First, let me explain that I am posting this message here because Squids was very helpful in the past on the topic of the Yamaha S90 and I know is a big fan, so I was hoping to get his and others insight.
Here's the issue. I'm looking for a weighted keyboard for my home studio and I'm not a great piano player -- it's not my main instrument. I like the sound and feel of the S90 and I have the opportunity to get a really good deal on one since they are coming out with the S90 ES. So what's the problem, you ask?
I've been thinking about this for a while and now the deal on the S90 ends today (and in this particular case, I don't think it is likely to be repeated anytime soon). I don't know if I would be making a big mistake getting the S90 which has been out for a few years when the S90 ES is right around the corner (August, I believe). Does it make sense to wait for the newest thing and pay the price (I think it will be about $600 - $700 or so more than the deal I can get on the S90)? Or, since I'm only a fair keyboard player, I don't play out on keyboard and I can save a good bit of money for a nice keyboard, does it make more sense for me to snatch it up now while I can?
Thnks very much in advance for your thoughts.
Yamaha S90 -- need advice FAST, please
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- Tunesmith
- 2889 posts since 12 Mar, 2002 from Toronto
hi. i dont know *that* much about this territory, my main expertise in hardware is the low-budget synth market. but i read over some info on the new es and it seems that the main improvement of this model over the one you are looking at is an expanded soundset, more dsp, and enhanced patch management.
so the question is: do you gig much? do you record a lot of sounds from the internals of a hardware keyboard or are you mostly using software modules like sampletank or sonik synth?
if you DONT use a lot of internal sounds, you would save yourself some cash by getting the previous model and not be missing much. it mentions that the hammers are identical to the s90.
Squids will give you better advice though because he is the yamaha guy and knows their keyboards inside out. i bet some of his sounds are in this s90es cause it mentions it borrows sounds from the motif series.
just to clarify, your deal on the s90 is from a store new, it's not used is it?
so the question is: do you gig much? do you record a lot of sounds from the internals of a hardware keyboard or are you mostly using software modules like sampletank or sonik synth?
if you DONT use a lot of internal sounds, you would save yourself some cash by getting the previous model and not be missing much. it mentions that the hammers are identical to the s90.
Squids will give you better advice though because he is the yamaha guy and knows their keyboards inside out. i bet some of his sounds are in this s90es cause it mentions it borrows sounds from the motif series.
just to clarify, your deal on the s90 is from a store new, it's not used is it?
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- KVRer
- Topic Starter
- 12 posts since 3 Jun, 2005
Hi. Thanks for the quick response.Mr. Tunes wrote:so the question is: do you gig much? do you record a lot of sounds from the internals of a hardware keyboard or are you mostly using software modules like sampletank or sonik synth?
....
just to clarify, your deal on the s90 is from a store new, it's not used is it?
No, I don't gig at all with keyboards. I will probably use the internal sounds in conjunction with soft synths to record. As far as effects, etc., I have some decent plugins, so while it would be helpful, I'm not sure the additional effects are necessarily essential.
And yes, the deal is for a new (not used) keyboard.
Thanks again.
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- Tunesmith
- 2889 posts since 12 Mar, 2002 from Toronto
no problem. i used to want to be a keyboard salesman, cause i love talking about keyboards so i thought it'd be a gratifying job. so then one day i hung out in the music store and sold keyboards, even though i wasnt employed to do so. long and mcquade should thank me for that day i sold a korg triton and a roland rs-9.
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- KVRist
- 194 posts since 11 Apr, 2001 from Burbank, CA
Couple of years ago I got Yamaha S08 for my studio, just for the keyboard. The sounds are just like the sounds in the little Yamaha synth S-something. For sounds I use VSTi's and sample librarys. Since I use the S08 as a controller I don't miss anything, and it cost me about $1000. But having a nice piano in the box would not hurt. I played S90 and it's a really great keyboard. I'm sure S90es will be even better.
So, what do I suggest? I would just go for the newer one and don't think about good or bad decision. That's what I did when I got my Motif6-ES
So, what do I suggest? I would just go for the newer one and don't think about good or bad decision. That's what I did when I got my Motif6-ES
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- KVRian
- 652 posts since 12 Sep, 2004
S90 if I'm to make the decision for you. Since I don't think you'll use that much of internal sounds and you don't gig (maybe in the future?).
But...if, this is a big IF...you can afford the S90es now...and don't mind spending the extra money in getting the "newest" keyboard from Yamaha, I would say, go for it. You might not know one day if you might "need" the internal sound (which I heard came with a great new sampled piano). And I think...for the S90es...you can add an mLan card to it so that you can record "digitally" from the keyboard to the computer!
Zai
But...if, this is a big IF...you can afford the S90es now...and don't mind spending the extra money in getting the "newest" keyboard from Yamaha, I would say, go for it. You might not know one day if you might "need" the internal sound (which I heard came with a great new sampled piano). And I think...for the S90es...you can add an mLan card to it so that you can record "digitally" from the keyboard to the computer!
Zai
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- KVRAF
- 7886 posts since 24 Feb, 2003 from Earth, USA
I played the S90 and ADORED the keyboard action on it. I really wanted it just for the keybed, but didn't care that much about the sounds. What I do? I bought the P60 instead! It's only $749, has the exact graded hammer weighted action, a few good sounds and built in speakers. Most importantly, it had MIDI out. The rest I could have dealt without, but consider it a 'bonus' otherwise.
