Yamaha MX88 vs MODX8

[GuiliClayder]

Been waiting for a while now, as I wanted to buy a Yamaha MX88 but it was out of stock everywhere. But I've ckecked with the store and i should be back in stock within a week.

 

However, while I was waiting, I've also been looking at the MODX8, about 50% more expensive than the MX88 but probably a lot more bang for the buck. There's a bigger learning curve, but I can also start with Cubasis and some other apps, and move on to something more serious later on, if and when I feel ready.

That FM Essentials app for the MX is very cool but everyhing that's in the app is also in the MODX. So, perhaps, once the novelty wears off, I might wish I'd gotten something a bit more advanced in the first place...

 

Both boards have rave reviews although the MX88 beats the MODX8. Where the MX88 has been regarded as a very sturdy board and quality board for the price, there seem to be some quality issues cropping up here and there as far as the MODX goes, and not just the 88 key version : keys that become loose after a relatively short while and 'uneven' build quality for the MODX6 and 7, and a noisy keybed for the MODX8, which is hard to believe as the MX88 has the same GHS action and I haven't read any comments about noise.

 

Anyone here has either the MX88 or MODX8 (or perhaps even both) that can give me some feedback ?

 

Thanks !

[AnotherScott]

Sonically and functionally, MX is a substantially reduced version of a 2007 Motif XS, while MODX is sonically and functionally very close to a 2016 Montage.

 

I like the MX49... small, light, great sounds. But the only reason I'd consider an MX88 over a MODX8 would be budget. It's really in another league. I guess you could say there's a bigger learning curve because it is so much more capable, but if you only want to do the same things you could do on an MX88, on balance, I'm not sure it's really all that much more complicated. Splits/layers take more steps (but are way more flexible), but OTOH, patch selection is actually easier, with a search function and the ability to create pages full of touchscreen buttons with patchnames to call up the sounds you want.

[Song80s]

There is nothing currently ' wrong ' with the MODX 8 key bed.

 

There may have been some 1st release problems over 2 yrs ago.

 

But whatever, Yamaha solved it quickly

 

Some folks here will say they don't care for the MODX 8 key bed feel- but thats entirely subjective

[zephonic]

I sold my MX88 when the MODX8 first came out. The latter is much more capable, but in some ways I found the MX88 more satisfying, not sure why.

[GuiliClayder]

The MX88 more satisfying... I guess I can see that. The MODX8 is a cracking board but I fear that I'm not even going to use 25% of the capabilities. I don't know the first thing about synthesis. I just want a board to have some fun with, an alternative to my serious classical playing on my Kawai CA58...

Still, MODX is more expensive, but not THAT much more expensive. Maybe it would be a shame to miss out, and the MX is getting on a bit.

 

Anyway, can't go wrong with either board, but just wanted to check that quality issue thingy...

[Song80s]

I don't go by perceived 'learning limits" on a full featured expensive keyboard.

 

And I think long term, not short on the expensive full featured keyboard.

1 year is a very short time IMO

 

5 years is my basic requirement.

 

for example, I have 10 years on my Kronos.

[gg22]

There are no quality issues with my MX88, it's constructed pretty well (like any Yamaha product) but the sounds are very basic (an "OK" piano, strings, brass, couple of synth sounds, but horrible Electric Pianos). Consider whether you'll want to use VST's in the future - the MX88 has a built-in USB Audio Interface, which makes it a pretty good controller . I mainly use mine as a controller for Scarbee Rhodes, which beats MODX Rhodes by a mile.

[HSS]

I've had an MX88 for a couple of years and have had no problems with it. I don't own the MODX8 but have spent some time with it.

 

IMHO the MODX8 is obviously a much deeper board with better sounds and editability than the MX88, but I find the MX 88's 'archaic' 90'ish user interface to be more immediate and intuitive for simple live use, despite the MODX8's flashy touch screen. Maybe this is because I'm a lazy old fart who isn't keen to learn the intricacies of a fancy new board.

 

Even though the MX88's sounds are dated, IMO its basic meat & potatoes sounds are still gig worthy. If I need better AP's, EPs', B3 , etc. sounds I can just use the MX88 as a controller for my iPad or Nord5d.

 

I would add that I've played around at home with the free Vycro MX software editor and you can actually use it to build some pretty complex performances with multiple splits and layers that can then be loaded into the MX88 (or the MX49 or 61). However once loaded they're pretty static and non-editable on the board itself.

 

Having said all of this, I'm still thinking about upgrading from the MX88 to either a MODX8 or Kurz PC4 (or PC4-7). But I may decide to hang with the MX88 for awhile, because for the basic old school blues, soul, R&R, and country gigs I mainly play, the MX88 is fit for purpose.

[GuiliClayder]

It's not an easy choice.

I just want a board to mess around with, for my personal, highly amateuristic, home studio, and certainly not for live playing. So I was thinking an entry-level board, like the MX88, hook it up to my iPad and mess around with FM Essenials, and try my hand at Cubasis. Later on, I could just move up to a DAW on the Mac, Logic Pro or Ableton or whatever, and buy an extra controller.

