Late to the Dance

[SoundofJoy]

So were was I when the Yamaha MOX 6/8 came out. That's right I rushed and bought the S70 XS in March. Ok, I saw the youtube link by Yellowchops so I went to Sam Ash and Guitar Center to see and try both the MOX 6 and 8. No MOX 6 but both have the 8. Now I want to get one for gigging . My S70 XS was to replace an aging Ensoniq ( just started recently to fail when powering up) but it weighs 48 lbs and my carry case for Ensoniq KT-76 is too small? Well after sitting to the MOX 8 I'm in another delima, I love the weighted keys but the board weighs 30 lbs (I'm not getting getting any younger). Does anyone here have the MOX 6 who can tell me how to the leys really feel? I know it's not the same as the 8 but I'd like to know what you think after the purcahase.

Sam

[under13]

Theres a video of Jamal Hartwell playing it, and he says that the keys feel cheap. I'm sure its on his youtube channel

[berbie]

I had a MOX6 for nearly a month and sent it back because it hurt my fingers to play it.  I wasn't able to figure out why.  I have the same problem somewhat with my XS, but I was switching back and forth with a Roland Fantom so it wasn't a problem.  I sold the Fantom and bought the MOX6 and was playing all Yamaha.  My fingers and hands became terribly sore. Other than that it was a great board. The keybed in feel was a slightly cheaper version of the Motif XS6-7. Enough alike to feel familiar. The sounds you know about.   It is light as a feather.  It is made of plastic but feels substantial with solid knobs, etc.   Addressing the sounds, though, it sounds almost like the Motif XS but not exactly.  The difference I couldn't actually describe, but to me it was there. I would certainly have kept it were it not for the finger pain. I could have my cake and eat it too as I could transport it so easily and it was basically a Yamaha XS(scaled down). I was working with practically the same os all the time. I sent it back and got another Roland to switch off with and the finger pain is gone.  It is certainly worth a look and apparently, few experience the pain that I did.

[floaded27]

interested to hear what the significant different was between the Roland and the Yamaha to cause such finger pain?

[berbie]

I couldn't figure it out, Floaded. I tried changing the vel. res. I moved, raised and lowered my stool, I checked my fingering and my distance from the stool to the piano.  I compared the feel of the Yamahas to Rolands and Korgs as to key resistance and the difference seemed negligable.  I tried everything.  The Yamahas just cause me finger pain.  The ones that I have had did have semi-weighted keys as opposed to the synth action Rolands and Korgs, but as I said, the level of resistance seemed almost the same.  I have owned Rolands, Korgs, Nords, Yamahas and Casios of every stripe, but the only ones that cause me to have finger pain are the Yamahas.  It wasn't a problem in the past as I always had two or three boards of different kinds and I switched off between them.  The XS hurt my fingers some, but not enough to be a major problem. I decided to go all Yamaha and bought the MOX 6. It was exactly what I needed.  A light Motif XS.  And I was workimg with the same os all the time.  But the pain started and radiated all the way up into my arms. I tried to play it out, but was unsuccessful.  I let the MOX6 go and got a Roland Juno gi. Finger pain gone.  I don't have a clue as to why.

[berbie]

Sound, I would like to know what you think of the MOX6 when you try one, and how it compares to the Yamaha that you purchased.

[SoundofJoy]

I haven't found a dealer around me who has one yet. Leaning towards getting one because of the weight. I have the Caisio Priva 300 and could midi to it for a real piano feel. I really want it for when go to church, the S70 wore me out carring up from basement, to car, to inside church then back. There's no case that fits it and it weighs 48 lbs already.

[SoundofJoy]

I found a Guitar Center 50 miles from home today that has both MOX 6 and 8 togther. I used to playing so many keyboards the MOX 6 felt really good as I played the same songs on both keyboard to see how the sound came through the speakers. Of course if I was doing strickly piano I would want the MOX 8 but playing with the bass/piano splits I found having 61 keys not a issue for the sound I wanted and my fingers fly over the keys without  hesistation. I love the fact that the board has the weight of a toy in my hands but the sound of my S70 XS. I've decided I need to have a gigging board for small engagements and anything with YAMAHA on it commands respect . Vidoes to follow once I've received another musical membere to my family of board. I retired the 13 year old Ensoniq to the basement closet last week. It sells for 1199.00 but Kraft Music sells it with a keyboard case, stand and a 4 gig usb for 1201.00 . Can't beat that........

[berbie]

I look forward to seeing them Sound, and hope that you really enjoy  the new board. 

[SoundofJoy]

I received the MOX 6 and recorded some videos I have to edit. My impressions so far:

1. Light board
2. Keys are good to the touch if you don't try of over play them. That is to feel it will play louder if you hit the keys rather than play them. I also bought a very good powered amp that really delivers the boom on the low bass tones.
3. Tones will be the issue since you can use the pre-programmed tones or create your own. I'll be experimenting since I like heavier sounding tones since I play a lot of bass notes.

More to come as I learn the track programing and attaching a laptop to create sessions. I have the Cubase AI software from my S70 loaded on my desktop pc so I'm looking to maybe getting a mac air for my poratable studio to load the Cubase sent with this board. Cubase allows me to go into the keyboard and change parameters in the board.

Videos to come later today and perhaps a UStream shed since I'm on vacation........

[SoundofJoy]

Sam's Summer Shed 2011 "Yamaha MOX 6 Review"

[SoundofJoy]

Sam's Summer Shed "Yamaha MOX 6 Review" part two

[berbie]

Sound, of the performances, what do you think of "Blues Spell"(at 100 bpm), "Organ Cruise", "Smooth it Over", "Hold on a Minute" and "Organ Jam"? I use them mostly in my music room, although I will use one occasionally when I play out.  I don't know what the numbers are on the MOX, but they are on there.  I would really like an expert opinion on their use for basic 1-4-5 songs.

[SoundofJoy]

I briefly went through most of the modes. I'll have to get feel of them based on their names during the week since I'm on vacation. I'll post what I think about them later this week.

[berbie]

Thanks,  have a great day.

[SoundofJoy]

Yamaha MOX 6 update...

Yamaha MOX 6 update