That’s what I’m talking about! You playing it ! Other videos I watch they always play out of space music and I don’t get the chance to hear the sounds , that’s how you do it Bro, thank you for this video I been looking for someone to really play it and you it. Thank you! God Bless
I appreciated this video, it is clear, accurate, and the comparisons with other keyboards are appropriate. I bought a Fantom as I simply couldn't get past the bad feel of the MODX key bed. I don't have any problems with the 'dated' Fantom (or FA) sounds, nor I think do folks out in the audience really care. It's really more of a 'producer-y' complain. A teensy tweak of a knob is enough to change an old sound into a brand new one.
Completely agree! Best decision that Yamaha made. They broke the unspoken rule that a mid-range synth cannot be as good as their flagship board. Although it’s not quite a Montage, it’s pretty damn close for a fraction of the price. Of course you can see where they cut costs with components but you get almost exactly the same brain. It has also become the gateway drug to the Montage.
How cool is it that Yamy has featured a fully blown (and extended) FM synthesis engine? This alone almost makes this keyboard worth the admission price.
So true. The keybed was the only thing which attracted criticism really. I would’ve bought a module version of this in a heartbeat. The sound module market just must be dead nowadays.
Jimmy Jenkinson that is understandable, Cheap keybeds are a non starter. Some dont like the Nord keybeds but when I have played the stage at Guitar center i just love it
With the new update the sequencer makes this a killer workstation now, and not forgetting the ability to load your own samples and have them stored on flash memory too! Well done Yamaha.
Thanks for posting. Agree, the best value for the money on the MODX. The MODX is very editable; if you really spend the time with tailoring the sounds like the way you prefer, you can get the most out of it compared to other workstations on the market (for the price). The weakest part are the organs and the keyboard action. The organs are not a modeled; however, if you spend the time tweaking them, you will find a useful organ. The keyboard action is weak but I use the MODX as a top board and assign sounds via midi it to a nice feeling controller. Really happy with the MODX as a live setup. It just not my preference to use VSTs and laptops and cable and power adapters all over the place...
Nice. I learned a lot! You touched on the Roland FA's dated digital PCM sounds from 20 years ago. I wholeheartedly agree; however, if you reach back an additional 15-20 years, you'll find the Roland classic synths and drum machines that changed popular music forever and that modern electronic musicians still love and use. The FA is flush with these sounds. It's a veritable "Roland's Greatest Hits" package and great value when you consider what having all those individual classic Roland synths (or boutiques) would cost. Well worth considering for electronic musicians. Of course, Yamaha has a grand legacy of its own with FM synthesis and the MODX can't be beaten for getting that 80s specific sound when it some to synths. Thanks for the video!
Sir Darrick 💯 you hit the🎯 on the Roland sounds vs Yamaha MODX (Dated vs Modern) 🙏😎. Your knowledge of your gear( technically) is astonishing!. I thought the keybed was cheesy. Thanks again😎
Its exactly what I have been saying for years .. Roland makes some excellent instruments, no doubt, but it really bothers me that in those 1100 or so sounds of their sound source , like he points out here half of the sounds is so well known in your mind because they havn't been updated since the first U-110 module and JV and D-70 wich the latter I used for several years back in the 90'ies some of these sounds are not 20 but almost 30 years old now
I recently bought this keyboard, with which I allowed too many years go by with the technology changing so much, which was a big jump from the Yamaha 9000 pro. In your reference to the keybed, I have to say you are absolutely right. The 9000 pro, IMO, is a great keybed to use in comparison to this one. Disappointing yes, but it fitted my budget at the time. Thank you for your informative video Darrick.
Excellent video! I love my MODX. Best synth and best value synth I have ever owned. I love the new update that adds DAW remote and a cool smart fm morpher. The MODX with CUBASE is all I will ever need. If I ever did upgrade, it would be to a MONTAGE, but really no reason to, unless I hit the lottery, lol.
The combination of Cubasis (iOS) and MODX is very powerful. Since the MODX has a good (class compliant) audio/MIDI interface, you can send audio/MIDI data to and from the DAW without any perceptible latency. Best of both worlds, using MODX sounds combined with iOS instruments such as Pianoteq (pianos are a weak point of MODX/Montage), the sequencing and even mastering power of a DAW....and no mouse-clicking required. However, I recently upgraded from MODX8 to Montage (classic) 8, because I didn't really enjoy playing on the MODX8 keybed. I miss the "Rhythm Pattern" button, but I like having 8 buttons for switching the scenes.
I have the exact set up. They compliment each other nicely. I love the MODX8 as a stand alone as well. Some don't like the pianos, but honestly they sound fine to me. I play Jazz/Fusion/Latin and Top 40 and it plays well in all of those genres. For the money you can't beat it. And not to mention it isn't even near as hard to move as my KRONOS which I love but it kills my back! :) Thank for the Vid! Great Job!
Ok, I had a Ensoniq VFXSD for years. I moved to a Korg Karma when it came out. About 22 years later got the Yamaha MODX 6. I love it, it's great. I would like to be able to audition sounds on the latest track while the sequence is playing. Now I want a Korg Wavestate or a Hydrasynth and maybe a Akai Mpc
Thanks for this review, I actually just placed a bid on eBay for a used one. About the keybed, I actually like the keybed on the MODX6, its a lot better than my IK iRig Keys MiDi controller that I currently have. Thanks again.
Although I shy away from workstation keyboards but I do like the modx however the keybed is not awesome. But for the price they had to cut costs somewhere and for the price its an amazing deal
@@yannic2248 The MODX8 bed is really nice, and even more so if you play piano. The 6 and 7 beds feel very cheap and are a bit too well sprung for the light weight of the keys. They could probably be fixed with some counterweights, but it's a lot of messing around.
I got both Roland FA-6 and MoDX, the sounds are different obviously but I dont find that "old sounds" are bad sounds . . .Many of the XV/JV sounds from Roland has been studio standards for years, but they are really good. Many of the other sounds of the FA are new ones, and is not dated in my opinion, and sound crisp, natural and nice. . ..I like both synths, I just got my MODX, and adore it . . .but that not make the typical synthsounds of XV/JV/XP bad. . those are still good
I didn't say the FA's sounds were "bad." There are of course classic sounds that never go out of style. This is especially true in the "synth" department. But if I am looking for realistic brass, woodwinds, strings, basses, guitars, drums, pianos, EPs, organs etc, those tiny samples simply do not hold enough information to sound realistic by today's standards. All companies recycle sounds but I think Roland takes it too far. I have all of the JV/XV sounds in my Fantom, MC-707, FA08 and RD2000. They have all of the old expansions available and they keep coming out with remakes of sound libraries from the Juno 106, Jupiter 8, SH101, etc. I get it they are classic synths. But when they came out they were innovative, cutting edge and shaped whole genres. It would be nice to see them push the envelope again. I feel there are more sounds, effects, and control capabilities in the Yamaha that push the envelope more than the FA.
Yeah, I was pissed because I was set on the RD 2000. Went into the store and played the MODX and was pissed ! Ordered the MODX8 . Your demo was excellent.
Nice review, love the freestyle playing. I have the MODX7 and find the keybed good to use (perhaps they have updated it?). The only criticism would be each key has too much sideways slack but something you get used to. Some sounds, as with all boards, are a little bit thin, but layering/changing can add immense depth. Best thing about this board is the dynamic depth, giving great expression. Knocks my Krome out of the park.
It's not a "problem." Sounds and keybeds are a matter of taste and preference. Nothing more than an opinion. It is an awesome board and I use it live all the time
Another Great! & unbiased opinion. Now that gigs are lockdown I will have the time to reprogram all the cover sounds, but first need your input choosing between MODX7 & Korg Nautilus 7. Cyber week is still on the horizon in getting 20% off. Thank you
The Fantom O series is out now, and is the new value leader in my opinion. User sampling, 256 poly, 2gb storage, full tonewheel engine, USB stereo all 16 parts, VA model expansions available, decked-out control surface. I do have the MODX and like it for the FM sounds and ambient pads.
Holy cow, you still have a SY85? That was the first synthesizer I owned, back in 1993. Sold it when I got a Triton Extreme (and sampled my favorite SY85 voices for nostalgia).
17:42: I believe you can actually expand on the faders and knobs with a MIDI control surface like Korg nanocontrol 2 and connect it via the USB to the MODX. Would that be an option for you? MODX is a real good steal, considering it is the only one that one can get with modern features. I wonder what the future looks like for the other companies.
Hi Great video. I bought in last July and would like to buy others synth to my gear, but many times realizing MODX can be programmed to get the sounds which are GREAT, and kept my money. You pointed out most of the sounds are dated, but it is to say we can load lot of new samples, and either by Soundmondo or Yamaha with new releases, free, or from Easysounds by pay, you can completely renew your sound library.
