Hands
down the best synth work station is the Yamaha MM6, amazing sound, and a great
sequencer; this is the one I recommend as the top cheap workstation. I will give the descriptions on
it and what the specs and things are, as well as a pitcher.
The
Yamaha is so good because it has the sound engine of its expensive brother the MOTIF,
the same sound set, more limited; it is like a MOTIF lit.
Think
you have to lay down tons of cash for a great sounding synthesizer? Think
you'll need to take a college level course to understand how to use a
sequencer? Think professional keyboards have to weigh a ton? Think again! The
Yamaha MM6 is a lightweight, easy to learn performance synthesizer that derives
its many voices from the legendary MOTIF workstation. It sounds like a million
bucks, but you won't have to win the lotto to get one!
Portability
Made For Gigging
Unless
you've got an army of dedicated roadies, it's just not convenient to lug a
massive workstation keyboard around to gigs. The Yamaha MM6 solves this problem
by incorporating hundreds of great MOTIF-derived sounds into a compact, 61-key
keyboard that weighs less than twelve pounds. The mod and pitch wheels are
positioned above the bass-end keys for a shorter length than even most 61-key
synths. To save on weight, the keys themselves are not weighted, but they still
feature velocity sensitivity for expressive playing dynamics; the MM6 is a
totally pro performance keyboard that won't wreak havoc on your back.
Sound Set Straight From The MOTIF
418
voices and 22 drum kits have been taken directly from the MOTIF and installed
in the Yamaha MM6. You get thick synthesizer sounds, fat drum tones, amazing
acoustic instruments, and of course, that signature Yamaha digital grand piano
sound. The MM6 arranges all these sounds by category, so you can find the one
you need quick and easy, even in the middle of a live set. Tweaking those
sounds is also easy--and fun--with the Yamaha MM6's real-time control knobs. In
addition to the pitch and mod wheels, you get access to parameters like attack,
resonance, filter cutoff and release. Just like on the MOTIF and other
workstation keyboards, the Yamaha MM6 comes with a big selection of backing
rhythmic patterns in styles like hip-hop, jazz, rock and dance, which is great
for instant accompaniment or as inspiration for your own grooves. One of the
standout features of the MOTIF is its sophisticated arpeggiator, and the MM6
boasts 213 patterns taken directly from its big brother. Arpeggio patterns lock
in with your rhythmic pattern to create intricate musical counterpoints, all
triggered by playing a simple chord. You'll be able to instantly realize
complex musical ideas, even in the middle of a live performance.
Sequencer
To Fuel Your Creative Fire
With
a built-in, eight track sequencer, the Yamaha MM6 is also a great tool for
inspiring your inner producer. The amazing sounds, patterns and arpeggiator
on the MM6 are sure to catalyze your creative engines, and the sequencer makes
it easy to record all your freshest compositions. Your sequences are stored in
the universal MIDI file format, which can easily be transferred to your computer thanks to
the inclusion of a USB connection on the back of the keyboards. From there, you
can expound on your musical ideas by importing the MIDI files into Cubase LE,
the powerful computer audio editing software that just so happens to ship with
your new Yamaha MM6 synthesizer. Like everything else on the MM6, the sequencer
is simple to learn and operate.
You've
coveted the lush sounds of the MOTIF from afar for long enough. The Yamaha MM6
puts powerful Yamaha synthesis and sequencing for stage and studio well within
the reach of any musician.
Cost
700.00 Zzsound has them for under 450.00 slight blemish , so what , that
is an unreal price.
What
the MFG says about it next.
Overview
Warranties and Docs Yamaha's Description Customer Reviews
Product
Description
The
Yamaha MM6 Music Synthesizer delivers all that power and more. Drawing on the
same sounds of the popular pro-level MOTIF series instruments, the MM6 has a
wide variety of dynamic, realistic and just plain powerful Voices to help you
create amazing music. The MM6 also gives you total control over your sound,
with real-time tweakable knobs, and features special Patterns that provide full
backing -- drums, bass and chords -- for your live performance and song
creation. And since the MM6 is exceptionally light and portable, you can bring
it anywhere and everywhere your music takes you.
