Keys, Synths & Samplers

[akliner]

To be fair, however, sir...both the MM6 and the X50 are enjoy reputations as being not-very-well built. Therefore, Mr. Hefner's point is a valid one.

Keyboards are much heavier guitars and, generally, the heavier the keyboard is the better-built it is. The better-built it is, the nicer the sound quality (generally).

If you're looking for a low-weight situation, I'd look at a Motif or Fantom rack and a Midi Controller.

As somebody with considerable resources (which I gather from your lengthy guitar gear list) it is surprising you are looking to these entry-level feature-compromised keyboards as replacements to a Motif.

[Cygnus64]

To be fair, however, sir...both the MM6 and the X50 are enjoy reputations as being not-very-well built.

I am not sure if thats true. They have reputations of being inexpensively built with plastic, thats not quite the same as being poorly built. Sure, they aint tanks, but I see nothing on them that is wrong. Just cheap.

I would be curious to hear real-world scenarios. Do they actually fall apart?? Ive been dealing with rare string instruments for 35 years, so I know how to be uber-careful when handling musical instruments. The X50 in particular feels solid (for what it is). The mm6 feels like a kid's hollow surfboard.

[Anonymous(anon)]

Well - not all of us can call ourselves god of the keys or son of hu so I probably would not have taken quite as much of a condescending position, but to a degree that is the point.

Did you have any input to actually help the question or was your entire response strictly self serving?

Look who's calling who sensitive troll. I don't have to show my gear list to feel confident about what I bought and I damn sure don't ask anybody what and if I should buy something. I have no problem helping people but your second post was lame.

:wave:

[akliner]

I am not sure if thats true. They have reputations of being inexpensively built with plastic, thats not quite the same as being poorly built. Sure, they aint tanks, but I see nothing on them that is wrong. Just cheap.

I would be curious to hear real-world scenarios. Do they actually fall apart?? Ive been dealing with rare string instruments for 35 years, so I know how to be uber-careful when handling musical instruments. The X50 in particular feels solid (for what it is). The mm6 feels like a kid's hollow surfboard.

I didn't say poorly-built...I said not well-built.

He wants a gigging keyboard...I would think that as a gigging musician he would know that you don't want something not well-built on tour with you.

[mcsdude]

you don't want something not well-built on tour with you.

Hehe - maybe I need to define what I mean by "gigging". We don't tour. We play a dozen different bars and clubs in the area on a somewhat regular basis so it's not like we're getting 15 hours from home and playing to 10,000 person audiences. I probably also should have explained that the extent of our use of keys is the occasional horn sounds from a cake tune or short intro to a Evanescence tune. We're really a guitar rock band that keeps a set of keys off to the side to use for very occasional salt and pepper to a song. Perhaps that would help offer insight as to why my requirements for such a piece of equipment are so modest.

[sizzlemeister]

If that's the case and you're not too picky about the sounds then you're much better off getting a PSR or some Casio on the cheap. A disposable keyboard, if you will. Those mid-range keyboards are absolutely not worth the coin IMHO. Usually when a person is looking for a workstation it's to be the "center" of their rig. And for that you need something you can count on at all times.

Actually, for your puposes I humbly suggest a Roland JV80 or a Roland XP30. Both would be PERFECT, sound great, are inexpensive for what you get ($250 for the JV, about $450 for the XP), and will suffer through any circumstance you can put it through without fail.

[Darkstorm]

The Korgs better for electronica, ambient stuff, soundscapes, pure synth stuff. The Yamahas more a bread and butter ("real") instruments oriented keyboard. I'd say choose based on which better fits main type sounds you wanna do with synth. Keybed on the Korg is imo overeall good synth action one. Not the best, not the worst. Certainly useable enough.

[Cygnus64]

I didn't say poorly-built...I said not well-built.

.

Sorry Alkliner, my mistake.

He wants a gigging keyboard...I would think that as a gigging musician he would know that you don't want something not well-built on tour with you.

I try on these boards to somehow answer the questions that are asked. Sometimes it is harder than others. Too many times on boards like these, one hears " that product sucks, get the $4000000 version".

With that in mind, lets go back to the top:

I'm looking at getting a slightly more portable, less complex set of keys to haul around to gigs (our keys needs are very limited and basic) so I don't have to keep hauling and banging up my motif and want to get some input from you on the X50 vs the MM6.

Like it or not, that IS his question. Since both keyboards are sitting in the room with me, I can only say what I have already said. Both are good SOUNDING keyboards, and it has been pointed out in this thread the strengths and weaknesses of both. The X50 is much more portable because it is smaller, has handles and is more compact. The mm6 is "less complex", it is larger and bulkier yet incredibly light. The X50 doesnt particularly FEEL plastic, the mm6 does, it feels like a hollow plastic surfboard.

[Son of HuHefner]

. I am amazed at the tight asses here who used the opportunity to showcase their arrogance or insecurities. What painful existances you must live.

It must take someone who is horrifically insecure in their own skin to feel the need to do that.

hmm, ok

what did you say or do the last time a woman slapped you ?

[Anonymous(anon)]

What's funny is I'm also a guitar/bass/keys player and even I get tired of the ignorance and arrogance of some guitar players.

Read sig!!!



IMO. The Yamaha MM6 has more modern synth sounds in it since the X50 is based on most of the old school Triton sounds. If you went to stores and researched keyboards like you have guitars, unless you just ordered all of your sig stuff online, you would have come to this forum with a little more knowledge and less attitude.