@@darrickkeels6387 Yes! really sorry about confusion. Another question raised to me is I can not hear the sound module when playing a midi tracks from Garage Band, have you experienced this ? is it normal, even if I am able to use USB audio and record one midi track with the MODX into GarageBand that I can play to any vst but MODX connect ! Thanks and congrats for your videos
Darrick, this is a great review. I purchased an FA 07, last year, and it was a choice between the FA and the MODX 7. I knew the MODX was the more modern, more heavily featured synth, and that it had the Montage engine. Really, I should have purchased the Yamaha. But, the keybed was what persuaded me to go for the FA 07. The 07 on the Roland is a better keybed than on the 06, which is almost as awful as the MODX's. The MODX feels flat and unresponsive. I totally agree with your comments. It's a shame, because in every other way, it beats the Roland. I just couldn't imagine enjoying playing on the MODX. Recently, I tried the new Roland Fantom, which has an excellent keybed, on both the 61 and 76 synth action versions, and the 88, fully weighted keybed, taken from the Roland RD2000. When you play the Fantom 7 or 6, you cannot hear the click of the keys, even when playing silently. And the bounce on the board is beautiful. The only problem is the massive cost, putting it into the Montage price bracket. Have you tried the Fantom?
Yes, I have played the Fantom 6 and 8. Roland did a great job on those keybeds and hardware in general. . But what I found is once I got past the few shiny new sounds the others were dated sounding. Lots of sounds from their 90's keyboards and sound modules. In fact amongst Fantom owners on their forums it's probably the number 1 complaint. And the amount of insert effects is lacking, so making rich sounding sequences would be a major challenge for me. However, I have my eye on it as they continue to make updates.
@@darrickkeels6387 thanks for the heads up. I will bare that in mind. To be fair, there are some great VST plugins out there at the moment, with some super sounds. In fact, I think some of the big synth manufacturers might be accused of resting on their laurels, and trading on their name. If I were buying a keyboard now, after weighing up all the information, I might go for a good quality midi controller, like a Native Instruments, and surf the net for plugins. Arturia have produced some great ones. I have recently downloaded a demo of the Oberheim XA. It's really good.
@@darrickkeels6387 Hi. Just to let you know, I have just placed a deposit on, with the view to collecting it next weekend, a MODX 8. I was going to purchase a hard core synthesizer, but I went for the 8 instead. When I consider that this is practically a £3000 keyboard (except for a few details) for less than £1300, it just had to be done. I would like to thank you for putting me on the road to this decision. So if it goes wrong, it's all on you 😆Just kidding, my friend. All the best to you.
I honestly wish Yamaha MODX had a lighted keyboard as the EZ220!!! I realize it is not a beginners keyboard but still it would be a great thing. Professionals or those that don't need lighted keys could always turn it off.
DX sounds generation is 37 years old AWM .. had that in my SY77 which came out in 1989 - 31 years ago... but okay yeah yamaha is awm 2.... so 19 years ago yamaha motif...2001 and montage came out 2016 so 4 years back "new" ... right :)
The AWM2 sound engine simply refers to the process of sample playback and digital filtering that Yamaha uses. It is more of a broad "umbrella" term. There have been many advances in the sound engine in the past 20-30 years. Hence a Montage sounds lightyears better than an SY77. Samples are much larger now and can contain so much more detail. The Motif Classic had a ROM size of 84MB. The Motif XF 741MB. The MODX contains 5.67GB of samples. Yeah...they all fall under the category of AWM2 but they are not the same.
Thinner black keys can be good though sometimes so you don't take down 3 keys accidentally when trying to hit the white key between (my ensoniq TS12 has black keys that're too close together and it really slows you down
Hi Darrick, which one of these boards do you think would make a good midi controller. I have been using a Roland FA08 and had a Roland Jupiter 80. I’d rather that they have their own sound library so I can compose without having to load a sound in DAW.. but some of these have weighted key which is good for piano but bad when you need to input drums.. the dedicated midi keyboards on the market feel a bit too flimsy and cheap… watched a couple of your reviews and wonder how you think of it.
I would use a Montage personally if I were to use a keyboard with on board sounds as a MIDI controller. The Roland Fantom would also be a good choice due to excellent DAW integration.
Great Video Darrick!!👌🏼 I got a MODX8 earlier this year and it's a valuable investment for that price range. It's an efficient workstation that delivers diverse and intelligent sound design capabilities alongside an extensive sound library (particularly in the synth categories). However, I'm a bit disappointed with a few features about the MODX8 1. The sound breaks during my live performance when I combine multiple sound patches and effects. 2. There seems to be significant latency when navigating the system's interface via the touch screen and this creates noticeable lag. 3. Sound trasitions when switching between scenes is not seamless and can be very rough and pronounced. I've been very attracted to the highly acclaimed KRONOS lately as I believe it will have the raw power and sophistication that suits my needs. Although I'm still kinda holding on a bit to see whether KORG releases a newer flagship (Kronos 3 maybe) that has upgraded features with a more modern user interface and experience. I hope I wouldnt be disappointed
Thank you for the compliment! I like making videos like this. I have found that I am more prone to running into polyphony issues with the MODX than I am on the Korg Kronos, or even the Nord Stage 3. If I am only playing the MODX,the when using layers I try to only use "single part" sounds in the MODX. This helps to preserve polyphony. Many of the "multi part" sounds really seem to be designed to use alone. Also whenever it makes sense to use an FM sound as opposed to a AWM-2 sound I will do so thus taking advantage of both sound engines. The FM engine has its own 64 voices. But ultimately I am normally pairing the MODX with another keyboard of mine. In a live setting polyphony is not an issue because the MODX is handling auxiliary sounds (horns, strings, synth bass, flute, synth lead etc). I like the operating system of the MODX a lot better than the Kronos. But if I am running a one keyboard set up, I normally use the Kronos, it's just more powerful.
@@darrickkeels6387 short note i also have a kronos and from what i can tell from looking at the modx, i dont own one as yet but am considering buying one, to me the kronos operating system is far easyer then the modx ? cheers
sold my Kronos it doesnt sound that great to me sounds a bit sterile the 4gb piano is like well frankly i can get better piano for what i want out of a cheaper board. i hated the 2 minute plus bootup time and once a month even with a quality ups id get a crash. As far as keybeds goes yes its a bit better i had the 76. Then again I have a casio PX5S which is light but a lovely 88 hammer action on it I use it to control the rig basically. Unless im going for a break my finger slides on organ sounds
I read somewhere that the factory preset sounds are voiced (EQed, effects,...) differently on MODX and Montage. Supposedly to make Montage sound better. Is that true?
Hi Darrick: I love the review and the honestly -- too many people just say how great everything is..so I thought I would toss you a comment. I heard someone review that the 76 was better than the 88. I was looking at the 88 to practice piano skills and have a legitimate tool for my daughters to start on.
If the goal is for your daughters to learn how to play piano, I think the 88 is the best option. This will help them develop their finger strength. The MODX7 has the exact same keybed as the MODX6. The only difference is actually the amount of keys.
Hello everyone. I would like an honest opinion from fellow keyboard players out there. I have done my research and I definitely want the sounds from the modx. But.. I know the keybeds from me reading reviews are not so good. So I have an idea.. how about having the modx6 on top, and as my main piano on the bottom, the studiologic sl88 grand keyboard controller. From my personal opinion, I think it’s a pretty good idea! The great sounds from the modx plus Keyboard action on top and my sl88 grand for my main pianos and e pianos etc, what y’all think? Doing this for church performances
A good sound is always a good sound! Sometimes it's like the wine ...the older the better. So what problem if the samples are taken from the older Motif series and the Motif series itself contains older samples from the older EX series and the other yamaha synths etc etc.. I think Yamaha samples can sound too clean or processed sometimes, but they sit nice in a production of any genre and style. They sound good in a live context too if you know how to choose the correct sounds in a situation . It's up to the composer/arranger to choose the correct sounds for a project! The MODX is a wonderful, complete instrument with many sounds and possibilities to accomplish your musical concerns! In this price range it's the best allrounder Synth/Workstation (IMHO) (incl. the firmware upgrades)... so i agree it's the Ultimate Value Synth !!
Regarding Yamaha's clean sounds, yes I mostly agree. The good thing is, it is so easy to dirty up a sound if needed - some overdrive, distortion, treble roll-off etc. Fun times!
Hey everyone, Ian here. I was the same as Robert Gianchino, only with the PSR 7000, using the 16 track to the max and creating some great compositions as a home studio. Can you do the same with the MoDX, and record single instruments as a home studio work station and create a full band, or is this more for LIVE performances ?
question do you need a very special UsB key to synthesize I have the same synth how they do what they do sounds that join songs from varieties like Bon Jovi for example or Toto Jean-Michel Jarre have- they a software with thanks
Thank you I play a lot of 50s, 60s,70s music...and as an alternative to playing an arranger KB like Yamaha SX900 etc, I thought I would try to migrate to a synth, workstation etc like the Modx using the arps/patterns? thoughts? also is the key bed better on the MODx7?
Totally agree. There is no light weight, affordable "Kronos Jr". Krome isn't even close. The Roland FA's seemed generally inferior too. Roland does offer the Cloud synths, so with the inclusion of a laptop you could still get many of Roland's classic sounds and use your MODX as a MIDI controller or another keyboard you may have.
I had a Kronos 73 when it first came out and the keybed on that was terrible, after using a Triton which was much better . The last good kbd from Korg was on the Z1 and the Prophecy.
I agree that the keybed on the 60 and 76 key models is pretty bad. But the weighted keybed on the MODX 8 (88 key) is fairly decent, so if that's your biggest problem, than spend a few hundred more and get the better keyboard. It will be a little longer and heavier, but still much lighter and cheaper than any Montage. I agree that the sounds and value are outstanding.
The MODX8 does have a decent keyboard but I don't like playing weighted keyboards as "top tier" rigs. My top tier board is mainly used for auxiliary sounds like organ, synths, horns, etc. stuff with lots of fast rifts etc. But value wise I don't think anything else truly competes. It's basically a Montage in a different case. Sonically speaking it is beyond anything else in its price range.
I’m so back and forth about this keyboard. Over a year ago when I was looking for a keyboard I wouldn’t buy because I didn’t like the skinny keys. I’m wondering if the 76 keys are the same. When I see a keyboard that looks like what I want it’s always missing something or priced too high for my budget but I know that’s the business. 😃
The keys on the 76 are the same as the keys on the 61. The only difference is the amount of keys. The only keyboard with a different key action in the line is the MODX8.
There is one in Craigslist for $1250 I can’t call because I’ve played the MODX7 but made the mistake of playing the MODX8 -your right-the key bed can reduce the happy. However the 8 can produce the sad when it lightens your wallet 🤨
What about the audio output resolution? The fact that it is a 44khz output does not bother you? I tested the 88 keys version, the keybed is really nice...but the output is a problem for me because I always record in 24bit/48khz resolution
Derrick [sorry for all the questions I've been asking but your videos are super helpful!!] Did you find the MODX keybed difficult/problematic? I'm still weighing between the MODX and Fantom 0, and not easy to find them side by side to compare. Thanks!
I don't mind dated sounds but they have to be iconic.. something that I could be used in a band setting and give maybe a certain feeling like the clavs in funk music
Indeed iconic Roland synth leads, pads, TR-909 drums, Jupiter 8 sounds, SH-101 emulations, etc are excellent. Old violin, saxophones, acoustic and electric guitars, grand pianos, acoustic basses, trumpets, trombones, French Horns, flutes etc will just sound old and unrealistic.
@@derekholiday6576 No. In reality if you compare it to other keyboards in its price range, it is on par with those keyboards. But the "brain" of the board is flagship quality. In general, if the Montage has it so does the MODX. It's missing buttons, A/D Converters, FM Polyphony, and some MIDI and analog I/O, and the overall build quality of the Montage. That's it really. The Krome is not only missing the overall build quality of the Kronos but all of the sound engines, Karma, audio tracks for sequencing, the SSD, insert effects, the list goes on. The Krome is not not a Kronos. With the MODX you truly are basically getting a Montage (Internally). Same sounds, same effects, same operating system. The cut backs are fairly minor considering it is less than half the price.
@Derrick I used to spell my name that I changed it. I know about the krona the keys on it feels like child’s play.... I was preferring to the Yamaha Modf how is the Key bed on the Yamaha Modx?
Yes in my opinion it does feel less cheap. However, the MODX6 doesn't feel all that different from other "entry level" professional keyboards in its price range. You may want to give it a try.
Nice video, which one is this, I am a synth player, but when I tried the modx6, 7 and 8 I felt like I'd pay the extra for the modx 8 as the keybed felt much more inspiring, I don't recall it feeling that much different than the kronos (the fa-08 felt very heavy keys) , am I crazy? the modx 6 keybed was average but if you have ever played a microkorg or mininova you will know bad toy keys
Awesome video, thanks. I'm seriously considering either an MODX6 plus a nice new DP (P-515 or RD-88) rather than just another new stage piano (CP-88 or RD-2000). I've always had stage pianos (currently an MP7) and never had a two-tier setup before, but it feels like this would be more flexible. Are there any downsides to purely driving this with a separate DP's keyboard? Will the patches respond even better to a good quality keybed via MIDI? Often I'll be playing somewhere that already has a decent digital piano, so the thought of just having to bring a MODX6 and hook up with MIDI cables, and leaving the 'piano' at home is really tempting. Cheers!
always find the keyboard feel them connect sounds either internal or external. make sure the keyboard has the level of control you want. ootherwise you wind up with boxes all over the place. i suggest you start by using the digital piano available at the venue, take a korg nanocontrol2 and rack modules for synth or other sounds. then decide what you wish you had to make your workflow easier for you.
Will it store individual transpose-settings for each scene/program or whatever it’s called? And will those settings go back to neutral/normal key whenever the next scene is loaded...? And does that goes for the arpeggiator as well? Thanks. Great review btw 😊
if you need a piano yea that keybed sucks completely. cp88 is way better for that. but if you a performance synth the modx is fine. i have a montage and motif xf....
I certainly wouldn't shy away from this keyboard even as a beginner or newcomer. Basic features like layering, splitting, playing a drum track , and of course playing sounds from the large sound library is fairly straightforward. The other deep parameters can be learned as the need arises or you can go step by step.
G'day Darrick It's Phil from Australia. I just bought a modx8 and absolutely love it except the CFX pianos were very flat sounding out of the box. I've managed to change the EQ on the First cfx piano /e piano on the list to sound like the Audition, however I'd be keen to know how you make your piano sounds so Rich and so Good. What did you do to make your CFX sound so good??
Hey Darrick... Is this keyboard is good for live if you're using this as a primary keyboard?is there any issues related when we are changing sounds during live Or tone change cut off? Please help me out of this
It is a great live keyboard. However as far as seamless transitions it can do it but there are limits. I think if your sounds has more than 4 "parts" you cannot do seamless transitions.
I would test out the keybed before purchasing. Keybed "feel" is very subjective. And as badly as I talked about the keybed it clearly didn't keep me from getting a MODX6.
Thx for d reply I have gotten D modx7 (07/23/20) D bed is not D best but it’s a (A++++)board)and this one with my Krome ex88 man I am ready. Keep doing what u are doing Great video.
Darrick Keels agree....key beds are so personal.....I think the modx6 keybed is really poor. However it doesn’t take long to get used to it. It quickly becomes (just about) acceptable and does the job.
Yeah i would say the roland has dated sounds to a degree.A lot of those 20 year old sounds are from there expansion line up which was pretty expensive back in the day.That's why i went with the yamaha line up early Roland made you pay for alot of the expression patches with the horns and guitars while they came packaged with the AWM2 line of yamaha keyboards.
How old are the piano, drums, organs, horns, etc. that these keyboards are emulating? Exactly, some new sounds can’t beat an “old” sound. You are wise to keep it all in perspective by saying it’s your opinion. Having said that, the MODX sounds very good.
All I am saying is that technology evolves. Many sounds become "classics" but not all 1100 of the really old sounds included in the Roland line of products are "classics." Furthermore the Rhodes emulations in the MODX, Kronos, Nord etc are FAR superior to the Roland XP-80 "Rhodes" offerings. The same can be said about the acoustic drums, trumpets, guitars, french horns, sax, grand pianos etc. Loading up a keyboard today with the exact same sounds as 20 or even 30 years ago will have your product become obsolete fast. Yes some of the MODX sounds are old but at least the effects and element parameters are new. The same cannot be said for the Roland FA-08. And the bottomline is that the MODX is outselling the FA08 by a ton. So I guess the larger consumer base is not looking for XP-80, JV-1080, and XV-3080 sounds...again.
Nice work, very informative video. I'm actually looking to buy that particular keyboard but I have a question for you. I'm used to the "old school" way of putting arrangements together. In the 80's and 90's I used the Roland Juno 1 and an Alesis MMT8, Ensoniq SD1 and the Ensoniq EPS16 plus, both sequencer and sampler with incredible sounds and ability. No DAW! I am a little bit worried from what you said about the "Keybed" not being up to par, but I see you still liked it enough to go ahead and add it to your gear. My question is, can I get similar production from the Yamaha MoDX? Generally speaking, will I be able to arrange and mixdown complete songs without using a DAW? Back in those days DAW's were around but mostly used by educated studio professionals. I tried Cakewalk back in 1988 but to me it took too long and messed up my creative flow. Even recently I tried Ableton Live and still found it a bit confusing. I'm hoping this is the keyboard I'm looking for. Knowledge Is power, thanks for passing it on!
Ah yes...the Ensoniq EPS16 Plus, I had one as well. The MODX is a great keyboard but its sequencer is quite limited. It is a pattern-based sequencer and definately doesn't have an "old school" workflow. The MODX (and Montage) are really performance synths. The sequencer it has came in an update and was only put in due to customers griping at the fact there was no onboard sequencer. Take it from a keyboardist who also owned an Ensoniq EPS16 Plus, you will be frustrated trying to record and mixdown entire arrangements if that is your frame of reference. I think you would be happier with a Roland FA workstation. It has great sounds and a traditional linear sequencer. I have recorded entire songs with that machine and it reminds me of an old school way of working, no DAW needed. Also the Korg Krome workstation has a traditional linear sequencer as well. The Yamaha is not a workstation at heart but a digital performance synth designed to be used with a DAW when you really want to do some serious recording. Hope this helps. Thanks for watching. I appreciate it.
@@darrickkeels6387 I sure did! I picked up the Roland FA 06 because it seem to fit my need and my budget! Also, it didn't take me too long to get familiar with it. I still have a lot to learn though. I'm actually a drummer who picked up the keys back in the 80's to be able to write my own vibes. You know how you're playing in a band and you hear something the guitar should be doing or the keys should be doing, but they never do! That's when I decided to get a little 4 track and start making it happen! Well I'm gonna see if there's any creativity left and make the best of it! ThanQ Darrick
If I was buying it to use as my main keyboard for playing piano, strings, pads etc, I would get the MODX+. If it was going to be for mainly "synth" sounds I would get the Fantom-0.
The MODX7 is exactly the same as the MODX6 except it is 76 keys. The MODX8 is a decent action. While it does not feel "high end" it certainly does not feel cheap. Feels more like a mid-grade action in my opinion. If I needed an 88 weighted keybed, I'd have NO problem purchasing a MODX8.
GOT A QUESTION FOR YA ABOUT THE MODX. IT HAS ALL OF THE SAME SOUNDS. BUT WHY IS IT SO MUCH WEAKER THATN THE MONTAGE. DO YOU HAVE ANY FIX FOR THIS? OR DO I HAVE TO GO IN AND MANULLY TWEAK THIS MYSELF? IF SO DO YOU HAVE A VIDEO SHOWING HOW TO DO THIS?
The MODX is a more rounded keyboard than the Nord Electro 6. The Electro is great for Clavs, EP's, Acoustic Piano, Organs and some light synth stuff. But if you need lead guitars, bass, drums, horns, strings, woodwinds, etc you will find the Nords are lacking high quality sounds in those departments (well they do have great strings but they are limited to 34 voice polyphony.) Also layering and split capabilities on the Nord is limited too. Simple, easy to use, practical but limited nonetheless. Now to your actual question...LOL...I think in terms of sound quality the MODX and the Kronos are equals. There are sounds like better in the Kronos (like the EP's). But there are sounds I like better on the MODX (i.e electric guitars). What really separates these two instruments is their other capabilities and workflows. The Kronos is more "powerful." A full-featured sequencer, sampler, 9 sound engines versus 2, a 60 GB SSD for storing sounds/samples, more robust setlist functionality, etc. However, it really comes down to your needs. If you have Kronos money you should probably be looking at the Montage instead. Do you need a full-featured sequencer on your keyboard? Do you do a lot of sampling? Do you have complicated sounds that require you to have access to 16 sounds all at once versus 8? If the answer to these questions is no, you may not need all the "extra power" of the Kronos. The Kronos touch screen and user interface is very dated but gets the job done. If you are just comparing sounds however that will come down to your personal opinion.
Also Kronos is sooo long in the tooth now Korg must surely be superceding it soon. Both Yamaha and Roland have updated their flagships - Montage and the new Fantom. Kronos is still very capable but Korg could drop a succesor at any moment.
The Kronos has more engines than the MODX or Montage, but I'm largely unimpressed with those engines such as the organ modeling, and was never much of a fan of the MS-20, Poly6, etc. I think the sampling engines are the most important along with the FM ability, and either Korg or Yamaha stack up pretty well. I use my MODX for sampling & FM, and my soft synths for engines of famous analog synths I actually cared about, like those from Moog, Oberheim, Roland & ARP. And I use organ modeling on the laptop that is generally a lot better than what the Kronos provides. So my advice is buy the light weight, affordable MODX and get a laptop and soft synths to fill any gaps and you'll come out ahead of the Montage.
That is a great review; I like a natural and peaceful way how you share your thoughts!
With the FM e piano’s YOU CAN COMBINE the Rhodes samples for awesome electric piano’’s.
That’s what I’m talking about! You playing it ! Other videos I watch they always play out of space music and I don’t get the chance to hear the sounds , that’s how you do it Bro, thank you for this video I been looking for someone to really play it and you it. Thank you! God Bless
You get straight to the point. No 3 minute intro or nothing, good job, great video.
I appreciated this video, it is clear, accurate, and the comparisons with other keyboards are appropriate. I bought a Fantom as I simply couldn't get past the bad feel of the MODX key bed. I don't have any problems with the 'dated' Fantom (or FA) sounds, nor I think do folks out in the audience really care. It's really more of a 'producer-y' complain. A teensy tweak of a knob is enough to change an old sound into a brand new one.
Completely agree! Best decision that Yamaha made. They broke the unspoken rule that a mid-range synth cannot be as good as their flagship board. Although it’s not quite a Montage, it’s pretty damn close for a fraction of the price. Of course you can see where they cut costs with components but you get almost exactly the same brain. It has also become the gateway drug to the Montage.
You are right about the gateway drug because I really want the better keybed now lol! Thanks for stopping by my channel again.
Hate that term
LOVE my live sets and performances from narfsounds.com! Thank you, Narf! Now ... back to this excellent video from Darrick!
This is a timely, indepth, thorough musical analysis that allows both novices & experts to understand.
You can control live sets by foot as well (a pedal into "assignable") :) Super useful
Nice video, couldn't agree more!
How cool is it that Yamy has featured a fully blown (and extended) FM synthesis engine? This alone almost makes this keyboard worth the admission price.
Well, i'll stick to my older MOXF and added a Korg opsix ! Thats an "altered" FM beast and it loads DX7 patches :-))
A rack-mount version would be a great add-on to use with a more formidable flagship workstation like Kronos, Montage, Fantom or Nord‼️
So true. The keybed was the only thing which attracted criticism really. I would’ve bought a module version of this in a heartbeat. The sound module market just must be dead nowadays.
The cheap keybed is what made me buy a used Montage 6 instead of a brand new MODX. And I am glad I did!
1000% agree the keyboard is terrible but after you play it long enough you get used to it. I agree to buy a used montage.
Modx is amazing keyboard. I'm not missing the montage. Don't dis my keyboard. Montage is over weight over priced keyboard.
good move its way better
Jimmy Jenkinson that is understandable, Cheap keybeds are a non starter. Some dont like the Nord keybeds but when I have played the stage at Guitar center i just love it
With the new update the sequencer makes this a killer workstation now, and not forgetting the ability to load your own samples and have them stored on flash memory too!
Well done Yamaha.
Yes the constant upgrades is putting this "budget" keyboard way ahead of its peers.
Thanks for posting.
Agree, the best value for the money on the MODX. The MODX is very editable; if you really spend the time with tailoring the sounds like the way you prefer, you can get the most out of it compared to other workstations on the market (for the price). The weakest part are the organs and the keyboard action. The organs are not a modeled; however, if you spend the time tweaking them, you will find a useful organ. The keyboard action is weak but I use the MODX as a top board and assign sounds via midi it to a nice feeling controller. Really happy with the MODX as a live setup. It just not my preference to use VSTs and laptops and cable and power adapters all over the place...
Nice. I learned a lot! You touched on the Roland FA's dated digital PCM sounds from 20 years ago. I wholeheartedly agree; however, if you reach back an additional 15-20 years, you'll find the Roland classic synths and drum machines that changed popular music forever and that modern electronic musicians still love and use. The FA is flush with these sounds. It's a veritable "Roland's Greatest Hits" package and great value when you consider what having all those individual classic Roland synths (or boutiques) would cost. Well worth considering for electronic musicians. Of course, Yamaha has a grand legacy of its own with FM synthesis and the MODX can't be beaten for getting that 80s specific sound when it some to synths. Thanks for the video!
