hag01

I'm in love with MODX's sampled analog sounds that come from the AWM2 engine. I think they are superb. Also there are few expansions of analog sounds for the MODX, also sampled and created for the AWM2 engine, which are amazing. Basically I agree with the approach that it is possible produce any sound just with samples and effects. It is just a matter of the quality of samples and sample player technology, and that's exactly where Yamaha excel.

https://yamahamusicians.com/introducing-the-new-yamaha-modx/?fbclid=IwAR07Ckoxyip079Cg46cRXU8DPmfcAc7D2KltDKvLTfW5Lxx3nHJN44xBfDo

OK so now some information was leaked and there will be a new AN-X engine, which is nice, but the MODX already have many beautiful sampled analog sound in its AWM2. But it seems that there will be no organ engine which is a disappointment for me. The All 9 Bars! preset is good, but tweakable up to a certain level, eating polyphony fast, and inconvenient to program. All 9 Bars ! make the work done when I need an organ sound, but if you'll ask me I think I'll benefit more from an additional organ engine rather then additional analog engine. Of course having both will be best.

I just hope the MODX+ will be the same size and weight as the MODX, so I will get a MODX+7 plus the beautiful Yamaha MODX7 backpack. So I will continue to use my perfectly fine and capable MODX6 when I want maximum portability, and the MODX+7 will be for whenever I can't compromise on key range.

And still, the Yamaha Montage\MODX probably capable to produce the best sounds out of the box just with its AWM2. The sampled analog sounds are amazing, just as an example. I think the AWM2's All 9 Bars! organ preset sounds a lot better than the Roland FA's organ modelling engine for example. It's a really good sounding organ. Of course if you will take the KORG Nautilus with endless financial recourses for expansions and professional sound designing capabilities then you will get outstanding results. Although I believe the Nautilus is vastly improved over the Kronos with its stock samples and presets, I didn't tested it yet.

Actually my dream instrument is something about the size and weight of the MODX, with the same AWM2 engine and FM-X engine, plus a virtual analog engine and a full fledged organ engine that Yamaha developed and implemented in their other keyboards, plus the pipe organ engine they implemented in Genos. And a joystick instead of pair of wheels, and wider keys, because the MODX's keys kinda narrow. I'm fantasizing about this theoretical instrument for years. I think Yamaha are the best in term of sound, but they consistently don't implement most their best technologies in one keyboard, unlike KORG for example.

Just want to add my opinion: I had Roland FA-06 for about month and half. Two weeks after I bought it Roland Fantom-0 was released. Eventually I returned it and going to have a Fantom-06 instead for additional 600USD, at some point. I don't have experience with ZEN-Core yet, but as far as I know Fantom-0's ZEN-Core includes all the acoustic samples that included in the FA, and more. So I know and knew before that those samples are from about 20 years ago, and here is what I think about them. The Roland FA has many dated acoustic samples which in my opinion are sub per in today's standard. But it does have few good presets of well sampled strings, brass, saxes, choir which are the most important for what I do along with keyboard instruments(AP, EP, EO, Clavs, etc..). It even has some decent Harpsichord presets which I'm fan of. It has like about three decent church organ presets which I'm also fan of, but this is really not enough because church organs have many configurations and actually I would like to have a full church organ modelling engine like they do for tone-wheel organs, but if not that, then at least like six presets of good sampled different popular pipe organ configurations. OK but this church\pipe organ thing is really a subject for another topic. But, what I'm trying to say is, that although there are so many bad sounding dated samples in the ZEN-Core, the Fantom-0 still can be a practical instrument, along with the electric organ engine, virtual analog engine, and all other good features for live performance(while the FA's organ engine is also sub-per in my opinion, and that's ruing everything). The guitar samples mostly are really bad, for example. And all sections of acoustic sound are hit and miss, many awful sound I'd never use, but in the most important sections there are always few good presets. Like, who needs guitar presets, you are going to play in a band, there will be a guitarist there anyway, and if not, I never found a keyboard that can replace a guitar anyway(that doesn't mean that the guitar samples in the FA are not sub-per). Even the brass and the sax presets I like, don't get me wrong, I'd never try to replace a solo trumpet or solo sax with a keyboard, but I can use some section presets occasionally, for certain usages. Same for strings presets, and solo violin\cello\viola VS string pad... I know that Fantom-0's ZEN-Core has additional samples and I do hope it has some better acoustic sounds among them, especially in the weak sections of the FA. About Kurzweil, I had Kurzweil Forte once, while it has some great sounding acoustic sounds, it has some that are really bad, and obviously derived from ancient samples which are older than anything contemporary by Roland. Its strings are awesome, great celesta, ETC, but for example, I didn't find there even one acceptable choir sound, they sound like choir sounds from soundtracks of arcade games from the early 90's, and obviously those samples are as old as those video games. Judging by my ears, some of the piano samples are also extremely old. I have Yamaha MODX6, and Yamaha are clearly the kings of acoustic samples and sampling technology in general, among keyboard manufactures. But I wanted a keyboard with unshaved keys(from their sides), a joystick instead of pair of wheels, virtual analogue engine and tone-wheel organ engine. I also want great acoustic sounds and FM engine, and pipe organ modelling engine\deep sampled pipe organ, but I don't know a portable keyboard that has all these. The closest thing is KORG Nautilus, but it is big, heavy, and the keys are about as narrow as the MODX6\7's keys...