:wave:

[rovito]

Some of us come to this forum to get information. Valid opinions are a source of reference. Some of us do not have a Guitar Center to go to and try out the latest and greatest gear. We need to ask others who might have more experience. I use mail order a lot and would rather not have to return a bunch of junk because no one could take the time to give me a simple, honest opinion. For what its worth. I have an X50. I use it for about the same thing you do. With a little care it is not a bad little keyboard. I gig about 125 nights a year and have not had any problems with this so far.

[wheresgrant3]

Well - not all of us can call ourselves god of the keys or son of hu so I probably would not have taken quite as much of a condescending position, but to a degree that is the point.

Did you have any input to actually help the question or was your entire response strictly self serving?

Dude... . He brings up a perfectly valid point. Neither board is built with the rigors of gigging in mind. 3 years ago I bought a Triton Le (just as cheaply made) and quickly regretted the decision. Over the years keys went dead, control buttons ceased to function... it stopped writing to memory.

Let me put it this way... the same applies to cheap guitars. Would you expect a Squire with stock hardware to hold up to the rigors of the road?

You already own a Motif so you know what something that has a solid build quality feels like. It's up to you if you want to buy something new that will end up being completely disposable over time.


+1 on the XP30 or XP80 suggestion... $250-$450 and you'll have all the sounds you want in a very reliable package!

[steviedj]

Hi - to the experienced among you in this discussion - I would be grateful for your help on a question.

I generally play a piano voice overlaid with either an electric piano or some kind of gushy, warm / ooey pad, for my purposes.

Re these 2 keyboards, which one would be simpler, please, to use in terms of layering sounds, saving them as a new 'voice', and then having simple access to it at the touch of a button?

I appreciate the comparitive comments so far on these 2 keyboards. Authentic piano sounds matter to me but I love the pads on the Triton (which I can't afford.)

Thanks for any comments.:wave:

[jskpongoui]

A buddy of mine has the mm6, and I have played it before.

It feels cheaply made, and in MY OPINION the sounds are a little tacky sounding.

maybe it's just me...

bottom line- if it were me I'd go with the X50- but it's really YOUR DECISION in the end

[Fuzzball24]

Some of you people on this forum are just stupid.

Jesus Christ, he can't afford or doesn't want to spend $3000 on a keyboard doesn't mean you guys can't help him.

I swear to God, it's so cliché with you people. If someone is a guitar player looking for a keyboard, you guys attack him and won't help him. How much predictable can you old farts on this forum get? At least get some originality.

And of course, you have to call everything a plastic piece of crap. It's plastic. So? If you're seriously more worried about what your keyboard is made out of instead of what it sounds like, stop playing keyboards. Something plastic can hold up on gigs. You can't just throw it around like it's nothing. I can't see POSSIBLY how it could break unless you're just plain stupid.

But according to most synth snobs on here, you must own a Moog modular and Virus because those are the things for the coolest, biggest and fattest 50 year old nerds on here.

Ridiculous.

This doesn't apply to all of you here, but a big portion.

[Stabby]

True. My cousin has gigged hundreds of times with his X50 and it's still in perfect condition. Heck, remember the cheaply made Nintendo DS Phat? Some people climbed the Everest with 4 systems and they all survived while most other electronics broke down.

[pink floyd cra…]

FWIW I have been gigging with an MM6 since April. I'm sending it back because the LED has failed to light on 2 occasions. Can't afford that shit on a gig.

It has some decent sounds (although a little thin to my ears) but to use it live I max out the volume on the bank of patches I use (VERY low output) and also set the accompaniment volume to "0" to prevent accidental wonka-wonka rap rhythms being triggered in the middle of a song (that's good for a laugh- the FIRST time). Also, the banjo sucks. And be sure to anchor it somehow on your stand- the first gliss you do will send it flying across the stage.

[Cygnus64]

FWIW I have been gigging with an MM6 since April. I'm sending it back because the LED has failed to light on 2 occasions.

Hmmm, I've had that too. Half the screen is white. It goes away after a minute.:confused:

[RichF]

IMO. The Yamaha MM6 has more modern synth sounds in it since the X50 is based on most of the old school Triton sounds.

Hi guys, just a quick clarification.

The X50 does use the same HI-synthesis engine as the Triton family, and it includes the entire 32mb Triton ROM with lots of familiar Programs and Combis, it also has 32mb of newer ROM samples, including some samples from the OASYS (pianos, EPs, etc).

Regarding the build, the X50 was certainly designed to be a reliable gigging instrument. Take another look at those metal handles... They're not only convenient, they add rigidity and strength to the X50, and prevent the case from flexing unnecessarily.

Hope this helps!

[akliner]

Some of you people on this forum are just stupid.

Jesus Christ, he can't afford or doesn't want to spend $3000 on a keyboard doesn't mean you guys can't help him.

I swear to God, it's so cliché with you people. If someone is a guitar player looking for a keyboard, you guys attack him and won't help him. How much predictable can you old farts on this forum get? At least get some originality.

And of course, you have to call everything a plastic piece of crap. It's plastic. So? If you're seriously more worried about what your keyboard is made out of instead of what it sounds like, stop playing keyboards. Something plastic can hold up on gigs. You can't just throw it around like it's nothing. I can't see POSSIBLY how it could break unless you're just plain stupid.

But according to most synth snobs on here, you must own a Moog modular and Virus because those are the things for the coolest, biggest and fattest 50 year old nerds on here.

Ridiculous.

This doesn't apply to all of you here, but a big portion.

:rolleyes:

Similarly cliched and predictable are people who come into a forum, rant about the snobbishness of the members, and still not provide an answer or opinion on the original topic. Well done.

Though this thread is VERY OLD, I would say X50.

Still stand by my MO6 statement, though. :thu: