Thinking about getting an RS7000..Sorted!

[musikmachine]

It's appealing to have everything in one box that i can just switch on and make music without anything getting in the way.Especially when inspiration hits and i need to get an idea down fast..

I'm thinking for live use as well..i have my misgivings about using my lappy,feels like too many things could go wrong..and i'd hate for anything to happen to it.

Aside fron that,it seems better suited to what i want to do which is mix my own stuff live.

I read that there's a learning curve involved in using the RS7000 like starting all over again which kinda put me off..this true?

How would you rate the synth/fx and the drums?Can you do full productions on it?By that i mean from initial idea to finished product..

Is the built in synth is taken from the yamaha motif?And is it progammeable like a va?I've read that the sounds are pretty standard or neutral but it is capable of good sounds with a little tweaking and fx(like most synths then?).

What are the pros and the cons when compared to software?I've had a few btis of hardware but nothing like this so i'd appreciate any info from experienced users.Had anyone done any of the modifications to it with success?

What ways are there to expand the memory?64mb wouldn't be enough for what i want.I've read of peole putting 2gb hds in them,is this a good idea?

Thanks for any info.

[musikmachine]

BUMP!

[himalaya]

I'll try to help you from a different perspective.
I own and use Yamaha's QY100, it's not RS7000 in spec-size-features, but it is similar in its methodology ( sorry this word sounds serious, but I bet there must be a more suitable one, lol).

I bought it to have a portable music gadget for use around the house,garden,plane, abroad, etc.
Every time I use it, I'm more creative than when I sit down in my little studio, which is kitted out with lots of hardware gear, not to mention software. I simply adore this little box.
I did think of buying the RS7000 for live use and its hands-on approach. Maybe soon. So the following is based on my research, use of various Yamaha instruments and Qy100.

Aside fron that,it seems better suited to what i want to do which is mix my own stuff live.

This is where RS7000 comes into life. All 16 track buttons can be muted and soloed very easyly. This is no trivial matter. Other boxes of this nature will not give you all tracks available per button basis, and soloing them is a multi button process. Here you can easliy solo one track , solo another etc. When you are done press the global unsolo, and you are back in full arrangement mode ! I'd partner RS7000 with a 16 fader midi controller to be able to control midi volume at the same time.

I read that there's a learning curve involved in using the RS7000 like starting all over again which kinda put me off..this true?

Like with any new instrument. However, in my view, Yamaha have a knack of making easily understood hardware UI. If you have used at least two different hardware instruments in your life, you will be flying in no time. For example, my QY100 is so small, that accessing menus is a must, but it desn't slow me down, or make me think where to go to find this or that.
If there is any delay in learning a new method, it will be compensated for by the speed of use/creativity once it is mastered.
You will have to access edit menus for copying tracks, measures, midi data, but for me it never is a problem as I grew up on a hardware sequencer...so I feel at home...but if you are used to simply dragging a clip etc, you may have to persevere for a week to get used to it.

How would you rate the synth/fx and the drums?Can you do full productions on it?By that i mean from initial idea to finished product..

The sounds are chosen for maximum dance floor impact, especially the drums, so no worries there.
Just keep in mind that you won't be able to edit whatever layers a sound may have as all changes are applied to all layers. Maybe in a similar way to reFX Nexus ? Still for live use this is all you need.

Is the built in synth is taken from the yamaha motif?And is it progammeable like a va?I've read that the sounds are pretty standard or neutral but it is capable of good sounds with a little tweaking and fx(like most synths then?).

Don't know where the sounds come form. But think of it this way, its a top of the line Yamaha module/sequencer, so the sounds will not dissappoint in its context ( hardware do-it-all music box) but when compared to modern VSTi VAs you may feel different.
Programmability is as complex/simple as what you see on the front panel. It's not NordLead 3, but for live dance music its all I'd need.

What are the pros and the cons when compared to software?I've had a few btis of hardware but nothing like this so i'd appreciate any info from experienced users

Really one word - freedom. I don't know why, but using someting like this frees me form this strange mindset I enter when producing on my PC and staring at the 19" monitor. As I said above, even with the little QY100, I was comparably more creative than with my PC.

I once sat in Stansted airport, the flight was delayed by two hours, in that time I had three solid tunes, which will be developed further in the studio. OK, RS1000 is much bigger and it's very unlikely that you will lug it around airport lounges with the aim to use every minute to make music, but you get the point ?

That's all. Get it and make music.

I almost forgot, here's a link to a great review by two people:
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/Oct01/a ... rs7000.asp

[musikmachine]

Thanks for the detailed reply himalaya.

For one i hadn't heard of the QY100 so i might get one of those in the future for portable use..

All sounds really good.It's the hands on aspect that is missing for me with software,no matter what there's going to be a mouse involved somewhere and i hate the mouse(for music),clicky click

I didn't know about the independant mute/solo feature,that will be excellent live!Can it also be used as a control surface?

I've had a few synths and an electribe if that qualifies me

<<For example, my QY100 is so small, that accessing menus is a must, but it desn't slow me down, or make me think where to go to find this or that.>>

Good point.It helps to know where everything is without having to think about it which i think is what been hands on is about.And i can see the benefit of that in a live situation,half the time looking at my controllers display or my monitor will slow me down or distract me

Yep that helps,think i'm going to get myself an RS7000

Thanks

[himalaya]

Just one correction. The mute and solo is not independent to each other.
You have to choose one or the other, with one button.
Have a look here:
http://www.harmony-central.com/Newp/200 ... -large.jpg

Yep that helps,think i'm going to get myself an RS7000

You better be quick then, RS7000 is not manufactured anymore ! (A shame, really)

[musikmachine]

Cheers himalaya.Duly noted!I was looking into the MC808 but when i found out you can only edit one midi track at a time and you have to stop playback to edit parameters that was that.

So one question MC909 or Yamaha RS7000?Or shall i start a new thread

[musikmachine]

I've listened to some demos of the RS7000 and weren't impressed overall.Then i listened to the korg electribe amd i'm wetting my pants

Sounds niiice The bass

Does the RS7000 sound like this:

[musikmachine]

[stale bread]

the rs7000 is one piece you definitely have to try out in person, the sequencer, hands on control, triggering, and midi fx are to die for. the sounds in the box are terrible, the sampler is very nice, but the sample management is arcane and slow.

if you've got another sound module with much better quality and don't need to really sample much then you could quite well find yourself in heaven, that said if you don't need to sample then you might what to try out an rm1x and pair that with some better sound sources.
the rs7000 is killer and I'll get another one day when they drop below $400, probably one of the greatest sequencers that ever lived.

[musikmachine]

the rs7000 is one piece you definitely have to try out in person, the sequencer, hands on control, triggering, and midi fx are to die for. the sounds in the box are terrible, the sampler is very nice, but the sample management is arcane and slow.

Thanks stale bread that helped immensely.A good synth is vital and meantime for sampling i've got the laptop.So i've gone for an EMX.Was thinking of adding a mkorg/ms2000 but the EMX has the MMT synthesis that the radias is based on so i think i'll be ok .It's the realtime performance aspect that did it and i can use it as a control surface/step sequencer plus it sounds lush

if you've got another sound module with much better quality and don't need to really sample much then you could quite well find yourself in heaven, that said if you don't need to sample then you might what to try out an rm1x and pair that with some better sound sources.
the rs7000 is killer and I'll get another one day when they drop below $400, probably one of the greatest sequencers that ever lived.

I'll use my laptop as a sound module/sampler etc.At least i'm not relying wholly on the pc and i have a back up/alternative. I think it will be a blast syncing it the emx up with live and jamming on the fly live and i'm looking forward to it

Cheers

[Madness]

Well the RS is a very, very, powerfull piece of kit. I have heard whole productions made on it that would blow your mind. If you have the time to dedicate to learning how to tweak it to the max and make the use of all the compression and effects on offer you can make snazzy productions.

[stale bread]

glad to help musikmachine but if you get a chance def check out the rs, I think the korgs synth sounds much better with less work but for the hands on controllability it's
kind of hard to beat rs7000, I know you'd love controling your softsynths with it, both are nice. my next hardware purchase is going to be a esx-1 so I do like the korgs

[FaX]

Do me a favor ... I was a moderator at RS7000.org.
The site is currently down and I cant get hold of Darren.
Don't judge the RS7K by it's synth engine.
It has the most kick midi sequencing I've used in a hardware device.
In fact it's the only Hardware I never should have sold to go software IMHO.
I know of no other sequencing device that allows you use 256 independent midi phrases in a song that can be anywhere from 1 bar too 256 bars long and be any time signature you want on any section in any track simultaneously and keep it all in sink.
Want 4/4 at 16 measures against 7/8 at 32 measures with 15/16 at 12 measures all looping in sync simultaneously then this is the baby for you.
The sequencer is complex has lots of midi delay / harmonize and clock offset options / midi beatstretching from 25%-800% which can be inserted in phrases at any beat/bar/tick clock position for any number of beats or bars / real time recycling of midi data/scene's for instant recall/lots if real time knobage/ tonnes of midi over dub / input quantize options / auto punch in/out recording modes / XOX mode at any time signature with everything from 1/4 notes too 1/128th notes and triplet subdivisions all punchable and recordable in realtime / step sequencing and event editing (yes you can even step sequency Midi CC's and NRPRN's at any clock resolution, metered subdivision and time signature, overdub and replace recording modes/ All midi effects can be redorded to track and reoverdubbed/ can program step entry from Whole notes down to 1/480th of a crotchet with ties , velocity, accents etc per step.
I could blab on for ages but the sequencer itself is the proverbial dogs danglies and in the right hands the TG (tone generator) can kick serious butt when combine with the sampling engine also.

[musikmachine]

I've ordered it now

I heard a few tracks made on the RS and nothing made me go wow,thats it.I know it's the musician and not the gear but nothing i heard or saw gave me a clear enough idea that it was right for me,i though it sounded fairly standard.Also often it was used with another synth as well and i had to wonder why?The EMX is going to fit right in with the type of music i make.I think it will make an nice fx unit also and it will be good routing various gear through the valves and turning up the drive I'm loving that realtime arp as well

The emx seems a bit more playable in that respect and thats what i'm after,realtime jamming.Korg seem to able to read what people want pretty well cos i've been looking for something like the emx for a while

to be continued...

[goldie]

Hello to everybody,
does somebody know how big smartmedia cards are supported by the rs7000? i can not ind information about that.

greets philipp who registered to ask this