#1940597 - 05/11/08 08:50 AM
Yamaha motif xs versus Roland fantom g8
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acdc
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Registered: 05/10/08
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Which is better? I want something with realistic guitar and drum sounds as well as good piano tunes so I can compile a complete song together. Also, is it worth springing the extra $1000 instead of just getting a S90 ES?
Thanks.
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#1940607 - 05/11/08 09:03 AM
Re: Yamaha motif xs versus Roland fantom g8
[Re: acdc]
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delirium
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Registered: 06/09/05
Posts: 2700
Loc: Earth, NJ
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Which is better? Motif XS all the way in every department.
_________________________
♫♫♫ motif XS, S90ES
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#1940676 - 05/11/08 12:08 PM
Re: Yamaha motif xs versus Roland fantom g8
[Re: delirium]
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Aidan
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Registered: 08/11/06
Posts: 310
Loc: Stoke-on-Trent, United Kingdom
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Only you can say which is better for you. I own the XS and didn't much care for the Fantom X, the G's predecessor. But both are highly complex pieces of equipment with incredible depth. The only real answer is to spend as much time as you can with both.
The G is not yet too widespread because of its youth - there are, however, quite a few "how to" YouTube videos featuring the XS which should at least give you some idea of what that machine is capable of. The Motif has an active community of users which has its own forum at motifator.com, though opinions there are hardly unbiased.
Bottom line? They're both great machines. It's not very helpful, but I'm afraid it does come down to personal preference.
_________________________
Roland RD-700GX, Yamaha Motif XS7
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#1940680 - 05/11/08 12:10 PM
Re: Yamaha motif xs versus Roland fantom g8
[Re: acdc]
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xmlguy
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Registered: 12/29/07
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Which is better? I want something with realistic guitar and drum sounds as well as good piano tunes so I can compile a complete song together. Also, is it worth springing the extra $1000 instead of just getting a S90 ES?
There is no substitute for playing different keyboards for yourself to determine whether it's worth paying more for one or or another. You might need an XS8. Perhaps you only need a Previa PX-320, YPG-625, or RD300GX. The S90ES might be all you need. How can anyone make that judgement call but you? And no, I'm not suggesting that these options are in the same class, and in fact, the range of quality and prices are huge between them. All the more reason to play all the models you can get your hands on before you buy anything.
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#1940689 - 05/11/08 12:31 PM
Re: Yamaha motif xs versus Roland fantom g8
[Re: xmlguy]
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SilverDragonSoun
Laker Hater
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Registered: 04/08/05
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Which is better? I want something with realistic guitar and drum sounds as well as good piano tunes so I can compile a complete song together. Also, is it worth springing the extra $1000 instead of just getting a S90 ES?
There is no substitute for playing different keyboards for yourself to determine whether it's worth paying more for one or or another. You might need an XS8. Perhaps you only need a Previa PX-320, YPG-625, or RD300GX. The S90ES might be all you need. How can anyone make that judgement call but you? And no, I'm not suggesting that these options are in the same class, and in fact, the range of quality and prices are huge between them. All the more reason to play all the models you can get your hands on before you buy anything.
+1 - You should always try and check things out for yourself if possible.
There are also a few sites you may want check out besides this one.
1. The Yamaha Site - Yamaha Site Here
2. The Roland Clans - Roland Site Here
3. Sweetwater's forums - I mention this forum because its a non-biased site and few well written, in depth reviews exists here in the keyboard forum. Sweetwater Forums Here
_________________________
Begin the day with a friendly voice A companion, unobtrusive
- Rush
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#1940938 - 05/12/08 06:17 AM
Re: Yamaha motif xs versus Roland fantom g8
[Re: SilverDragonSoun]
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MikeT156
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Registered: 06/27/04
Posts: 4366
Loc: Central PA, USA
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tfan27:
Keyboards like the Fantom and the Motif XS series are workstations, which is what you need if you want to use an internal sequencer and a sampler. You might already know that, but the internal sequencer and sampler are features you get with a workstation that you don't get with a S90ES. You can use a computer based sequencer of course, and depending on how complex your songs are and how much you want to invest in a system, the computer based sequencer, with additional software libraries you can buy for a PC, along with a large color screen to work on your sequences and sound libraries are very powerful.
That said, you can spend a lot of time setting up a PC and successfully connecting it and integrating it with a keyboard.
For me, I like the KISS principle. I do mostly classic rock songs and use a Motif ES8's internal 16 track sequencer, as well as the sampler. 16 tracks is usually quite enough for what I use it for, and the sampler allows me to load other libraries if I choose, or in my case, use it for sounds that are not native on my Motif. Sound effects are very important tidbits that I find invaluable to the songs I have on my song list. There are external samplers that you can buy and connect to your system, but I love the all-in-one solution that I have with the ES8.
Roland's user interface is generally more user friendly, and my Motif ES was a bit frustrating in the beginning to get a handle on. After having it 3 years, I still love the sound and the easy integration of the sequencer and sample on one KB.
I haven't played the Roland Fantom series so I can't compare the two. With the size of the investment you are about to make, spend as much time with both the Motif XS and the new Fantom series as you can. Spend some time working with the sequencers in both machines if you intend to create songs.
Happy hunting,
Mike T.
_________________________
Yamaha Motif ES8, Alesis Ion, Prophet 5 Rev 3.2, 1979 Rhodes Suit case 73 Piano, Arp Odyssey Mk III, Oberheim DMX, Roland R-70 Drum Machine, Digitech Vocalist. Lots of Amps, mixers, PA speakers!
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#1940972 - 05/12/08 07:19 AM
Re: Yamaha motif xs versus Roland fantom g8
[Re: xmlguy]
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Synthoid
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Registered: 12/04/03
Posts: 790
Loc: Pennsylvania, USA
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There is no substitute for playing different keyboards for yourself to determine whether it's worth paying more for one or or another.
+1
Spend as much time as you can with boards from the big 3. Compare the sounds carefully, and like Mike said:
Spend some time working with the sequencers in both machines if you intend to create songs.
If you don't like the interface, making music will be a chore.
_________________________
Korg M3, Triton Classic w/MOSS & EXB09, Kurzweil K2661, Alesis Ion, E-MU Vintage Pro, Roland D-50, and other toys.
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#1941138 - 05/12/08 11:42 AM
Re: Yamaha motif xs versus Roland fantom g8
[Re: ProfD]
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delirium
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Registered: 06/09/05
Posts: 2700
Loc: Earth, NJ
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well, I don't think so tfan27 is looking for all politically correct answer but rather for personal opinions - simply what you'd prefer. He is going to judge by himself anyway when he come to final decision, so don't tell him go to GC and to "check for yourself". He knows that without advise from any forum.
_________________________
♫♫♫ motif XS, S90ES
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#1941270 - 05/12/08 05:19 PM
Re: Yamaha motif xs versus Roland fantom g8
[Re: delirium]
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DanS
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Registered: 11/14/00
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Let's see. I have a Fantom X7, but if I ever replace my S80, it will be with a XS8, - all the workstation stuff.
So maybe it will be called an S8.
Does that help?
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#1941459 - 05/13/08 05:59 AM
Re: Yamaha motif xs versus Roland fantom g8
[Re: Synthoid]
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MusicWorkz
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Registered: 04/20/01
Posts: 1686
Loc: Philadelphia,PA,UNITED STATES
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I just finished the upgrade battle. Although I was an owner of a Motif Classic 6, I was open the YamaRolaKorzweils currently on the market.
What I found was that for the music I do (R&B, Gospel, electronic), the XS not only met, but exceeded in what I needed that the others couldn't touch. The MASTER mode is worth the price of entry and the XS is more "playable" to me.
And that says a lot considering I could have gotten a Fantom X7 for almost $1000 below what I paid for the XS.
_________________________
Yamaha (Motif XS7, Motif 6, TX81Z), Korg (R3, Triton-R), Roland (XP-30, D-50, Juno 6, P-330, R-8). Novation (A & V-Stations, Remote LE), Akai MPC 2000XL Studio http://www.myspace.com/ieg_musicworkz
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