Motif EPs

[MusicaL]

I have a serious case of GAS. I've got the motif ES 6 or the Motif rack and/or the PLG 150pf plug in board on my radar. I don't need the sampling on the ES but what I really want is the motif ES EP's. And although I played the rack at my local GC, I played it using one of those 49 key midi controller keyboards so, I really had no feel for the sounds at all. I tried out the PLG 150pf a long time ago but I did not have the EP's in mind at that time.

 

So, here's the question. Does the rack have the same EP sound set as the ES? If so, do they sound the same, i.e., same converters, filters, effects, etc. And, where does the PLG 150pf fall in on the continuum as far as sound quality for the EP's?

 

TIA

 

aL

[Dreamer]

I own a PLG 150-PF board and here you can find a list of its technical specifications. My opinion on the board is very simple: although I like it, I don't think that it can compete, in terms of number of waveforms and sound quality, with the Motif ES. So, if you are planning to buy a Motif, you won't need the board afterwards.

I know that Jim (the Pro) owns both the PLG 150-PF and a Motif ES8, and I am sure that he will add his comment on this topic.

[MusicaL]

Dreamer

 

Thanks for the info. I have an S80 already. I would gather that you would then not recommend getting the PLG 150 in my case since I already have the s80 soundset.

 

I am hoping someone can let me know whether or not the EP's in the motif rack are the same as those in the ES. I know the 3 strike piano is not the same, but just don't know about the EP's.

 

aL

[Dave Bryce]

My guess is that they're probably not quite the same. I'm basing that guess on my understanding that the MOTIF ES instruments have different filters than the other MOTIFs (including the rack).

 

dB

[MusicaL]

Dave

 

That may be a good guess. The reason I am a bit perplexed is that the rack is neither based on the original motif nor is it a rackmount version of the ES. I understand it has more polyphony than the original, as well as some new sounds, but doesn't have many features of the ES, including the filters, etc...

 

aL

[burningbusch]

I have the rack, S90 and ES. I've compared at least a few of the EPs on all three and I can't hear any major differences. They all use the same EP multisamples. I believe the rack has the improved reverbs that are used in the ES. It also has new patches, many of which are found in the ES. While the filters might be different, they all share the same 19 filter types, I believe.

 

I think you will find that any differences between the EPs on these models is subtle.

 

Busch.

[MusicaL]

Wouldn't it be nice to have a side by side comparo of these models that way everyone knows what's in each and what's not?

[Jazz+]

I have done a side by side with the "Vintage 74" in the S90 and the Motif 8 ES at the same volume.

The notes were rounder and more analog sounding on the ES. The ES "Vintage 74" had smoother highs, warmer mids, fuller bass. I have the Rack, but have not used it for a side by side comparison.

[Dave Bryce]

Originally posted by Jazz+:

I have done a side by side with the "Vintage 74" in the S90 and the Motif 8 ES at the same volume.

The notes were rounder and more analog sounding on the ES. The ES "Vintage 74" had smoother highs, warmer mids, fuller bass..

Petros -

 

Have you loaded the S90's S700 piano sample into the ES and done a side by side?

 

dB

[eric]

I owned an ES7 for a little while and ultimately went with the S90. I did not notice much difference between the EP sounds. They are very high quality Rompler EP sounds. They are about as good as it gets other than the real thing. I have a slight affinity for the Nord Electro EPs as they strike me as more expressive and authentic, similar to sitting down at the real thing. The Yamaha EPs are superb! However, the seem to be more dependent on FX for their unique characteristics.

 

What impresses me is the sheer depth and quality of sounds coming in all these new keyboards compared to just 5 years ago and going back 10-15 years...it is laughable to remember what we did for good EPs and pianos back then, other than play the real thing! So I have a hard time nitpicking and finding fault with all these great options we have available as modern keyboard players! It really is a whole new world compared to a few years ago.

 

Regards,

Eric

[Jabbe]

I had a Classic6 before getting my ES7, and I have to say the ES's eps are better. More smooth (filters&envelopes?) and there are a lot more of 'em. Some new samples, too? And also, the new vintage effects like the phaser are awesome! I played with a rack once in a rehearsal, and god I missed the ES's stuff. And, of course, with ES you'll get tons of more great sounds and functions not available on the anothers.