Thanks for the compliment! I appreciate it.
Sir Darrick 💯 you hit the🎯 on the Roland sounds vs Yamaha MODX (Dated vs Modern) 🙏😎. Your knowledge of your gear( technically) is astonishing!. I thought the keybed was cheesy. Thanks again😎
Thank you! I appreciate it!
Its exactly what I have been saying for years .. Roland makes some excellent instruments, no doubt, but it really bothers me that in those 1100 or so sounds of their sound source , like he points out here half of the sounds is so well known in your mind because they havn't been updated since the first U-110 module and JV and D-70 wich the latter I used for several years back in the 90'ies some of these sounds are not 20 but almost 30 years old now
I recently bought this keyboard, with which I allowed too many years go by with the technology changing so much, which was a big jump from the Yamaha 9000 pro. In your reference to the keybed, I have to say you are absolutely right. The 9000 pro, IMO, is a great keybed to use in comparison to this one. Disappointing yes, but it fitted my budget at the time. Thank you for your informative video Darrick.
Thank you for watching! I appreciate it!
Your so great at reviews you should be sponsored and hired by these companies
Excellent video!
I love my MODX.
Best synth and best value synth I have ever owned.
I love the new update that adds DAW remote and a cool smart fm morpher.
The MODX with CUBASE is all I will ever need.
If I ever did upgrade, it would be to a MONTAGE, but really no reason to, unless I hit the lottery, lol.
It is certainly my best value synth. By far! Thanks for watching!
Thank you for sharing
The combination of Cubasis (iOS) and MODX is very powerful. Since the MODX has a good (class compliant) audio/MIDI interface, you can send audio/MIDI data to and from the DAW without any perceptible latency. Best of both worlds, using MODX sounds combined with iOS instruments such as Pianoteq (pianos are a weak point of MODX/Montage), the sequencing and even mastering power of a DAW....and no mouse-clicking required.
However, I recently upgraded from MODX8 to Montage (classic) 8, because I didn't really enjoy playing on the MODX8 keybed. I miss the "Rhythm Pattern" button, but I like having 8 buttons for switching the scenes.
I have the exact set up. They compliment each other nicely. I love the MODX8 as a stand alone as well. Some don't like the pianos, but honestly they sound fine to me. I play Jazz/Fusion/Latin and Top 40 and it plays well in all of those genres. For the money you can't beat it. And not to mention it isn't even near as hard to move as my KRONOS which I love but it kills my back! :) Thank for the Vid! Great Job!
Michael Diaz Yeah same the Pianos are not that good I contacted Yamaha about it
Thank you for watching!
Yamaha should be giving you a commission. You just sold another one. Great Video 🙏
I wish they were. Congratulations on your purchase BTW.
Ok, I had a Ensoniq VFXSD for years. I moved to a Korg Karma when it came out. About 22 years later got the Yamaha MODX 6. I love it, it's great. I would like to be able to audition sounds on the latest track while the sequence is playing. Now I want a Korg Wavestate or a Hydrasynth and maybe a Akai Mpc
Great review, it helped me with my purchase decision! Best bang for buck workstation well said!
Thanks for this review, I actually just placed a bid on eBay for a used one. About the keybed, I actually like the keybed on the MODX6, its a lot better than my IK iRig Keys MiDi controller that I currently have. Thanks again.
Although I shy away from workstation keyboards but I do like the modx however the keybed is not awesome. But for the price they had to cut costs somewhere and for the price its an amazing deal
Yeah, the keybed lets it down a bit..
I play mine using an old SY85 for the most part.
I assume you are not talking about the keybed of the MODX8 as it has a graded hammer action?
@@yannic2248 The MODX8 bed is really nice, and even more so if you play piano. The 6 and 7 beds feel very cheap and are a bit too well sprung for the light weight of the keys.
They could probably be fixed with some counterweights, but it's a lot of messing around.
Good job Darrick. Just ordered mine.
great review i just mine and still learning it.....
It takes awhile to learn. But once you understand Yamaha's way of thinking it becomes easier.
I got both Roland FA-6 and MoDX, the sounds are different obviously but I dont find that "old sounds" are bad sounds . . .Many of the XV/JV sounds from Roland has been studio standards for years, but they are really good. Many of the other sounds of the FA are new ones, and is not dated in my opinion, and sound crisp, natural and nice. . ..I like both synths, I just got my MODX, and adore it . . .but that not make the typical synthsounds of XV/JV/XP bad. . those are still good
I didn't say the FA's sounds were "bad." There are of course classic sounds that never go out of style. This is especially true in the "synth" department. But if I am looking for realistic brass, woodwinds, strings, basses, guitars, drums, pianos, EPs, organs etc, those tiny samples simply do not hold enough information to sound realistic by today's standards. All companies recycle sounds but I think Roland takes it too far. I have all of the JV/XV sounds in my Fantom, MC-707, FA08 and RD2000. They have all of the old expansions available and they keep coming out with remakes of sound libraries from the Juno 106, Jupiter 8, SH101, etc. I get it they are classic synths. But when they came out they were innovative, cutting edge and shaped whole genres. It would be nice to see them push the envelope again. I feel there are more sounds, effects, and control capabilities in the Yamaha that push the envelope more than the FA.
Yeah, I was pissed because I was set on the RD 2000. Went into the store and played the MODX and was pissed ! Ordered the MODX8 . Your demo was excellent.
Value wise, yes its a great value.
Nice review, love the freestyle playing.
I have the MODX7 and find the keybed good to use (perhaps they have updated it?). The only criticism would be each key has too much sideways slack but something you get used to.
Some sounds, as with all boards, are a little bit thin, but layering/changing can add immense depth. Best thing about this board is the dynamic depth, giving great expression. Knocks my Krome out of the park.
Interesting point, the keybed of my MOXF6 feels pretty sturdy in terms of sideways movement. I wonder, if both boards have the same keybed.
Didnt recognize the problem with the keybed, bc I got the MODX8 which has the weighted hammer action. Love my MODX a lot. It's my favorite board!
It's not a "problem." Sounds and keybeds are a matter of taste and preference. Nothing more than an opinion. It is an awesome board and I use it live all the time
Another Great! & unbiased opinion. Now that gigs are lockdown I will have the time to reprogram all the cover sounds, but first need your input choosing between MODX7 & Korg Nautilus 7. Cyber week is still on the horizon in getting 20% off. Thank you
The Fantom O series is out now, and is the new value leader in my opinion. User sampling, 256 poly, 2gb storage, full tonewheel engine, USB stereo all 16 parts, VA model expansions available, decked-out control surface. I do have the MODX and like it for the FM sounds and ambient pads.
Yup the Fantom-0 is now the way to go in my opinion.
@@darrickkeels6387 How about Fantom-0 vs MODX8 ?
Good review. My personal choice was for the Roland Fantom, but there is no doubt that the MODX is an incredible value!
Thanks for the video. The key bed made this a no for me. To me that's the most important thing especially for the price point.
Using a MODX6 with an SY85 and it's a glorious combo.
Holy cow, you still have a SY85? That was the first synthesizer I owned, back in 1993. Sold it when I got a Triton Extreme (and sampled my favorite SY85 voices for nostalgia).
@@janosKern1 I have 2.. 😜
Excellent review.
17:42: I believe you can actually expand on the faders and knobs with a MIDI control surface like Korg nanocontrol 2 and connect it via the USB to the MODX. Would that be an option for you?
MODX is a real good steal, considering it is the only one that one can get with modern features. I wonder what the future looks like for the other companies.
Hi Great video. I bought in last July and would like to buy others synth to my gear, but many times realizing MODX can be programmed to get the sounds which are GREAT, and kept my money. You pointed out most of the sounds are dated, but it is to say we can load lot of new samples, and either by Soundmondo or Yamaha with new releases, free, or from Easysounds by pay, you can completely renew your sound library.
I believe you misunderstood me. I said the sounds in the FA series of workstation by Roland are dated.
