The digital sax fails mostly when dynamics are involved. A soft note was the same as a loud note but at a lower volume. A diminuendo sounds like a volume nob being turned gradually down, no change in tone as in real life. The first example where no volume changes were involved sounded more convincing. I think in an ensemble it would sound great but it wouldn't cope well with exposed solo work. Probably only sax players would notice the difference though. Overall I was impressed. I won't be swapping out my baritone. For my one bari I could buy half a dozen of those and they'd probably still be lighter to carry. Ideal for practice or recording in an ensemble if you can't afford the real thing.
It's totally unacceptable, for 2020s technology. I wonder if hobbyists have figured out how to turn a junk saxophone into an electronic wind instrument (which is what we all really want, right... feels exactly the same but is silent and has a cord to plug in, for recording or amplification).
Hi Jim, really interesting video. I think its obvious that the electric sax lacks the control of expression and depth of a real Bari, but its still pretty impressive. Especially if you where in a horn section and needed to wack out some low end stabs or backings. These things are only going to keep getting better! However for me there is nothing like the feel and sound of a real acoustic instrument.
I bought one when they first came out (had to wait a while!) but now that I’ve had it a while I think the 001 bari sax is the best sax sample on the horn. I play in a rock cover band and use it on the gig connected to a vocal harmony box to simulate a horn (sax) section. Yes at times it sounds like an accordion but it gets the job done. Mixed into the band you’re not going to hear the subtleties that give it away. The bari sax patch is probably the best sounding of the lot. But they also have some neat synth sounds and I can go head to head with the guitar player and not get blown off stage. But when you need authenticity I have my selmer tenor and soprano on hand for the real thing. The YDS has its place and as long as you acknowledge it’s limitations it’s a nice addition to arsenal, plus it does turn heads!
In my opinion the YDS is not only not quite there from a tone/sound standpoint, but also from a mechanic standpoint too. As mentioned in the video the octave key can become quite frustrating in play by not holding steady, but I have also seen where this unit can change keys frequently even while holding a single note in a long tone fashion. This was my single most frustrating thing about my unit which is why I gave it to my Sax instructor and bought an Emeo unit; which doesn’t offer (or even try to) true Sax sounds, rather provides a host of great musical sounds that allows the musician a variety of improvisations in recordings while also offering a quiet option for practicing. In my opinion these two options would be the reason for most in purchasing a digital instrument like this.
the YDS-150 isn't there just yet with the tone. When he was playing soft the switching of the notes sounded very digital, but in a non-solo situation, I can definitely see it's qualities
I just got a yds-150 a few days ago. It is certainly useful as a practice tool if you are in a situation where you need to be quiet, but it is in no way something you should confuse with an actual musical instrument.
I would think that it would be more "it is in no way something you should confuse with an actual saxophone." A real saxophone, it is not, clearly. But it is still a musical instrument, as much as an EWI, a Aerophone or a keyboard synthetizer are instruments. Electronic/digital but musical instrument nevertheless. You can play music with it, you can jam with it and express yourself with music. Even though it lacks some properties and the richness of real analog instruments.
Does it sound as good as the real sax? No. Does it cost as much as the real sax? No. I could see a high school having one that could be used as both a bari or a soperano. It looks like it would fun to play with, as a somewhat expensive toy.
I have one of these, and have been playing it for a while. With a bit of practice, you can use the analog controller to do scoops, but you have to acquire a light touch with it. And you can definitely do dynamics, but you can't play subtones unless you're using one of the sax voices that is pretty much all subtones. See th-cam.com/video/sZKA51I8Pd0/w-d-xo.html But lack of control over vibrato is a real drawback. You can't even use the app to set the delay before vibrato starts. You can flutter tongue to produce a respectable growl. Yamaha could issue a software upgrade that would allow the user to have more control over the auto-vibrato, such setting the onset delay, the amplitude, and the frequency of the vibrato. And they have the resources to produce more "layered" samples, so that less breath pressure changes the timbre and not just the volume. Finally, they could allow the user to set the analog controller to less than a semitone. But...they haven't updated the software in quite a while and I doubt they have any plans to. So we're stuck with these limitations that they really should have dealt with before they released it. Edit: Oh, and the octave key probem is real, but easily solved. I simply glued a piece of rubber to the octave key, cut to the same shape. This raises it up a couple of millimeters, enough so that the thumb is less likely to let go accidentally. On most real saxes, the octave key is a bit higher than the thumb pad, so we're used to that.
Just listen and you’ll hear that you can do pitchbend/lip vibrato on a real sax and not on the YDS-150. That’s what we call lack of expressiveness. That’s perfectly possible though; buy any used Yamaha WX and a good sound library.
i really hope yamaha makes another yds focused more on the synthesizer aspect than the saxophone aspect, id love to be able to pick up a wind synth that translates totally from an acoustic sax.