I tried all the other 88 key keyboards, and the Yamaha just felt the best to me out of Korg, Roland, Fatar, M-Audio, etc. Personally, I prefer synth action for playing synths, and piano if I want to play piano only. My old Yamaha W5 I've had for 10 years now, and won't part with the 76 key beauty. The sounds are simply horrid, but it feels good to play. The rest of the 88 key competition just feels too 'stiff' and the Fatar that had 'real' hammer action felt too heavy and wore my hands out within 10 minutes. Make sure your hands are up for the task before you buy. I had the same problem with teh Roland A90 (I think it was the A90 at least?). It wear my hands down inside of 10 minutes of playing. Never would have known that if I jsut bought it out of a catalog.
In short, if you don't want/need the sounds all that badly, get the P60 instead and save a grip of cash.
Devon
I tried all the other 88 key keyboards, and the Yamaha just felt the best to me out of Korg, Roland, Fatar, M-Audio, etc. Personally, I prefer synth action for playing synths, and piano if I want to play piano only. My old Yamaha W5 I've had for 10 years now, and won't part with the 76 key beauty. The sounds are simply horrid, but it feels good to play. The rest of the 88 key competition just feels too 'stiff' and the Fatar that had 'real' hammer action felt too heavy and wore my hands out within 10 minutes. Make sure your hands are up for the task before you buy. I had the same problem with teh Roland A90 (I think it was the A90 at least?). It wear my hands down inside of 10 minutes of playing. Never would have known that if I jsut bought it out of a catalog.
In short, if you don't want/need the sounds all that badly, get the P60 instead and save a grip of cash.
Devon
Simple music philosophy - Those who can, make music. Those who can't, make excuses.
Read my VST reviews at Traxmusic!
Read my VST reviews at Traxmusic!
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- KVRer
- Topic Starter
- 12 posts since 3 Jun, 2005
I didn't intend to make it appear as though the sounds are unimportant to me. I am a woodwind player. The keyboard is for my own fun (for that I will use the internal sounds)and also for recording. I will use some of the sounds for that as well.
I had thought about the Roland RD-700SX and while I liked the keyboard feel of that instrument, the Piano sound was a bit on the brights side for me and I didn't care for the other sounds as much as the S90. I really like some of the electric pianos on the S90 and I like the arpeggiator -- the S90 ES has many more Arps, but I'm not sure I need 1700 + of them.
Although I can probably afford to get the ES if I really want to, it's really a matter of value for my uses. There are many things that I would like to add to my studio, including some soft synths and the $700 or so saved could be re-allocated to other things.
On the other hand I don't want to regret not splurging on the newer board later. It's really hard to say. I suppose if I get the S90 now and I feel like I MUST have the ES sounds, I can always add an ES Rack later.
I had thought about the Roland RD-700SX and while I liked the keyboard feel of that instrument, the Piano sound was a bit on the brights side for me and I didn't care for the other sounds as much as the S90. I really like some of the electric pianos on the S90 and I like the arpeggiator -- the S90 ES has many more Arps, but I'm not sure I need 1700 + of them.
Although I can probably afford to get the ES if I really want to, it's really a matter of value for my uses. There are many things that I would like to add to my studio, including some soft synths and the $700 or so saved could be re-allocated to other things.
On the other hand I don't want to regret not splurging on the newer board later. It's really hard to say. I suppose if I get the S90 now and I feel like I MUST have the ES sounds, I can always add an ES Rack later.
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- KVRAF
- 7886 posts since 24 Feb, 2003 from Earth, USA
P60 - $750
ES Rack - $1100
Total - $1850
S90 - $1999
You never did say how much you're getting the S90 for, but to me, if you're going hardware, I'd go the P60/ES Rack route personally.
Devon
ES Rack - $1100
Total - $1850
S90 - $1999
You never did say how much you're getting the S90 for, but to me, if you're going hardware, I'd go the P60/ES Rack route personally.
Devon
Simple music philosophy - Those who can, make music. Those who can't, make excuses.
Read my VST reviews at Traxmusic!
Read my VST reviews at Traxmusic!
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- KVRer
- Topic Starter
- 12 posts since 3 Jun, 2005
Thanks for your input. Just as a follow up, I decided to go the S90 route. I was able to get it for about $1350 (before tax -- yes, it was new). It's not as up to date as the ES Rack, but for what I'm doing it is more than adequate. I also have the added benefit of having everything in the one keyboard instead of dealing with a keyboard and a rack unit -- but if I decide I want more, I can always add a rack later.DevonB wrote: You never did say how much you're getting the S90 for, but to me, if you're going hardware, I'd go the P60/ES Rack route personally.
Devon
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- Sonic Reality Head Chef
- 8566 posts since 11 Mar, 2002 from Florida
Good move. The S90 is great. Nice price you got too. You can always use it as a controller for some nice softsynths and sample modules to expand as well. I use my Motif8 ES as much as a controller if not more than playing the on board sounds even though I like to write with them and noodle around or layer with SS2.
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- Tunesmith
- 2889 posts since 12 Mar, 2002 from Toronto
congratulations on getting the keyboard! i'm jealous as I lust for great gear like this. I want one too now.
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- KVRer
- Topic Starter
- 12 posts since 3 Jun, 2005
Thanks Squids and Mr. Tunes. It's always nice to get some positive feedback, especially when you plunk down that kind of money on a new piece of gear. I haven't had too much time to play with it yet, but from what little noodling I've done, I love it. Only negative so far is it looks a lot bigger in my small office/studio than it did in the store! I need to rearrange some things. Can't wait for the weekend!