Hi musical friends,

I wish to purchase the Yamaha MoxF8, though having no previous experience with Arpeggios and synths etc, but the videos seem easy and cool.

1) My question is whether to purchase the MOXF8 which I wish for its many MOTIF FX sounds and extra Flash RAM I think?

Comparison:

The keyboard bed is similar to that of the DGX 660: 88 Weigthed GHS (graded hammer standard). I know that many free sounds are possible to load onto the MOXF8 under here the free CP1 sounds. But also I guess I could choose to run VTS sounds or software sounds on a PC instead and thus perhaps settle with the somewhat heavier DGX 660. I read a lot but prefer asking You musicians since this is a specific question.

I have owned yamahas: P250, p 120, p 155 ,then CP5 (a handful UI wise but great sounds, including the guitar sounds and synths), and now the DGX 660 (the reason I bought rather similar models is that I moved abroad several times).

One good thing about the DGX is the rhytms of which there are around 200, and the learning module: FOr my son and I can compose songs and have the NOtes shown on the display for him to play them and use. It also has many drum sets. THe MoxF8 uses arpeggios and seems to be more flexible if I need to create my own backing patch from the ground. But perhaps I can also do that with the DGX 660. Never tried and it does not have Arpeggios so I guess not really. I imagine that would be done with a metronome and recording the whole song with drums, perhaps after having recorded the melody).
SO anyway if I decide for the Moxf8, I think I would need to keep the DGX 660 for my sons sake and because he can easily have rhytms as backing without needing some rather tricky creation of suc with Arpeggios.

2) Or could I get such rhytms from software for the DGX 660? You see how many questions are circulating in my tormented piano mind ;-)

3) WHich DAW do I need?
I have very little experience with using a daw (Cubase seems a handful: I have Audacity at the moment to edit but I need to also write out note sheets (perhaps presonus right): THe DGX has a midi step sequencer and the capability to record audio (the midi and the microphone all together or convert a midi song with a backing pattern (rhytms) into audio while saving the midi tracks: You sing while converting the midi tracks into audio).

I know the MoxF8 comes bundled with the DAW (good thing since I have an old cubase 5 which seems crazy) etc. and I can Line in a Microphone which I need as well as another instrument. Also it’s possible to edit music onboard and program sound setups for gigging, which is another need, apart from composing at home. Still don’t know if I will be happy with just mixing onboard the MOXF8 or if I need a pc.

I have the DGX 660 and its nice to keep going with composing and singing. Please see if you can help me answer these questions, since I am unsure if having the MOXf8 is stupid since my main purpose is to have better and more synths as well as better instruments generally than those of the dgx 660. I don’t know if I can input them with a pc to the DGX 660 and in that case a new purchase might seem stupid since I know the UI of the DGx 660 quite well now.

Sorry about the length of this but I hope I got the parameters well covered. Happy new year :)!
Dino

Welcome to the Forum.

A couple of thoughts:

You have extensive experience with Yamaha pianos, which I can identify with, as I own a couple of them now and others in the past.

The difference you get with the MOXF is both that you have an extensive new pool of other extremely editable sounds, and the ability to LOAD brand new samples in the optional Flash Board (as you noted).  This is in addition to the piano sounds provided in the machine.

While Yamaha pianos also have additional sounds available, they are really not designed for efficiently deep-editing parameters, like the MOXF is.

That is why I use both a digital piano (for dedicated piano sounds, go figure), AND a Motif XF for many of the other sounds I need to incorporate.

The ability to use arpeggios in your music (MOXF) is MUCH more sophisticated and editable than what you are used to in your digital piano experience.

You don’t really say if you want or need the ability to move your instrument around, or if you always play it in the same location without the need for any mobility.

If you really want to branch out into sample-based synth in a self-contained unit, the MOXF would be a good choice.  You could also easily use it as a controller for computer-based DAW sounds, if you want to go that direction.

In a nutshell, you are moving from an amateur-focused keyboard in the DGX-660 to a pro-style keyboard in the MOXF.

Please be aware there is a much steeper learning curve with an instrument like the MOXF than the pianos you are familiar with...but that is really because there is so much more you can obtain with the MOXF.

I am sure others will fill-in additional comparisons.

Great thanks for your quick response. Actually I also figured I need the MOXF8 and I will accept the learning curve (Its a matter of passion and investing :-) )

Yes you are right, I forgot to write that I also intend to have an easily movable gigging board. Hence the MOXF8 really seems to be a match with my needs. Actually since I posted, I have been searching European deals. I found one at Thomannincluding a free extra Flash board (RAM, 512 MB). Isn’t that a great deal. I know in the US there was a smash offer from Yamaha to get a 1 gb including a lot of sounds such as Chick Korea’s. But I am in Europe.

I just have doubt if I should get it from the UK, since I am in DK, and then have the longer distance in case something occurs. Or if I should stick with the local 4sound. What do you say? Of course the first thing that pops to my mind is that to get it fixed in case I would have to mail it myself instead of driving it 1,5 kilometers.

Also do you think its better to go for the 1 gb Flash memory card? Would be inconvenient to have to upgrade and sell the smaller one. Well it depends on ones need for extra sounds I guess.