Play
-- Sounds from the Legendary Motif
That's
the first and most important thing you look -- and listen -- for in a
synthesizer. Rest assured, this synthesizer delivers. The MM6 has 418 Voices
and 22 Drum Kits on board, based on the sounds of the famed pro-level MOTIF
series synthesizers. These exceptionally high-quality sounds range from
authentic and natural acoustic instruments to wild, unique and in-your-face
synth Voices. An extra set of GM Voices (128 Normal, 1 Drum Kit) is built into
the instrument as well, giving you all you need to play back songs recorded in
that popular format.
So
many Voices, so little time... That's why Yamaha also included a convenient
Category Search function. Just select the type of instrument you want to play
-- organ, guitar, synth lead, strings, whatever -- then select the specific
Voice. All your favorite sounds are right at your fingertips.
Tweak
-- Your Sounds the Way You Want!
Take
control. Twist some knobs and tweak the sound. Make it sing and make it scream.
The MM6 puts some serious control in your hands. Change the filter cutoff and
resonance settings as well as the EG attack and release with the four knobs -
in real time as you play.
Jam
-- Patterns to Groove On
The
MM6 has a full set of Patterns that give you rhythmic backing in a wide variety
of music styles -- including Hip Hop, Rap, R&B, Dance, Ambient, Pop, Rock,
Jazz and even World styles. These Patterns are just what you need to shake up
the dance floor. All dynamic, all powerful - the MM6 gives you the real thing.
Patterns that stay in the groove, but never sound mechanical. Drum loops with a
truly human feel that dance and float around the beat, yet remain firmly in the
pocket. Riffs and licks that get you inspired, get you moving, and get you
creating some serious music.
Arpeggiate
Yourself
Generate
some excitement. The powerful Arpeggiator feature lets you automatically create
repeating rhythmic phrases and note patterns. A full 213 Arpeggiator types are
built in, letting you trigger a variety of musically useful and exciting
patterns to get the house jumping. Many of these Arpeggiator types use synth
lead, piano and guitar Voices to generate melodic and broken chord patterns
based on the chords you play with your left hand. Bass arpeggios and Drum Voice
rhythm loops are also included, letting you easily set up dynamic riffs and
beats to jam over.
Create
-- Your Music, Your Way
When
you play live, you want to be able to make sound changes quickly -- not just
between songs, but in the middle of a song too. The Performance Memory feature
is just the tool you need to smoothly switch gears and take things up a notch
or two. Each Performance can store combined settings for the Voices you want to
use (including special keyboard splits and layers), the Patterns you want as
backing tracks, and any other crucial settings for your live work. Then, simply
call up each Performance by pressing a single button.
Save
and Swap
Share
the wealth. With the rear panel USB connection, the MM6 makes it easier than
ever before to transfer your valuable data between devices. Plug in a USB thumb
drive or memory stick and store the important MIDI songs, Pattern files,
Performance settings and all other data you've created, and then bring it to a
computer for archiving and organizing. You can also save your recorded songs in
the universal SMF (Standard MIDI File) format, then transfer and use those
on any another SMF-compatible device, including computers running MIDI music sequencing
software.
Cubase
LE
The
MM6 is all about making music. And since much of today's music is being made on
computers, the MM6 is built to fit right into any computer music system. Just
connect the USB To Host terminal on the instrument to your computer with a
standard USB cable, and you've got the makings of a sophisticated recording
setup. And just to make sure you get a head start, Yamaha included a free copy
of Cubase LE -- a full-featured music production software that has all you need
to record your performance data from the MM6 via MIDI (and even use plug-in
synthesizers in the software), edit the data, process the sounds with effects,
arrange it in multiple tracks and perform final mix down.