 

But getting any of them for just the EPs would be such a waste. If you want EPs, get a real Rhodes. If you want the Motif, be sure to also explore the other great things it has to offer.

[MusicaL]

I wish having a real rhodes made sense in my case. It's too bulky -- requires a lot of space, requires way more maintenance than I have time for, and it's a one sound behemoth... I would like to have the other goodies that come with the Motif, I guess, but the truth is I am not happy with my S80's EP sounds, and need an upgrade.

 

I haven't considered the Nord Electro because of the limited sounds it offers. Although I played the electro, I recall the organs being excellent, the piano being unusable and the EP's and clavs being good to very good. I just can't get myself to fork out that kind of money for just these sounds when the Motif does these sounds just as well and gives you a lot more.

 

Confession time: I used to own a rhodes 88 and ended up giving it away years ago (1992?)... I know, I know... I have been kicking myself really hard.... But, that's life... Live and maybe learn!!!!

[konaboy]

Originally posted by eric:

 

What impresses me is the sheer depth and quality of sounds coming in all these new keyboards compared to just 5 years ago and going back 10-15 years...it is laughable to remember what we did for good EPs and pianos back then, other than play the real thing! So I have a hard time nitpicking and finding fault with all these great options we have available as modern keyboard players! It really is a whole new world compared to a few years ago.

 

Regards,

Eric

Sure Eric, I hear what you are saying. But jsut coz the technology has improved light years in 10 years doesn't mean that it has reached it's ultimate conclusion now. Of course there will be further development and we must never be satisfied.

 

Five years ago I was really satisfied with my 433Mhz PC thinking to myself why would I ever need anything better than this

 

I believe that in 10 years time we will be fondly remembering our Electro 2s and S90s and asking each other how we ever managed with such primitive and unrealistic sounding keyboards. And gosh weren't they so big and heavy, did people really take those dinosaurs to gigs?

[MikeT156]

Music*Al-As usual, ERIC hit the nail on the head. The sound of today's instruments are SO much better than what we had even 5 years ago, there's no comparison. I have a 12 year old Roland digital piano (it has ONE Rhodes sound) and recently bought a MOTIF ES8. The difference in the quality of the sound when you've skipped a number of generations is even more pronounced. After playing the ES8 the first time, I packed up the Roland and put it in storage, no use for it anymore.

 

Carrying around a "real" Rhodes is not practical, and totally unnecessary. I have a Rhodes suitcase 73 I bought NEW in 1980. Great condition, hardly a mark on it. I love the sound and character of the Rhodes. It has tone control sliders and stereo vibrato built in, and is my all time favorite Rhodes, that's why I kept it all these years. However, it only has ONE sound. The sound of a 1980 Rhodes piano. I have a Roland Stereo Chorus Emsemble, a separate Phase Shifter, and a leslie SIM that all have been hooked up to the Rhodes at one time or the other. But it still comes down to one thing, it's a 1980 Rhodes. That's not a bad thing, but it is still a limitation.

 

On my Motif, I can get tones of different period Rhodes sounds as well as different effects on different patches at the touch of a button. Example, the Phase Shifter Rhodes sound Billy Joel used on "Just the way you are", the pronounced Bell sounding Rhodes sound on Billy Joel's "James", the vibrato stereo sweep of MY Rhodes with "Vintage 74", the Steely Dan Phase Shift Rhodes on a number of their songs, are ALL IN THERE! Every variation of a Rhodes is right there. Push a button and play. I could get a variety of different Rhodes effects on my "real" Rhodes, but not as quickly as I can with ES8. No maintanence either. Don't get hung up on the vintage gear, it has its limitations. That's why we use the new gear.

 

I've taken some time to A/B my real Rhodes with the Motif ES8, and there's no reason to carry around a real Rhodes any more. Chick Corea would probably disagree, but hey, most musicians don't have a road crew to haul the heavy stuff around, and you can name a number of other advantages the stars have over the average player with their setup. And they have a lot more money than we have to buy, use, repair and move the vintage gear around. Its not necessary or practical for the average player.

 

I'll keep my "real" Rhodes safely tucked away at home to enjoy, but use the ES8 for daily practice and gigs. The music doesn't suffer, and neither will MY back.

 

Mike T.