I currently own a Motif XS8, and truly love it.  However it is large and hard to get around to gigs.  So I will be buying a new board and wanted some insight on what everyone thought would be a good choice for playing out live.  The new XF7 or a S70XS I think I know most of the differences but wanted some input.

Thanks,

Robo

Yor current XS8 has Balanced Hammer Effect Keyboard.
S70 XS has Balanced Hammer Effect Keyboard.

XF7 has FSX Keyboard (spot the difference)!

What’s most important for you?
The key type or the rest of the product…

/M

rdavis2 - 30 August 2010 08:33 PM

However it is large and hard to get around to gigs.

Exactly the reason I’m looking for a Fantom G7 next to my XS8. Smaller and lighter than that XS8. The reason I’m not buying an XS7 or XF7 is I don’t want to have two identical synths. I’d go for the XS/F 7. And you’ve got all flexibilities of a Motif workstation, which you don’t have when You choose the S70XS.

I own an S-70XS and I would advise you to go to a store and play it and study the LCD display and the changes they made in the way you find and choose sounds. You can’t view banks of 16 sounds at a time before choosing a new sound as you could in previous models.
There has been enough written about the S-6 piano sample so I won’t go there.
Good luck whatever you decide.

The S70xs is junk.  I got caught up in all the hype and bought one only to be very disappointed. It took me forever to sell it and I lost $500 on the deal. I’m stayin with my S90es. I think Yamaha has lost touch with what a good keyboard is all about.

If you’re concerned about weight, the Nord Stage is an amazing board. The 76 and 88 note boards are 36 and 41 pounds and have a great medium weighted action.  Their compact is only about 20 pounds (semi-weighted) with 73? keys.

I own the XS7, M3 and Nord Stage 88.  The XS7 is going to be sold, after playing the Nord I have no satisfaction from the XS7.  The M3 gives me dynamic punch and sparkle, and the XS7 was more for the bread and butter- unexciting to my ears, but OK.  But after having the Nord Stage for a few months, the XS seems lackluster- there’s no excitement between my fingers and the sound. 

Not sure if this is partly because the Nord is a weighted board, all I know is I dig into a sound with my velocity or aftertouch and there’s a very satisfying response and expressiveness. The sounds and fx are freakin’ BEAUTIFUL.  And the thing is inspiring in its simplicity and capability- i particularly love to set up a big complex 6 part sound and then save it as a 1 part sound, bringing in the other parts as needed.

I do love a lot of the sounds on the M3, but the Nord is my go to board for everyday practicing and is the first board I reach for for gigs.  I find its simplicity very helpful: I spend most of my time playing, not learning the board or programming it.  Great in a live setting.

If you really look at the S70xs it is a lot bigger and bulky than you might think.  If you need a smaller size then go for the XS7 or XF7 and benefit from the new sounds.  Just my two cents.

Robo,

I own the XS7 and recently picked up the S70XS as well. Unlike minx, I love it. It really depends on what you need though. For me, it was a HUGE improvement stepping up from unweighted keys to balanced hammer. Also, the XS7 is a bit overkill for me because I don’t use the sequencer or sampler. All I needed was something for live stage and the S70XS really fit the bill. I love the performance creator because I use performances primarily for layers and splits. Unlike the XS7, the S70XS can automatically copy master FX/EQ settings to the performance. It also sets up the volumes correctly (it took me FOREVER to figure that one out on the XS7) so you get an EXACT copy of the first voice in your performance. Great when you are just trying to layer a pad or something behind your primary piano sound.

The s70xs was added to my yamaha collection it’s has the rich s6 piano I’m keeping mine!!! Different strokes for diifrent folks the hammer action is great!!!  It feels like the real thing. Love my xs6, xf8, and s70xs nothing out there is better..........................