@@darrickkeels6387 Yes! really sorry about confusion. Another question raised to me is I can not hear the sound module when playing a midi tracks from Garage Band, have you experienced this ? is it normal, even if I am able to use USB audio and record one midi track with the MODX into GarageBand that I can play to any vst but MODX connect ! Thanks and congrats for your videos
Darrick, this is a great review. I purchased an FA 07, last year, and it was a choice between the FA and the MODX 7. I knew the MODX was the more modern, more heavily featured synth, and that it had the Montage engine. Really, I should have purchased the Yamaha. But, the keybed was what persuaded me to go for the FA 07. The 07 on the Roland is a better keybed than on the 06, which is almost as awful as the MODX's. The MODX feels flat and unresponsive. I totally agree with your comments. It's a shame, because in every other way, it beats the Roland. I just couldn't imagine enjoying playing on the MODX. Recently, I tried the new Roland Fantom, which has an excellent keybed, on both the 61 and 76 synth action versions, and the 88, fully weighted keybed, taken from the Roland RD2000. When you play the Fantom 7 or 6, you cannot hear the click of the keys, even when playing silently. And the bounce on the board is beautiful. The only problem is the massive cost, putting it into the Montage price bracket. Have you tried the Fantom?
Yes, I have played the Fantom 6 and 8. Roland did a great job on those keybeds and hardware in general. . But what I found is once I got past the few shiny new sounds the others were dated sounding. Lots of sounds from their 90's keyboards and sound modules. In fact amongst Fantom owners on their forums it's probably the number 1 complaint. And the amount of insert effects is lacking, so making rich sounding sequences would be a major challenge for me. However, I have my eye on it as they continue to make updates.
@@darrickkeels6387 thanks for the heads up. I will bare that in mind. To be fair, there are some great VST plugins out there at the moment, with some super sounds. In fact, I think some of the big synth manufacturers might be accused of resting on their laurels, and trading on their name. If I were buying a keyboard now, after weighing up all the information, I might go for a good quality midi controller, like a Native Instruments, and surf the net for plugins. Arturia have produced some great ones. I have recently downloaded a demo of the Oberheim XA. It's really good.
@@darrickkeels6387 Hi. Just to let you know, I have just placed a deposit on, with the view to collecting it next weekend, a MODX 8. I was going to purchase a hard core synthesizer, but I went for the 8 instead. When I consider that this is practically a £3000 keyboard (except for a few details) for less than £1300, it just had to be done. I would like to thank you for putting me on the road to this decision. So if it goes wrong, it's all on you 😆Just kidding, my friend. All the best to you.
A+++ /on the video/I have a Krome ex88 and a modx7 but sending the modx7 back and getting a modx8 better key-bed
I honestly wish Yamaha MODX had a lighted keyboard as the EZ220!!! I realize it is not a beginners keyboard but still it would be a great thing. Professionals or those that don't need lighted keys could always turn it off.
Exactly my thoughts ... great video ... !
Thank you. I appreciate the compliment.
DX sounds generation is 37 years old
AWM .. had that in my SY77 which came out in 1989 - 31 years ago...
but okay yeah yamaha is awm 2.... so 19 years ago yamaha motif...2001
and montage came out 2016 so 4 years back
"new" ... right :)
The AWM2 sound engine simply refers to the process of sample playback and digital filtering that Yamaha uses. It is more of a broad "umbrella" term. There have been many advances in the sound engine in the past 20-30 years. Hence a Montage sounds lightyears better than an SY77. Samples are much larger now and can contain so much more detail. The Motif Classic had a ROM size of 84MB. The Motif XF 741MB. The MODX contains 5.67GB of samples. Yeah...they all fall under the category of AWM2 but they are not the same.
For me MODX is the only digital synth worth owning. FMX alone is pure gold.
Thinner black keys can be good though sometimes so you don't take down 3 keys accidentally when trying to hit the white key between
(my ensoniq TS12 has black keys that're too close together and it really slows you down
Hi Darrick, which one of these boards do you think would make a good midi controller. I have been using a Roland FA08 and had a Roland Jupiter 80. I’d rather that they have their own sound library so I can compose without having to load a sound in DAW.. but some of these have weighted key which is good for piano but bad when you need to input drums.. the dedicated midi keyboards on the market feel a bit too flimsy and cheap… watched a couple of your reviews and wonder how you think of it.
I would use a Montage personally if I were to use a keyboard with on board sounds as a MIDI controller. The Roland Fantom would also be a good choice due to excellent DAW integration.
Great Video Darrick!!👌🏼
I got a MODX8 earlier this year and it's a valuable investment for that price range. It's an efficient workstation that delivers diverse and intelligent sound design capabilities alongside an extensive sound library (particularly in the synth categories). However, I'm a bit disappointed with a few features about the MODX8
1. The sound breaks during my live performance when I combine multiple sound patches and effects.
2. There seems to be significant latency when navigating the system's interface via the touch screen and this creates noticeable lag.
3. Sound trasitions when switching between scenes is not seamless and can be very rough and pronounced.
I've been very attracted to the highly acclaimed KRONOS lately as I believe it will have the raw power and sophistication that suits my needs.
Although I'm still kinda holding on a bit to see whether KORG releases a newer flagship (Kronos 3 maybe) that has upgraded features with a more modern user interface and experience.
I hope I wouldnt be disappointed
Thank you for the compliment! I like making videos like this. I have found that I am more prone to running into polyphony issues with the MODX than I am on the Korg Kronos, or even the Nord Stage 3. If I am only playing the MODX,the when using layers I try to only use "single part" sounds in the MODX. This helps to preserve polyphony. Many of the "multi part" sounds really seem to be designed to use alone. Also whenever it makes sense to use an FM sound as opposed to a AWM-2 sound I will do so thus taking advantage of both sound engines. The FM engine has its own 64 voices. But ultimately I am normally pairing the MODX with another keyboard of mine. In a live setting polyphony is not an issue because the MODX is handling auxiliary sounds (horns, strings, synth bass, flute, synth lead etc). I like the operating system of the MODX a lot better than the Kronos. But if I am running a one keyboard set up, I normally use the Kronos, it's just more powerful.
@@darrickkeels6387 short note i also have a kronos and from what i can tell from looking at the modx, i dont own one as yet but am considering buying one, to me the kronos operating system is far easyer then the modx ? cheers
sold my Kronos it doesnt sound that great to me sounds a bit sterile the 4gb piano is like well frankly i can get better piano for what i want out of a cheaper board. i hated the 2 minute plus bootup time and once a month even with a quality ups id get a crash. As far as keybeds goes yes its a bit better i had the 76. Then again I have a casio PX5S which is light but a lovely 88 hammer action on it I use it to control the rig basically. Unless im going for a break my finger slides on organ sounds
Wery god and useful presentation. Thak's a lot.🙂
I read somewhere that the factory preset sounds are voiced (EQed, effects,...) differently on MODX and Montage. Supposedly to make Montage sound better. Is that true?
Hi Darrick: I love the review and the honestly -- too many people just say how great everything is..so I thought I would toss you a comment. I heard someone review that the 76 was better than the 88. I was looking at the 88 to practice piano skills and have a legitimate tool for my daughters to start on.
If the goal is for your daughters to learn how to play piano, I think the 88 is the best option. This will help them develop their finger strength. The MODX7 has the exact same keybed as the MODX6. The only difference is actually the amount of keys.
thank you for your honest opinion. and may I know which model do you recommend?
Really great review Yamaha should send you a free key board
Hello everyone. I would like an honest opinion from fellow keyboard players out there. I have done my research and I definitely want the sounds from the modx. But.. I know the keybeds from me reading reviews are not so good. So I have an idea.. how about having the modx6 on top, and as my main piano on the bottom, the studiologic sl88 grand keyboard controller. From my personal opinion, I think it’s a pretty good idea! The great sounds from the modx plus Keyboard action on top and my sl88 grand for my main pianos and e pianos etc, what y’all think? Doing this for church performances
THIS IS A GREAT VIDEO !!!!!!!
Thank you for watching
Brother should we buy the MODX compromising with the bad quality of keys whereas the keys play the greatest role in playing a good music . plz guide.
A good sound is always a good sound! Sometimes it's like the wine ...the older the better. So what problem if the samples are taken from the older Motif series and the Motif series itself contains older samples from the older EX series and the other yamaha synths etc etc.. I think Yamaha samples can sound too clean or processed sometimes, but they sit nice in a production of any genre and style. They sound good in a live context too if you know how to choose the correct sounds in a situation . It's up to the composer/arranger to choose the correct sounds for a project! The MODX is a wonderful, complete instrument with many sounds and possibilities to accomplish your musical concerns! In this price range it's the best allrounder Synth/Workstation (IMHO) (incl. the firmware upgrades)... so i agree it's the Ultimate Value Synth !!
Regarding Yamaha's clean sounds, yes I mostly agree. The good thing is, it is so easy to dirty up a sound if needed - some overdrive, distortion, treble roll-off etc. Fun times!
How does this compare to the mofx6 keybed..anyone knows..trying to decide between this and the moxf6...moxf having the sounds from the motif XF
There’s also a converter online that lets you convert .Sysex/Syx (DX-7) files so that you can use it on the modx and montage
Hey everyone, Ian here.
