Hi,

I currently own a Yamaha PSR-E403 and would like to upgrade in the new year.

I was looking into the MM8, however it seems that Yamaha have stopped production on this model. There are some B Grade units out there in the UK.

Reading through the past articles, someone pointed out that the MM6/MM8 uses styles like the PSR range but there are no intros or endings available. Would it not be possible using programs such as Style Remixer and Style Player to put the intro and ending into one of the main patterns and then just press the other pattern buttons to go into the main variations - or is this too simple? http://www.jososoft.dk/yamaha/software.htm

More keys, ideally weighted would suit me for learning piano as it is difficult on a 61 key instrument to play lower than bottom C (transposing aside) with lighted touch sensitivity. A large selection of voices would be nice as well. Can anyone offer some advice for the following models as well as for the MM8

MO8 - Any way of importing styles in .sty or .prs format and using them>

ES7 - As above. Can you sample a style and somehow play it in a different key easily?

Thanks

Keith

Yamaha STYLE-based keyboards come from a particular part of the company, while the synthesizer keyboards from another.

If you are interested in style based keyboards that can provide you with weighted key action you would be best served by looking into the following keyboard:

Go to Piano Focused Portables 76 and 88 Keyboards and check out the YPG-635

The STYLE based units feature INTROS, ENDINGS, FILL-INS etc., as you are used to on your PSR-E403, I think you’ll find the YPG635 just what you are looking for (based on your post).

Hi,
I just bought a MM8 (a month ago) and although it has its limitations,
I like it a lot.  The sound is great and for me the fact that it has a
full keyboard and weighted keys was important an important decision.  I
also own a Yamaha Clavinova and I like the feel of the MM8 much better.
For the price I think it is an excellent keyboard.

Initially I was also interested in the MO8 (and the XS7) but the
price was out of my range.  With more features, I have no doubt that
they are far more versatile, but it depends on what you want to do with
it. 

Hope my modest opinion helps.

Kind Regards,
David

I had purchased an MO8 and although it is a great keyboard it frustrated me since it is not easy to use.

I have exchanged it with an MM8 and I really love it, since it has all the features that I wanted and very very easy to use.

My advice is, if you are after composing music and don’t mind spending time in programming the synthesizer then definitely get a MO8; otherwise, get a MM8.

I got an ES8 and an MM6 and the Motif/ES/XS controller style certainly is my favourite.
And I call myself a composer ......

;JOOP!

Hi,

I decided to get one in late December and it’s not bad. There some annoying features or lack off (being a keyboard player - PSR-E403)

No intros or endings (have to alter style files to put on to the main variation)

Cannot drum break (synch start) when recording a user song (have to save user song as midi and edit with Sonar)

Cannot use patterns when playing back midi files

The patterns are very limited to certain styles of music (hip-hop, dance), there’s not much suitable for 3/4 and possibly 6/8 times.

Still I like the synth sounds and the ability to save songs as a midi and the USB to device slot, the easy access to 8 registration buttons, ability to load in .sty files

Keith

I did much the same as you Keith, and I still hanker after my 403, so wish I hadn’t sold it on Ebay now! I was unsure about getting a complicated synth but once I saw the showreel on youtube for the MM6/MM8 I found exactly what I was looking for, better, worked with our studio Sonar set up (the 403 wouldn’t coz it had the wrong type of MIDI) but not too technical and scary. Mind you, I’ve only just 8 months on from purchase got around to setting up Cubase on my pc! But I’m impressed with my MM6 (couldn’t quite stretch to an MM8 at the time) and so glad I bought it.  Have written and recorded loads of songs with it now.