more than 4 voices at once in performance mode.  However, I don’t think that I’ve ever layered more than 4 voices together, but that’s not to say no one else has ever needed it.

Yeah, to be honest, I’m not quite sure I understand why the Motif performance architecture is that way.  I’ve always wondered why the Motif was only able to layer more than 4 voices at once in performance mode.  However, I don’t think that I’ve ever layered more than 4 voices together, but that’s not to say no one else has ever needed it.

Depending on what synthesizers you owned previously you can, at first, be confused by this but… if you come from a synth where the individual programs (VOICES) are made from just two oscillators (tone sources) you might be used to being able to layer 8 of those sounds in a PERFORMANCE combination (a total of 16 oscillators simultaneously). Those 2 oscillator programs are 6 oscillators less than a single MO-X VOICE has… remember a single MO-X VOICE contains as many as 8 oscillators… so combining four MO-X VOICES gives you a total of 32 oscillators in a PERFORMANCE. That is easily twice as many as 16, n’est pas?  :)

Do you understand now, how the MO-X is actually more sound sources than keyboards that let you layer 8 programs in a combination?

And just so you know, the oscillators are rarely layered 8 deep - that is not programming (that is simply making a “Dagwood sandwich”, sorry for the obscure reference, but Dagwood was a cartoon character that used make sandwiches with layer upon layer of meat)… The 8 oscillators in the Yamaha MO-X and Motif XS/XF architectures are used to add detail, or articulations, or can be switched to dynamically by various controller and are used to add character to VOICES. Four Yamaha VOICES in a PERFORMANCE can be far more complex than 8 programs layered in other architectures. It is that simple and that complex. Hope that helps.

And by the way, you can layer all 16 PARTS in the MIXING modes - if you want to build that ultimate “Dagwood sandwich” - we don’t recommend it…

Bad_Mister - 16 May 2011 10:04 PM

Yeah, to be honest, I’m not quite sure I understand why the Motif performance architecture is that way.  I’ve always wondered why the Motif was only able to layer more than 4 voices at once in performance mode.  However, I don’t think that I’ve ever layered more than 4 voices together, but that’s not to say no one else has ever needed it.

Depending on what synthesizers you owned previously you can, at first, be confused by this but… if you come from a synth where the individual programs (VOICES) are made from just two oscillators (tone sources) you might be used to being able to layer 8 of those sounds in a PERFORMANCE combination (a total of 16 oscillators simultaneously). Those 2 oscillator programs are 6 oscillators less than a single MO-X VOICE has… remember a single MO-X VOICE contains as many as 8 oscillators… so combining four MO-X VOICES gives you a total of 32 oscillators in a PERFORMANCE. That is easily twice as many as 16, n’est pas?  :)

Do you understand now, how the MO-X is actually more sound sources than keyboards that let you layer 8 programs in a combination?

And just so you know, the oscillators are rarely layered 8 deep - that is not programming (that is simply making a “Dagwood sandwich”, sorry for the obscure reference, but Dagwood was a cartoon character that used make sandwiches with layer upon layer of meat)… The 8 oscillators in the Yamaha MO-X and Motif XS/XF architectures are used to add detail, or articulations, or can be switched to dynamically by various controller and are used to add character to VOICES. Four Yamaha VOICES in a PERFORMANCE can be far more complex than 8 programs layered in other architectures. It is that simple and that complex. Hope that helps.

And by the way, you can layer all 16 PARTS in the MIXING modes - if you want to build that ultimate “Dagwood sandwich” - we don’t recommend it…

I haven’t thought of it from the perspective of 4 voices gives you up to 32 elements before.  Again, I’m not complaining because I haven’t needed to layer more than 4 instruments (actually when I think about it I don’t think I’ve ever layered more than 3 instruments at once, but maybe others want this). 

I wasn’t wondering about the Motif architecture compared to other companies that only use 2 oscillators per voice (ahem...Korg...j/k).  I was just wondering if the 4 voice limit had to do with it requiring too many resources, and if so, what does performance mode do more than Song/Pattern mode?  In any case, I’m sure there’s a reason why the Yamaha engineers limited it to 4 voices.

One thing I don’t understand why Yamaha motif synth has PRESET memory patches. I don’t think we need READ ONLY patches. We like to tweak, edit the sound anyway, because it’s a synth...Every time we have to save to another USER patch ;(

Why don’t make every patches as editable and if users want to go back to “preset” sound, then they just reload the patches (from the ROM or file from thumbstick)

I hope they will improve in the next products.