Cubase
lite is a good sequencer, but limited, also cubase the full version, will take
a while to learn, I am not a fan of this sequencer PC software a tad
complicated , but solid software, some may love it, I do not.
The
Second Casio, I kid you not this one is simply fantastic 699.00 actually 700.00
the one above is 699.00 hence the post best for under 700.00 true by a penny
LOL. So, 700.00 These two have built in sequencers, that is what makes them
stand alone workstations. There are a few synths in the 700.00 range that may
sound better like Korgs but this and the one above have so much and Casio is
hard to believe, this is a must have as my second choice out of all 700.00
workstations, Casio has come a long way, this synth has a totally new sound
engine, not the Casios of old. The difference between the two is this, Casio is
for the analog sound, I mean heavy bottom end analog.
Sounds
of old can be made with the one, the top favorite has a better sequencer and
more usable sounds, and not a true analog emulator like the Casio, that is the
difference, what sound do you want. For song writers The Yamaha is what you
want, for a retro sound, Casio and more limited sequencer.
Casio
has one around the same price range that is for DJ style music and wow, it is
what it claims, if that is what your looking for and into, the Casio like the
one shown is all about live, and DJ
usage, it also records fantastic.
Product
Description
The Casio XW-P1 is a 61 key performance synthesizer with Casio's exclusive (HPSS) Hybrid
Processing Sound Source. Providing screaming virtual analog monophonic leads
and basses, draw-bar organs, complex layers, stereo pianos, drums and more, the
XW-P1 has the sounds and real-time control the performing musician needs.
Features:
- 6 Oscillator Monophonic Solo Synthesizer
-
HexLayer - A single sound made up of 6 components for gig ready splits and
layers
-
Drawbar Organ Mode with 9 sliders, adjustable rotary speaker, key click,
vibrato and percussion
-
400 fully editable PCM based sounds like stereo pianos, vintage electric
pianos, strings, guitars, drums and more.
-
Step Sequencer with 9 instrument tracks and 4 controller tracks
-
16 step programmable Arpeggiator
-
Phrase sequencer to record and playback your riffs
-
Performance mode providing 4 internal or external instrument zones with instant
recall of effects, Step Sequences, Arpeggiators and Phrases
-
4 real-time controller knobs
-
Pitch and Modulation Wheels
-
1/4 in. Mic and Line puts to process your voice or other instruments
-
Stereo 1/8 in. line input to connect an MP3 player, laptop or tablet
-
USB and MIDI ports
-
1/4" Line Output
-
Included Power Supply
-
Can operate on 6 D batteries
Specs
Overview
Specs Warranties and Docs Customer Reviews
Specifications
-
Number of Keys: 61
-
Controllers:
--
Pitch Wheel
--
Modulation Wheel
-
Assignable Controllers: Controllers; 4 Knobs
-
Assignable Functions: MIDI Messages (CC, RPN, NRPN, Mono After touch,
Poly After touch, Pitch, Tempo)
-
Editing Controllers: 9 Sliders
-
Display: LCD; 72x31 Dot Matrix + Patterns, with Back light and Contrast
-
Tone Generator: Overview; Sound Generator Type; HPSS(Hybrid Processing Sound
Source)
-
Polyphony: 64
-
Number of Parts: 16
-
Total Number of Tones (Preset/User) : 620/310
-
PCM, Melody, PCM Drum, Drawbar Organ, Hex Layer, Solo Synthesizer
-
GM Compatible: Level 1
-
Mixer: Yes
-