Pianoteq! Edit: My favorite model of Pianoteq is YC5.

In some ways, that Korg action does feel nicer than Yamaha's, but in the end, I prefer the MODX keys because they are more consistent from front to back. On the Krome, the back half of the keys get increasingly unresponsive. You see, these are exactly the kind of things you can't notice in one half an hour session. In order to evaluate the action seriously I need to play on the instrument for some period.

The MODX has all I need in terms of sound and functionality, but based on one test I did recently on the Krome EX in a store, I prefer the action of the Krome. Although one test of about half an hour is not enough for final assessment, it may was just a good day for me to play synth keyboards.

I play in bands with my Yamaha MODX6, it has Live Set functionality(Yamaha's answer to Korg's Setlist). I need many Live Sets\Setlists because I play in bands and each song has many sounds and its own Live Set. I also usually have to edit quickly my Live Sets during rehearsals. Many programs\performances in my Live Sets consist more than one sound - Many times each program in my Live Set has few layered sounds\split zones across the keybed. Now I know there are ways to overcome the fact that the Korg Krome EX has no Setlist functionality, but for someone like me who need a lot of Setlists, while many times an object in a Setlist consists few sounds, and I need to be able to create and edit Setlists easily and quickly, Is the Korg Krome EX even an option?

Agreed. Befoere checking either Korg out, the question is what sound(s) are missing from the MODX6. The Yamaha is already a lightweight KB in terms of portability. Actually nothing, the MODX has everything. It could be nice to have a full tone-wheel organ engine, but the MODX has pretty large variety of great tone-wheel organ PCM presets, that make the job done and in my humble opinion sounds terrific, some of them also pretty twickable. I may get the K-Sound Organimation expansion at some point because sometimes I play music with people who are extremely picky when it comes to Hammond sounds, then hopefully I will be fully covered in the Hammond sounds era. Still, if the MODX had the tone-wheel organ engine of the Genos with nine sliders, it wouldn't be great, it would be the greatest keyboard ever(or one of the greatest at least, in my humble opinion). Anyway, I don't know why all my teenage metal bands play only Korg Korg Korg and no Yamaha, not that Korg isn't great, I'm sure I would get along with just the Krome EX 61 in any band I would play with(Although I didn't had the opportunity to try it by myself yet, but judging from YouTube demos), whether it is the current pop rock band I play with now or if I would play with some metal band suddenly, but the Yamaha MODX is ridiculously capable for the symphonic metal genere, with all the cinematic sounds it has and the amazing FM engine. It is the only keyboard I had\tested that I like more or less all its stock sounds in all sound sections, but that might be just my unusual taste, I just love the Yamaha sound. But, Korg is also lovely, if I could have Korg and Yamaha brains in one keyboard it would be spectacular(with Korg or Yamaha tone-wheel organ engine).

Someone in my area sells a Korg Triton Le in a good condition in the price of 430USD, and also someone in my era sells now a Korg M50 in a new condition almost in the same price I can get a new Krome EX in my area(1200-1300 USD). I know these models are considered to be classics, how do they stand in front of the current Krome EX in your opinion? Please take in mind that I can berry only one synth at one time to play with my band(portability issues), and I already have a Yamaha MODX6 which is my go to bands synth, But for a long time I wanted some portable synth by Korg, to get the classic Korg sound. A lot of bands I grew up on play exclusively on Korg(I know I know, that's a childish consideration). What would you do in stand of me right now, if you could choose only one of these synth in the given price?

I'm looking for an expression pedal capable working with all keyboard brands, particularly Kurzweil, Yamaha and Korg. Plus work with guitar effect units(amp modelers to be precise), like Line 6 Helix Stomp, and HeadRush Gigboard. Also capable to connect to computer directly for VST control, Trough USB, or a MIDI input of an audio inteface. It should has a MIDI output, USB output, and PL jack. I doubt there is such a thing, especially something capable to work with those keyboards\amp modelers not through MIDI output but with the regular PL jack, but I'm trying anyway. A solution Instead of collecting expression pedal for every unit I have\I'll have in the future, is what I'm yearning for.

I don't have choice anyway because I'm going with public transportation(that's mean a lot of walking by foot as well). I already ordered a Yamaha MODX6 and MONO M80 Vertigo case, but I would like to see you opinions. I was thinking if the bass player play on the bass range all the time then I don't have to disturb him and play on the bass range at all, in that case 61 keys would be enough. That is at least my conclusion after playing in a cover band one rehearsal about half a year ago, but I want to see your opinions anyway, I'm sure there are many proffessionals with much more experience than me in this forum. I ordered the MODX6 after getting a warm invitation to play in some rock band, and that is going to be my single board. if it will work out for me(and for the band as whole as well) it will be the first band that I actually performed with as a keyboardist.