I was the same as Robert Gianchino, only with the PSR 7000, using the 16 track to the max and creating some great compositions as a home studio.
Can you do the same with the MoDX, and record single instruments as a home studio work station and create a full band, or is this more for LIVE performances ?
question do you need a very special UsB key to synthesize I have the same synth how they do what they do sounds that join songs from varieties like Bon Jovi for example or Toto Jean-Michel Jarre have- they a software with thanks
Great review can you go over using the the patterns/arps , super knobs uses,etc, and sounds like Saxes, Trumpets , Brass, too?
It will be my next video more than likely
Thank you I play a lot of 50s, 60s,70s music...and as an alternative to playing an arranger KB like Yamaha SX900 etc, I thought I would try to migrate to a synth, workstation etc like the Modx using the arps/patterns? thoughts? also is the key bed better on the MODx7?
great review Derrick!
sorry Darrick - I need new reading glasses
@@fergusfurlong Thank you. I appreciate it. So funny I almost decided not to upload it. I am glad I did.
@@darrickkeels6387 I'm glad and appreciate that you did
Ive got the roland fa06 hows the keybed of the modx6 compated to the fa06
I have the Korg Kronos 2 for the bottom & the Forte for the top, covers everything.
The Forte is a great keyboard
I own Motif XF8, I’m debating on Replacing it with Montage8 OR keeping it and getting MODX61 to compliment it. Hard to decide
I would definitely play the MODX before buying one to make sure the build quality and Keynes are okay for you
In value for money MODX kicks ass over anything Korg or Roland have in this price point.
I agree
Totally agree. There is no light weight, affordable "Kronos Jr". Krome isn't even close.
The Roland FA's seemed generally inferior too. Roland does offer the Cloud synths, so with the inclusion of a laptop you could still get many of Roland's classic sounds and use your MODX as a MIDI controller or another keyboard you may have.
2024: The answer is still yes! Even more so, because a MODX6 can be had pre-owned for 750$.
I had a Kronos 73 when it first came out and the keybed on that was terrible, after using a Triton which was much better . The last good kbd from Korg was on the Z1 and the Prophecy.
I agree that the keybed on the 60 and 76 key models is pretty bad. But the weighted keybed on the MODX 8 (88 key) is fairly decent, so if that's your biggest problem, than spend a few hundred more and get the better keyboard. It will be a little longer and heavier, but still much lighter and cheaper than any Montage. I agree that the sounds and value are outstanding.
The MODX8 does have a decent keyboard but I don't like playing weighted keyboards as "top tier" rigs. My top tier board is mainly used for auxiliary sounds like organ, synths, horns, etc. stuff with lots of fast rifts etc. But value wise I don't think anything else truly competes. It's basically a Montage in a different case. Sonically speaking it is beyond anything else in its price range.
I’m so back and forth about this keyboard. Over a year ago when I was looking for a keyboard I wouldn’t buy because I didn’t like the skinny keys. I’m wondering if the 76 keys are the same. When I see a keyboard that looks like what I want it’s always missing something or priced too high for my budget but I know that’s the business. 😃
The keys on the 76 are the same as the keys on the 61. The only difference is the amount of keys. The only keyboard with a different key action in the line is the MODX8.
@@darrickkeels6387
Thanks. Maybe it will be different the next time I check it out at the store.
There is one in Craigslist for $1250 I can’t call because I’ve played the MODX7 but made the mistake of playing the MODX8 -your right-the key bed can reduce the happy. However the 8 can produce the sad when it lightens your wallet 🤨
Can you suggest an affordable Speaker to get the output sound?
What about the audio output resolution? The fact that it is a 44khz output does not bother you? I tested the 88 keys version, the keybed is really nice...but the output is a problem for me because I always record in 24bit/48khz resolution
No it doesn't because I only use it for live play personally.
Derrick [sorry for all the questions I've been asking but your videos are super helpful!!]
Did you find the MODX keybed difficult/problematic? I'm still weighing between the MODX and Fantom 0, and not easy to find them side by side to compare. Thanks!
In my opinion it does feel cheap but I still have it and still play it. So I wouldn't call it problematic.
I don't mind dated sounds but they have to be iconic.. something that I could be used in a band setting and give maybe a certain feeling like the clavs in funk music
Indeed iconic Roland synth leads, pads, TR-909 drums, Jupiter 8 sounds, SH-101 emulations, etc are excellent. Old violin, saxophones, acoustic and electric guitars, grand pianos, acoustic basses, trumpets, trombones, French Horns, flutes etc will just sound old and unrealistic.
Brother got the Kronos also! Wow!
We have the same name and same keyboard! 😂😂
Darrick Keels ..... Yep I’m thinking about the Modf are the key beds that bad?
@@derekholiday6576 No. In reality if you compare it to other keyboards in its price range, it is on par with those keyboards. But the "brain" of the board is flagship quality. In general, if the Montage has it so does the MODX. It's missing buttons, A/D Converters, FM Polyphony, and some MIDI and analog I/O, and the overall build quality of the Montage. That's it really. The Krome is not only missing the overall build quality of the Kronos but all of the sound engines, Karma, audio tracks for sequencing, the SSD, insert effects, the list goes on. The Krome is not not a Kronos. With the MODX you truly are basically getting a Montage (Internally). Same sounds, same effects, same operating system. The cut backs are fairly minor considering it is less than half the price.
@Derrick I used to spell my name that I changed it. I know about the krona the keys on it feels like child’s play.... I was preferring to the Yamaha Modf how is the Key bed on the Yamaha Modx?
@@derekholiday6576 I personally do not care for the keybed on the MODX
Thanks for the review! Do you know if the keybed on the MODX8 (weighted keys) feels less cheap?
Yes in my opinion it does feel less cheap. However, the MODX6 doesn't feel all that different from other "entry level" professional keyboards in its price range. You may want to give it a try.
Nice video, which one is this, I am a synth player, but when I tried the modx6, 7 and 8 I felt like I'd pay the extra for the modx 8 as the keybed felt much more inspiring, I don't recall it feeling that much different than the kronos (the fa-08 felt very heavy keys) , am I crazy? the modx 6 keybed was average but if you have ever played a microkorg or mininova you will know bad toy keys
Yes my FA08 keys are very heavy and a bit sluggish too. Not unplayable by any means though
Hola tengo motif ES
Vale la pena cambiarlo por MODX?
Hi what keyboard stand do you have there ??
The strings freaking blew my mind lol so dramatic for a moment
Definately one of Yamaha's strong areas is strings and orchestral sounds
I'm torn, because the no-aftertouch of the MODX is a big deal. Why they didn't include aftertouch is beyond me. It's production cost is CHEAP.
As someone that plays a mo6, would the modx6/7 keybed be a downgrade?
Yes
Awesome video, thanks. I'm seriously considering either an MODX6 plus a nice new DP (P-515 or RD-88) rather than just another new stage piano (CP-88 or RD-2000). I've always had stage pianos (currently an MP7) and never had a two-tier setup before, but it feels like this would be more flexible. Are there any downsides to purely driving this with a separate DP's keyboard? Will the patches respond even better to a good quality keybed via MIDI? Often I'll be playing somewhere that already has a decent digital piano, so the thought of just having to bring a MODX6 and hook up with MIDI cables, and leaving the 'piano' at home is really tempting. Cheers!
always find the keyboard feel them connect sounds either internal or external. make sure the keyboard has the level of control you want. ootherwise you wind up with boxes all over the place. i suggest you start by using the digital piano available at the venue, take a korg nanocontrol2 and rack modules for synth or other sounds. then decide what you wish you had to make your workflow easier for you.
Will it store individual transpose-settings for each scene/program or whatever it’s called? And will those settings go back to neutral/normal key whenever the next scene is loaded...? And does that goes for the arpeggiator as well? Thanks. Great review btw 😊
Indeed you can. This works for the arpeggiator as well. And thank you!
I’m not crazy about the feel/ depth of keybed. Had to ditch it. Made my hands hurt. CP88 is the way to go
I love the CP88! It is a great stage piano.
Not enough depth in the keybed?
if you need a piano yea that keybed sucks completely. cp88 is way better for that. but if you a performance synth the modx is fine. i have a montage and motif xf....
Casual comment from J Lorber 😎
Thanks so much for the video. Is the MODX suitable for synthesizer beginner/newcomer or does it have a steep learning curve? Thanks
I certainly wouldn't shy away from this keyboard even as a beginner or newcomer. Basic features like layering, splitting, playing a drum track , and of course playing sounds from the large sound library is fairly straightforward. The other deep parameters can be learned as the need arises or you can go step by step.