 

But the MODX is a newer board, more expensive yes, but still within my budget, really. But more complicated, yes, more capable, definitely, but I'm not sure I will have the courage to learn everything about it. Strangely, and funny you should mention the PC4, but while I was looking around in the MODX8's price range, I also peeked briefly at the Kurzweil PC4, a bit of an 'outsider'.

I've heard good things about the capabilities and the sound, but also that the Medeli K6 keybed doesn't match the quality of the rest of the board, not by a long shot. Plus I'm afraid it might even be more complicated to use than the MODX.

 

My other instrument is a Kawai CA58, which I mostly use for classical piano. That's just a 'turn on and play' piano which I like very much. And so, while a board like the MODX fascinates and impresses me, I think I will have given up long before having discovered not even 10% of its capabilities. To be honest, I practically know nothing about MIDI yet, and I certainly don't know the first thing about synthesis and sound design.

 

Maybe I should just toss a coin...

[stoken6]

If you're looking to buy a board that's

certainly not for live playing

and you're happy to experiment with software, then why not simply hook up a cheap controller keyboard to your ipad or Mac? Come to that, why not walk your iPad over to your CA58 and hook them up with a USB cable and possibly a USB3/lightning adapter if you need it?

 

A MODX8 is overkill as a pure controller, and arguably a MX88 is as well. Plenty of controller-only options out there.

 

Cheers, Mike.

[AnotherScott]

I'm not sure I will have the courage to learn everything about it.

Almost nobody knows everything about it. You don't need to. You only need to learn how to do the things you care about doing.

 

I also peeked briefly at the Kurzweil PC4, a bit of an 'outsider'....I'm afraid it might even be more complicated to use than the MODX.

Some things are simpler on the Kurzweil, some things are harder. (And some things can only be done on one or the other.)

[GuiliClayder]

I'm not simply looking for a controller, but a board to have some fun with, completely separate from my 'serious' classical CA58.

 

I've been looking at different options, from pure controllers like the Arturia Keylab MK2 or Native Instruments, to boards like the MX88 with some fun connectivity. I'm open to using either my Mac or iPad (or both) with a DAW and/or software instruments.

To be honest, I've considered multiple configurations, from the MX88 with a separate midi 49 key controller, or even the D1 with an Arturia Keylab MK2. So much choice, too many options.

 

One thing I am sure of, though, is that I don't want any cheap controller with a clickety clack typewriter for a keybed action, which rules out anything from M-Audio, Nektar and Alesis.

But I think I've got it narrowed down to either the MX88 or the MODX8, and better start off with just the board in combination with either my iPad or Macbook.

[GianfrixMG]

A MODX8 is overkill as a pure controller, and arguably a MX88 is as well. Plenty of controller-only options out there.

The problem is that a good quality weighted keybed is only found on more expensive controllers whose price gets really close to the MX88, which has the advantage of having internal sounds and an audio interface, untethering the player from the PC (so being "a board to have fun with") while still making it easy to play VSTs if needed. If the Fatar TP100 keybed is not a problem then the SL88 Studio would be a controller to consider because of the price difference.

[GuiliClayder]

A MODX8 is overkill as a pure controller, and arguably a MX88 is as well. Plenty of controller-only options out there.

The problem is that a good quality weighted keybed is only found on more expensive controllers whose price gets really close to the MX88, which has the advantage of having internal sounds and an audio interface, untethering the player from the PC (so being "a board to have fun with") while still making it easy to play VSTs if needed.

 

This.

 

f the Fatar TP100 keybed is not a problem then the SL88 Studio would be a controller to consider because of the price difference.

 

Not sure about Fatar...

[GianfrixMG]

Not sure about Fatar...

Well their keybeds are very nice. The TP100 is just fatiguing but the level of control over velocities in the SL series is just unmatched.

 

By the way, both the Arturia KeyLab 88 and the Complete Kontrol 88 equip the TP100 as their keybed.

[GuiliClayder]

Well, I"m going with the MODX8, a lot to discover on its own, and will probably try some sequencing with Cubasis on the iPad.

 

Question : if I want to perhaps migrate to a DAW on my Mac later on, either Logic, Ableton or even Cubase, and add a small midi controller afterwards, 49 keys or ecen smaller, to play some instruments on a second tier, or even just placing a mini controller on the MODX"s right panel, I suppose I can just connect a powered hub to my mac and just connect everything I want ? And I"ll still be able to benefit from the USB Audio/MIDI interface on the MODX ?

Also, in either case, using either the Mac or the iPad, since the MODX has a USB Audio/Midi interface, I can just hook up my monitor speakers to the line outs on the MODX, NOT to the Mac/iPad which would be the case if I used a 88 key MIDI controller, for example ?

Sorry for the stupid questions, I am just starting my MIDI journey...

[GuiliClayder]

Well, getting anxious to order my MODX8. Projected availiability is within 2 to 5 days from Thomann. Still, I"m not too confident as the MX88 went from 1 week, to 2 weeks, to 3 to 4 weeks, back to 1 week again, and jumped back to 2 weeks yesterday...

MODX8 is still 2 to 5 days away, fingers crossed.

 

I think that, since the MODX has a built-in step seqeuncer now since the last update, Cubasis 3 on the iPad will complement that perfectly as a linear sequencer. Can"t wait, really.