Yamaha P120 as a module controler?

Hi. I've used the search function and have seen where a couple of people are using the P120 as a controler for a module synth but I do not see any comments on how well this works. I mostly play guitar and bass but learned music on a piano and still come back to it from time to time. I have a P120 but would like some additional voices. In a perfect world I would just by a S90ES but I don't have the money. I stumbled across a rack synth on sale the other day and have been doing research on them as it seems like a reasonable alternative to buying a whole new keyboard (it is smaller and cheaper!). I was looking at either a Motif rack or Motif ES rack but am wondering how well my P120 will work with either of these. Can it do enough to use it as a controler for one of these? What things am I giving up by not using a better keyboard/controler? I expect I will not use a lot of the module functions and am really looking at only using the built in voices with very little tweaking. It might see a few live performances but it is more for studio/creative use and jammin' with the guys (when we have 7 guitarists and 2 bassists show up). Thanks for the help.

it will work, but the P120 (and most Yamaha pianos it seems) sends a limited velocity over MIDI. So if you want to just layer pads and stuff you will be fine, if you want to play pianos, epianos and so on you might want to try it out first... some people notice it some don't...

I tried controlling a Motif from a P120 once and it just didn't feel right. I'm not sure how to explain it but for one reason or another, I wasn't happy and that midi cable wasn't connected very long.

It will work in a basic, rudimentary way, but you won't have the ability to do much with program changes and you won't have pitch/mod wheels or any other kind of assignable knobs/faders for controlling the module. You would need to have the rack within easy reach - not such a feasible thing to do when on the gig. If it were me, I'd look for a solution that integrates both. For home studio purposes, it would probably be ok to do P120 + rack module.

I used to have a TON of modules in my rack and can say that for this purpose I found the ultimate controller to be the Alesis QS8...

99% of the time you can pick any preset on the module by clicking only 2 buttons in very close proximity...

But just a heads up, most people absolutely LOATHE the QS8...

It's not a bad instrument, but you have to really like that action.... and I don't. Alesis 88's are in my opinion, not good. But I like the heavy ones best

I personally do but I definitely couldn't speak for most- Dave Bryce has used one for years and if it's good enough for him... I saw alot of people switch over from Roland, Korg stuff etc to Alesis "Q" -series- because it was less expensive- and IMO their sound badly suffered. I had a QS6 and hated it- but build quality and key action was decent and it was a good controller. The programming also was very inventive- I give DB credit for that.

I have been using a P120 to control an Electro rack for a couple years and it works fine for that, because the Nord is tabletop anyway and fits on the top the P120 where I can reach it.

Thanks for the comments. I think I will go ahead and use the P120 now with the thought of looking into a dedicated controler at a later point.