I am really liking what I hear about the MODX. Do you know if the keybed on the MODX7 is a bit better?
No. The MODX6 and 7 have the same keybed.
Yes
G'day Darrick
It's Phil from Australia. I just bought a modx8 and absolutely love it except the CFX pianos were very flat sounding out of the box. I've managed to change the EQ on the First cfx piano /e piano on the list to sound like the Audition, however I'd be keen to know how you make your piano sounds so Rich and so Good. What did you do to make your CFX sound so good??
What you heard on this video is actually the preset CFX Grand 😂. No edits whatsoever.
@@darrickkeels6387 Its my bad sound perception. Swapped from FA08. Lol
Hey Darrick...
Is this keyboard is good for live if you're using this as a primary keyboard?is there any issues related when we are changing sounds during live Or tone change cut off?
Please help me out of this
It is a great live keyboard. However as far as seamless transitions it can do it but there are limits. I think if your sounds has more than 4 "parts" you cannot do seamless transitions.
Great review A+++/But I am a Krome ex 88 guy I am getting this board (76keys) for D top but I am not sure about the key bed
I would test out the keybed before purchasing. Keybed "feel" is very subjective. And as badly as I talked about the keybed it clearly didn't keep me from getting a MODX6.
Thx for d reply I have gotten D modx7 (07/23/20) D bed is not D best but it’s a (A++++)board)and this one with my Krome ex88 man I am ready. Keep doing what u are doing Great video.
Darrick Keels agree....key beds are so personal.....I think the modx6 keybed is really poor. However it doesn’t take long to get used to it. It quickly becomes (just about) acceptable and does the job.
Yeah i would say the roland has dated sounds to a degree.A lot of those 20 year old sounds are from there expansion line up which was pretty expensive back in the day.That's why i went with the yamaha line up early Roland made you pay for alot of the expression patches with the horns and guitars while they came packaged with the AWM2 line of yamaha keyboards.
How old are the piano, drums, organs, horns, etc. that these keyboards are emulating? Exactly, some new sounds can’t beat an “old” sound. You are wise to keep it all in perspective by saying it’s your opinion. Having said that, the MODX sounds very good.
All I am saying is that technology evolves. Many sounds become "classics" but not all 1100 of the really old sounds included in the Roland line of products are "classics." Furthermore the Rhodes emulations in the MODX, Kronos, Nord etc are FAR superior to the Roland XP-80 "Rhodes" offerings. The same can be said about the acoustic drums, trumpets, guitars, french horns, sax, grand pianos etc. Loading up a keyboard today with the exact same sounds as 20 or even 30 years ago will have your product become obsolete fast. Yes some of the MODX sounds are old but at least the effects and element parameters are new. The same cannot be said for the Roland FA-08. And the bottomline is that the MODX is outselling the FA08 by a ton. So I guess the larger consumer base is not looking for XP-80, JV-1080, and XV-3080 sounds...again.
Nice work, very informative video. I'm actually looking to buy that particular keyboard but I have a question for you. I'm used to the "old school" way of putting arrangements together. In the 80's and 90's I used the Roland Juno 1 and an Alesis MMT8, Ensoniq SD1 and the Ensoniq EPS16 plus, both sequencer and sampler with incredible sounds and ability. No DAW! I am a little bit worried from what you said about the "Keybed" not being up to par, but I see you still liked it enough to go ahead and add it to your gear. My question is, can I get similar production from the Yamaha MoDX? Generally speaking, will I be able to arrange and mixdown complete songs without using a DAW? Back in those days DAW's were around but mostly used by educated studio professionals. I tried Cakewalk back in 1988 but to me it took too long and messed up my creative flow. Even recently I tried Ableton Live and still found it a bit confusing. I'm hoping this is the keyboard I'm looking for. Knowledge Is power, thanks for passing it on!
Ah yes...the Ensoniq EPS16 Plus, I had one as well. The MODX is a great keyboard but its sequencer is quite limited. It is a pattern-based sequencer and definately doesn't have an "old school" workflow. The MODX (and Montage) are really performance synths. The sequencer it has came in an update and was only put in due to customers griping at the fact there was no onboard sequencer. Take it from a keyboardist who also owned an Ensoniq EPS16 Plus, you will be frustrated trying to record and mixdown entire arrangements if that is your frame of reference. I think you would be happier with a Roland FA workstation. It has great sounds and a traditional linear sequencer. I have recorded entire songs with that machine and it reminds me of an old school way of working, no DAW needed. Also the Korg Krome workstation has a traditional linear sequencer as well. The Yamaha is not a workstation at heart but a digital performance synth designed to be used with a DAW when you really want to do some serious recording. Hope this helps. Thanks for watching. I appreciate it.
@@darrickkeels6387 I'll take a good look at the Roland FA. Next week I'll be making a decision and update you with my choice. ThanQ!!
@@danjo2253 Did you decide on a keyboard?
@@darrickkeels6387 I sure did! I picked up the Roland FA 06 because it seem to fit my need and my budget! Also, it didn't take me too long to get familiar with it. I still have a lot to learn though. I'm actually a drummer who picked up the keys back in the 80's to be able to write my own vibes. You know how you're playing in a band and you hear something the guitar should be doing or the keys should be doing, but they never do! That's when I decided to get a little 4 track and start making it happen! Well I'm gonna see if there's any creativity left and make the best of it! ThanQ Darrick
If you had to pick one would you choose the modx+ or the Roland fantom 06?
If I was buying it to use as my main keyboard for playing piano, strings, pads etc, I would get the MODX+. If it was going to be for mainly "synth" sounds I would get the Fantom-0.
@@darrickkeels6387 Ok. Thanks for the reply.
Hi Darrick, are you able to comment on or have any experience with the MODX 76 or 88 keybed? Thanks
The MODX7 is exactly the same as the MODX6 except it is 76 keys. The MODX8 is a decent action. While it does not feel "high end" it certainly does not feel cheap. Feels more like a mid-grade action in my opinion. If I needed an 88 weighted keybed, I'd have NO problem purchasing a MODX8.
GOT A QUESTION FOR YA ABOUT THE MODX. IT HAS ALL OF THE SAME SOUNDS. BUT WHY IS IT SO MUCH WEAKER THATN THE MONTAGE. DO YOU HAVE ANY FIX FOR THIS? OR DO I HAVE TO GO IN AND MANULLY TWEAK THIS MYSELF? IF SO DO YOU HAVE A VIDEO SHOWING HOW TO DO THIS?
I love my MODX7
Thanks for your review. I was debating between the Nord Electro 6D vs MODX6. How would you rate the MODX sounds compared to the KRONOS
The MODX is a more rounded keyboard than the Nord Electro 6. The Electro is great for Clavs, EP's, Acoustic Piano, Organs and some light synth stuff. But if you need lead guitars, bass, drums, horns, strings, woodwinds, etc you will find the Nords are lacking high quality sounds in those departments (well they do have great strings but they are limited to 34 voice polyphony.) Also layering and split capabilities on the Nord is limited too. Simple, easy to use, practical but limited nonetheless. Now to your actual question...LOL...I think in terms of sound quality the MODX and the Kronos are equals. There are sounds like better in the Kronos (like the EP's). But there are sounds I like better on the MODX (i.e electric guitars). What really separates these two instruments is their other capabilities and workflows. The Kronos is more "powerful." A full-featured sequencer, sampler, 9 sound engines versus 2, a 60 GB SSD for storing sounds/samples, more robust setlist functionality, etc. However, it really comes down to your needs. If you have Kronos money you should probably be looking at the Montage instead. Do you need a full-featured sequencer on your keyboard? Do you do a lot of sampling? Do you have complicated sounds that require you to have access to 16 sounds all at once versus 8? If the answer to these questions is no, you may not need all the "extra power" of the Kronos. The Kronos touch screen and user interface is very dated but gets the job done. If you are just comparing sounds however that will come down to your personal opinion.
Also Kronos is sooo long in the tooth now Korg must surely be superceding it soon. Both Yamaha and Roland have updated their flagships - Montage and the new Fantom. Kronos is still very capable but Korg could drop a succesor at any moment.
The Kronos has more engines than the MODX or Montage, but I'm largely unimpressed with those engines such as the organ modeling, and was never much of a fan of the MS-20, Poly6, etc. I think the sampling engines are the most important along with the FM ability, and either Korg or Yamaha stack up pretty well. I use my MODX for sampling & FM, and my soft synths for engines of famous analog synths I actually cared about, like those from Moog, Oberheim, Roland & ARP. And I use organ modeling on the laptop that is generally a lot better than what the Kronos provides.
So my advice is buy the light weight, affordable MODX and get a laptop and soft synths to fill any gaps and you'll come out ahead of the Montage.