The lack of bite sensor made the YDS a non-starter for me. I don't understand why they didn't include one because Roland's is just a lever and an opto-sensor - nothing to add significantly to the retail price.
Particularly, I'm still in favor of the original instrument, as the conventional instrument really shows the musician's skill and what he can do, as we depend a lot on having to need light to play this digital instrument and I think it needs a light too. box. sound. this digital saxophone is beautiful, and practical, but I still prefer the old, conventional saxophone.
Nice instrument, but not as substitute for a baritone - or any other saxophone. YDS-150 is something else for when I want something else that a saxophone sound.
These are real sax notes individually sampled. Which shows you that what marks the sound of an acoustic saxophone out from the digital one is not the tone, it's the variation in how any individual note is played, and the transitions between notes. In other words, the ability to do expression.
the quality between the two is so obvious to any good musician ... Not even close , the true baritone has twice the punch if one wants the purity of a real sax.. the other is a nice toy ....just sayin' bobby g.
The biggest piece of shite I have ever spent my hard earned cash on. Flimsily made, it sounds like one of those cheesy sounding organs you found in many 1970s homes. I am shocked that Yamaha put their esteemed names to this pile of trash, and sincerely hope this is not of a trend the esteemed company known for their quality, plans to follow.
Well, that's your opinion. However, from the other comments here, it's clearly not worthless. I for one, found it very useful, perhaps you should just stick to doing your own thing, and leave these types of info for the people that appreciate them.
The digital sax fails mostly when dynamics are involved. A soft note was the same as a loud note but at a lower volume. A diminuendo sounds like a volume nob being turned gradually down, no change in tone as in real life. The first example where no volume changes were involved sounded more convincing. I think in an ensemble it would sound great but it wouldn't cope well with exposed solo work. Probably only sax players would notice the difference though. Overall I was impressed. I won't be swapping out my baritone. For my one bari I could buy half a dozen of those and they'd probably still be lighter to carry. Ideal for practice or recording in an ensemble if you can't afford the real thing.
that can be altered from the settlings if you use the app. You can fix sensitivity
5:13 YDS-150 sounds a lot like an accordion with that steady and precise sound
It's totally unacceptable, for 2020s technology. I wonder if hobbyists have figured out how to turn a junk saxophone into an electronic wind instrument (which is what we all really want, right... feels exactly the same but is silent and has a cord to plug in, for recording or amplification).
Hi Jim, really interesting video. I think its obvious that the electric sax lacks the control of expression and depth of a real Bari, but its still pretty impressive. Especially if you where in a horn section and needed to wack out some low end stabs or backings. These things are only going to keep getting better! However for me there is nothing like the feel and sound of a real acoustic instrument.
I bought one when they first came out (had to wait a while!) but now that I’ve had it a while I think the 001 bari sax is the best sax sample on the horn. I play in a rock cover band and use it on the gig connected to a vocal harmony box to simulate a horn (sax) section. Yes at times it sounds like an accordion but it gets the job done. Mixed into the band you’re not going to hear the subtleties that give it away. The bari sax patch is probably the best sounding of the lot. But they also have some neat synth sounds and I can go head to head with the guitar player and not get blown off stage.
But when you need authenticity I have my selmer tenor and soprano on hand for the real thing. The YDS has its place and as long as you acknowledge it’s limitations it’s a nice addition to arsenal, plus it does turn heads!
In my opinion the YDS is not only not quite there from a tone/sound standpoint, but also from a mechanic standpoint too. As mentioned in the video the octave key can become quite frustrating in play by not holding steady, but I have also seen where this unit can change keys frequently even while holding a single note in a long tone fashion. This was my single most frustrating thing about my unit which is why I gave it to my Sax instructor and bought an Emeo unit; which doesn’t offer (or even try to) true Sax sounds, rather provides a host of great musical sounds that allows the musician a variety of improvisations in recordings while also offering a quiet option for practicing. In my opinion these two options would be the reason for most in purchasing a digital instrument like this.
the YDS-150 isn't there just yet with the tone. When he was playing soft the switching of the notes sounded very digital, but in a non-solo situation, I can definitely see it's qualities
I just got a yds-150 a few days ago. It is certainly useful as a practice tool if you are in a situation where you need to be quiet, but it is in no way something you should confuse with an actual musical instrument.
I would think that it would be more "it is in no way something you should confuse with an actual saxophone."
A real saxophone, it is not, clearly.
But it is still a musical instrument, as much as an EWI, a Aerophone or a keyboard synthetizer are instruments. Electronic/digital but musical instrument nevertheless. You can play music with it, you can jam with it and express yourself with music. Even though it lacks some properties and the richness of real analog instruments.