Tuning: A4=415.5Hz - 440.0Hz - 465.9Hz (0.1Hz-Step)
-
PCM Tones: Preset/User Tones; 400/100
-
Tri-Element Stereo Piano: Yes
-
Tones with User Wave: N/A
-
Drum Kits (Preset/User) : 20/10
-
Hex Layer: Number of Tones (Preset/User); 50/50
-
Drawbar Organ: Number of Tones (Preset/User); 50/50
-
Solo Synthesizer: Preset/User Tones; 100/100
-
Maximum Polyphony: 1
-
Oscillator Blocks: 6 (Synth 1/2, PCM1/2, Ext Input, Noise)
-
Portamento: Yes
-
Legato: Yes
-
PWM: Yes
-
External Input: Yes
-
Pitch Shifter: Yes
-
Noise Generator: Yes
-
Non-Resonant Filter: Yes (6)
-
Resonant Filter: Yes (1)
-
Amplifier: Yes
-
Oscillator Mixer: Yes
-
LFO: Yes (2)
-
Envelope Generators: Pitch, Amp, Filter, LFO
-
Assignable Virtual Controllers: 8
-
Effects: System Reverb; Preset Types; 10
-
System Chorus: Preset Types; 5
-
Limitations: System Chorus, DSP and Solo Synthesizer are mutually exclusive
-
Master Effect: EQ; Editable 4 Band EQ
-
DSP: Number of DSP Sets (Preset/User); 100/100
-
PCM Tone Effect Categories: Compressor, Distortion, Enhancer, Wah, Auto Pan,
Tremolo, Rotary, Phaser, Chorus, Reflection, Tempo Sync Delay , Ring Modulator,
LoFi, 2-Module Multi
-
Solo Synth DSP: Tempo Sync Delay, Distortion, Ring Modulator, Chorus, Flanger,
Pan
-
Algorithm Types: 46(Normal Tone DSP) 6(Solo Synthesizer DSP)
-
DSP Lines: 1
-
Audio Player: Storage Type; SD Card
-
Number of Songs: 999
-
Audio File Format: 42kHz Stereo
-
Limitation: Audio Playing, Musical Playing(SMF, Step Sequencer) are mutually
exclusive.
-
Step Sequencer: Number of Tracks; Mono x 8, Poly x 1, Control x 4
-
Number of Patterns / Step Sequence: 8
-
Number of Step Sequencers (Preset/User) : 100/100
-
Number of Chains (user) : 100
-
Maximum Number of Steps: 16
-
Key Play: Yes
-
Other: Note Gate, Note Swing per Track
-
Phrase Sequencer: Number of Phrases; 100/100
-
Number of Tracks: 1
-
Play Mode: Loop, Hold, Key Play
-
Capacity: 8KBytes/Pgrase, 128KBytes/100 User Phrases
-
Recordable Events: Note On/Off, Controller Operations
-
Arpeggiator: Other; Phrase measure and note quantize, overdub
-
Number of Patterns (Preset/User) : 100/100
-
Data Types: Variation, Step
-
Editing Function: Variation ; Parameter Edit
-
Step: 16-Step Edit, Parameter Edit
-
Performance: Number of Memories (Preset/User); 100/100
-
Parameter Categories: Tone, Effect, Mixer, Controller, Sequence, Phrase,
Arpeggio, MIDI
-
Recall Parameter Filter: Yes
-
Number of Keyboard Zones: 4
-
Multifunction Key: Yes
-
Transpose: Range; +/- 12
-
Octave Shift: Range; +/- 3
-
Tempo: Range; 30-255BPM
-
Tap Tempo: Button/LED; Yes
-
MIDI Clock: Transmit/Receive;
Yes
-
Storage: SDHC Card; Capacity; 2GB-32GB
Dimensions
and Weight in Packaging
Shipping
Weight: 19 lbs
Shipping
Dimensions: 40 x 18 x 6 in
I found this
Keyboards to be very, very fun to play, a lot of user things to tweak and
play with it is a blast to tweak if you like that.
What
else could you ask for in a workstation, esp at 700.00. The sound of the Yamaha
I like best, and it is why it is the best for the price, I have read everywhere
and all agree this is the number one musician reviewed workstation for the
money, I agree with the rest. When I first heard it I loved the sound, amazing,
the Casio's features and sound are right up there, so these are the two I
recommend as your low cost, go to, gigging pro home studio keyboards that sound
great and do it all.
These
will allow you to make pro recordings for pennies on the dollar.