I’d just go for the best deal possible.

I have always found Yamaha equipment to be very well packaged, and able to ship the distance without injury.

I will go with Thomann I think. GOod prices. I also think they have a good rep. Some bonus questions ;-)

1) By the way I need a notesheet stand, mic holder and a laptopholder (preferably combined(considering the ROde Nt1 A for recording with a filter). Now I have a Rode M1. Has worked fine but wish to avoid some noise. Any recommendations for the MOXF8? Txs!

2) I also wonder how you avoid the bleed to the microphone when registering the voice and the piano as well. I decided to buy the semiclosed krk kns 8800 after watching videos with musicians.Its a compromise to the closed back headphone. For singing the open backs are recommended. Did my homework. SO I hope it’s useful for others as well.

WHen using headphones then of course I can minimalize the bleed as opposed to singing with the loudspeakers on.

I wonder if my current Rode M1 is better in terms of avoiding the bleed from the piano to the mic when NOT using headphones or in general. I guess it has got to do with how far away it picks up the sound.

So should I stick with what I have got or spend the almost 200 bucks extra on the upgrade?

3) Anything else you would recommend me for the MOXF8 (now I am at it)? And yes I settled for the 512 MB soundcoard coming free with the MOXF8 at Thomann. Such as offer, and the piano is already a good offer.

Txs!

Ok so I did some research: Maybe read 15 websites to get answers as to which microphone to use. It seems I need a dynamic mic as I have (the RODE m1) since the condenser one is more suitable for picking up sounds further away such as guitar. SO to avoid hearing noise and the SOUND coming out from my piano loudspeakers, it seems a dynamic mic is more suited/suitable.

https://music.stackexchange.com/questions/28598/which-type-of-microphone-is-optimal-to-use-for-the-singing-piano-player

Still not 100% sure. I thought that if singing with a headset on and the loudspeakers of the piano muted, then a condenser mic might be optional (unless the stronger reception of sounds from the externals, will make the sound from the headphones bleed into the mic.

Well I have chosen a semi open as said, the Krk kns 8400 (or would you suggest the Beyerdynamics 880 pro studio (my other option), likewise semi open?

I chose the semiopen one because I need to hear my singing more spaciously as opossed to the in- the head closed back headphones.

So in short, I will stick with the RODE M1 unless someone convinces me to buy the other, the condenser one. WOuld it be worth it to have a condenser one and record a perhaps higher quality vocal sound, using headphones and hence a silent keyboard?

txs :-)

The MoXF don’t have phantom power, so if you’re planning to connect your mic straight to it, it has to be a dynamic one.

May make your choice easier. ;-)

Thanks pal, you are right. I now remember having gone through the same considerations 3 years ago or so when I bought the dynamic one. So I assume the DGX doesn’t have that neither. I read that the MOXF8 has an audio card built in. SO no need for any audio/sound cards then right. But maybe not so related to this topic.

Hence back to the original questions in case I missed answers to some. Well maybe unnecessary to answer since I am rather convinced to go with the MOXF8, so all there is left is to get to know it.

Well now all I need to know regarding the MOXF8 is which 1) laptop holder, 2) mic holder (well I already have a tripod and I read at least as goes for the condenser mics to avoid the keyboard being too connected with the mic), plus the 3) NOTE/music SHEET holder. What would you recommend for the MOXF8? Preferably something simple and connected. DOn’t know if a combined laptop holder and music sheet stand exists. I don’t know if I should go with a laptop holder with clamps. Perhaps there exist no sheet holder made for specifically the MOXf8?

I have now ordered the whole lot apart from the MUSIC SHEET HOLDER AND THE LAPTOP HOLDER AND PERHAPS A COMBINATION OF THESE TWO WITH A MIC HOLDER AS OPPOSED TO MY CURRENT TRIPOD. Still don’t know which solution I should pick.

There’s a lot of text in this thread so I may have missed some. With regards to picking your DAW, note that the VST editor for your MoXF is VST3 only so the DAW need to support that.

I know some believe capital letters is shouting but I used them for getting attention towards the words: Emphasis. Thanks for the help. Can be difficult making such decisions without conversation.

Dionysos - 08 January 2018 01:55 PM

I know some believe capital letters is shouting but I used them for getting attention towards the words: Emphasis. Thanks for the help. Can be difficult making such decisions without conversation.

My last reply didn’t complain about caps, I always use caps for DAW, VST etc.
My remark about the number of words in this thread was just to point out that I may have missed something about your choice of DAW.
(I mainly visit this forum from my phone whilst commuting or having a quiet moment at work)

Anyhow, in case I haven’t missed it and you’re still making up your mind about which DAW to use, you still need to make sure that it supports VST3 if you intend to use the MoXF editor.

The editor of course also works as stand-alone, but the VST integration will make your life a lot easier when in your DAW of choice. ;-)

Thank you :-). WOuld you say Cubase is such an editor? It comes with the MOXF8 which I think sounds great.

Cubase is what I’m using. It all comes down to personal preference, but when I’ve tried other DAWs, it never lasts for long. ;-)