Tough to top a YBS-62, but the digital bari does sound nice. Once it blends with drums and other instruments, nobody would ever know.
Does it sound as good as the real sax? No. Does it cost as much as the real sax? No. I could see a high school having one that could be used as both a bari or a soperano. It looks like it would fun to play with, as a somewhat expensive toy.
I have one of these, and have been playing it for a while. With a bit of practice, you can use the analog controller to do scoops, but you have to acquire a light touch with it. And you can definitely do dynamics, but you can't play subtones unless you're using one of the sax voices that is pretty much all subtones. See th-cam.com/video/sZKA51I8Pd0/w-d-xo.html
But lack of control over vibrato is a real drawback. You can't even use the app to set the delay before vibrato starts. You can flutter tongue to produce a respectable growl.
Yamaha could issue a software upgrade that would allow the user to have more control over the auto-vibrato, such setting the onset delay, the amplitude, and the frequency of the vibrato. And they have the resources to produce more "layered" samples, so that less breath pressure changes the timbre and not just the volume. Finally, they could allow the user to set the analog controller to less than a semitone.
But...they haven't updated the software in quite a while and I doubt they have any plans to. So we're stuck with these limitations that they really should have dealt with before they released it.
Edit: Oh, and the octave key probem is real, but easily solved. I simply glued a piece of rubber to the octave key, cut to the same shape. This raises it up a couple of millimeters, enough so that the thumb is less likely to let go accidentally. On most real saxes, the octave key is a bit higher than the thumb pad, so we're used to that.
Better bari sax sound than my Roland AE-10! But the AE-10 has a lot of other great sounds!
Just listen and you’ll hear that you can do pitchbend/lip vibrato on a real sax and not on the YDS-150. That’s what we call lack of expressiveness. That’s perfectly possible though; buy any used Yamaha WX and a good sound library.
The natural bari has a much gutsier, more dynamic sound, but the YDS-150 has a cleaner sound, but it still sounds a little synthetic.
i really hope yamaha makes another yds focused more on the synthesizer aspect than the saxophone aspect, id love to be able to pick up a wind synth that translates totally from an acoustic sax.
The lack of bite sensor made the YDS a non-starter for me. I don't understand why they didn't include one because Roland's is just a lever and an opto-sensor - nothing to add significantly to the retail price.
Particularly, I'm still in favor of the original instrument, as the conventional instrument really shows the musician's skill and what he can do, as we depend a lot on having to need light to play this digital instrument and I think it needs a light too. box. sound. this digital saxophone is beautiful, and practical, but I still prefer the old, conventional saxophone.
It definitely gets very “Casio” the higher the note.
The yds is brighter is what I noticed
Sweet intro
For those of us who are interested in digital sax to practice, those of us who need silence to coexist. Why don't you make an Emeo vs Yamaha 120?
It's awesome for what is is
That robocop thing sounds awful.
When will we be able to buy one?
After February.....maybe.
The real 🎷 plays like sex, but the digital doesn't have a reed. Tough call
it plays with an alto mouthpiece and a synthetic reed
Nice instrument, but not as substitute for a baritone - or any other saxophone. YDS-150 is something else for when I want something else that a saxophone sound.
JFC, this thing sounds like pushing the keys on a 1990s synthesizer. WHAT HAVE THEY BEEN DOING FOR THE PAST 30 YEARS?!?
These are real sax notes individually sampled. Which shows you that what marks the sound of an acoustic saxophone out from the digital one is not the tone, it's the variation in how any individual note is played, and the transitions between notes. In other words, the ability to do expression.
yds c'est pour les gens comme moi qui sont sensible des oreilles et ne preuve pu jouer du sax acoustique
the quality between the two is so obvious to any good musician ... Not even close , the true baritone
has twice the punch if one wants the purity of a real sax.. the other is a nice toy ....just sayin' bobby g.
Seems like the digital bari didn't take much skill to play.
Algum brasileiro?
Aqui!
@@afonsocbrasil opa
Sounds to clean for a bari does not have that dirty fat tone like a bari and does not grow.
The biggest piece of shite I have ever spent my hard earned cash on. Flimsily made, it sounds like one of those cheesy sounding organs you found in many 1970s homes. I am shocked that Yamaha put their esteemed names to this pile of trash, and sincerely hope this is not of a trend the esteemed company known for their quality, plans to follow.
This video is absolutely worthless!!! The end!!
Well, that's your opinion. However, from the other comments here, it's clearly not worthless. I for one, found it very useful, perhaps you should just stick to doing your own thing, and leave these types of info for the people that appreciate them.