Electronic Instruments User-reviews
- Short-cuts : Electronic Instruments
Yamaha PSR-90
By RickD on 04/22/2008 at 23:45 Serious about music, want to make it your profession.
By RickD on 04/22/2008 at 23:45 Serious about music, want to make it your profession.
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Characteristics 
Manual: http://www2.yamaha.co.jp/manual/pdf/emi/english/port/PSR90E.pdf
- What type of keyboard (synth, piano...)? How many octaves?
This is a 5 octave electronic keyboard, not a synth nor a piano. Not even close.
The touch is like most synths: ok, but no dynamic touch or after touch here. This is an extremely basic machine with crap sounds and it was probably extremely overpriced when it came out around 1982. However, if you stick it through some good effects, i'm sure you can use it quite adequately.
- What connection types are there? (audio, MIDI...)?
RCA stereo out, some sort of effects loops out & in (still stereo RCA) but i've never used that...MIDI in & out...exp pedal and footswith. Power is a separate adaptor.
The keyboard comes with a plastic & metal stand that fits on it and lets you have sheet music to read while you're playing, as seen on the photo here. You can take this off.
- How many different sounds and/or styles available? Can they be edited?
Not a lot. Check the manual but we're talking about 24-36 here.
You can't edit the sounds other than add chorus, reverb, portamento.
The rhythms are the only reason one would want to buy this, along with the fact that this is a very simple drum machine with some fairly decent sounds, surprisingly enough.
The rhythms are cheesy & fun, it's great, you can have a looot of fun with this. Plug it into an expander (i used my Roland GR-30 MIDI guitar expander with no probs) and you can actually have a good time, but i'm not sure you can do much with this thing apart from that.
- Is there an effects section?
Nope
- What are the features/characteristics of the sequencer?
4 tracks, you can save to cartridge if you find any on the second hand market (good luck) or to cassette or minidisc. Those of you who have had a Sinclair ZX Spectrum or a Commodore 64 will know what it's like.
- What type of keyboard (synth, piano...)? How many octaves?
This is a 5 octave electronic keyboard, not a synth nor a piano. Not even close.
The touch is like most synths: ok, but no dynamic touch or after touch here. This is an extremely basic machine with crap sounds and it was probably extremely overpriced when it came out around 1982. However, if you stick it through some good effects, i'm sure you can use it quite adequately.
- What connection types are there? (audio, MIDI...)?
RCA stereo out, some sort of effects loops out & in (still stereo RCA) but i've never used that...MIDI in & out...exp pedal and footswith. Power is a separate adaptor.
The keyboard comes with a plastic & metal stand that fits on it and lets you have sheet music to read while you're playing, as seen on the photo here. You can take this off.
- How many different sounds and/or styles available? Can they be edited?
Not a lot. Check the manual but we're talking about 24-36 here.
You can't edit the sounds other than add chorus, reverb, portamento.
The rhythms are the only reason one would want to buy this, along with the fact that this is a very simple drum machine with some fairly decent sounds, surprisingly enough.
The rhythms are cheesy & fun, it's great, you can have a looot of fun with this. Plug it into an expander (i used my Roland GR-30 MIDI guitar expander with no probs) and you can actually have a good time, but i'm not sure you can do much with this thing apart from that.
- Is there an effects section?
Nope
- What are the features/characteristics of the sequencer?
4 tracks, you can save to cartridge if you find any on the second hand market (good luck) or to cassette or minidisc. Those of you who have had a Sinclair ZX Spectrum or a Commodore 64 will know what it's like.
Utilisation 
- Is the general configuration/setup simple?
Oh yeah!
- Is the sound or effects editing easy?
The what?
- Is the manual clear and sufficient?...
Yep.
Oh yeah!
- Is the sound or effects editing easy?
The what?
- Is the manual clear and sufficient?...
Yep.
Overall Opinion 
- For how long have you been using it?
Probably too long.
- What thing do you like most/least about it?
I looove the rhythms and i often use the drum machine feature of it, cos it's easy & fast to come up with something, and i actually like some of the drum sounds, believe it or not.
That's why i bought it and that's why i still have it...after 8 years or so...
- Did you try many other models before getting this one?
One or two smaller ones...more modern...just as bad/kitsch.
- What is your opinion about the value for the price?
No idea how much this was selling in 1982 but it was way too much for what it is.
I bought it for a crazy £70 in 2000, and looking back i think i was stupid, it's worth £20 max. Unless you can see the unique fun potential in it...in which case it's priceless!
- Knowing what you know now, would you make the same choice?...
Yes, i guess, cos i've made one of my favourite tracks ever with the rhythms on this, and i would never have done that with any other machine.
Probably too long.
- What thing do you like most/least about it?
I looove the rhythms and i often use the drum machine feature of it, cos it's easy & fast to come up with something, and i actually like some of the drum sounds, believe it or not.
That's why i bought it and that's why i still have it...after 8 years or so...
- Did you try many other models before getting this one?
One or two smaller ones...more modern...just as bad/kitsch.
- What is your opinion about the value for the price?
No idea how much this was selling in 1982 but it was way too much for what it is.
I bought it for a crazy £70 in 2000, and looking back i think i was stupid, it's worth £20 max. Unless you can see the unique fun potential in it...in which case it's priceless!
- Knowing what you know now, would you make the same choice?...
Yes, i guess, cos i've made one of my favourite tracks ever with the rhythms on this, and i would never have done that with any other machine.
Moog Music Minimoog Voyager Rack Mount Edition
By son of the doctor on 03/29/2008 at 18:07 Music is a hobby.
By son of the doctor on 03/29/2008 at 18:07 Music is a hobby.
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Characteristics 
-monophonic (one note at a time) analog synthesizer.
-six octave steps.
-Audio out right and left (mono), ext in, filter audio in, Midi (in,thru,out), two standard male DB-25 connector.
-Bank with 128 presets, entire banks or individual presets may be uploaded and downloaded via MIDI (through Mac/PC).
-six octave steps.
-Audio out right and left (mono), ext in, filter audio in, Midi (in,thru,out), two standard male DB-25 connector.
-Bank with 128 presets, entire banks or individual presets may be uploaded and downloaded via MIDI (through Mac/PC).
Utilisation 
When you know how to use synthesis, you take the moog immediately in hand. Otherwise some hours are needed, but the textbook (in English) is very well made!
Sounds I compose electro-house music, I do not think that there's a better synth for this music type. Sounds make me cry. I have a virus which however is a good synth but there frankly, the moog surpasses it ! There's only filters effects, which are very goods (moog filters...)
Overall Opinion I use it for one month.
It is unconvincing. I have a virus which can't hold a candle to it but I keep it because it has portrayed well tones which I like and which supplement the moog well.
When you hear the sound, you don't find it expensive.
I would make this choice again!!!
It is unconvincing. I have a virus which can't hold a candle to it but I keep it because it has portrayed well tones which I like and which supplement the moog well.
When you hear the sound, you don't find it expensive.
I would make this choice again!!!
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Characteristics 
Full 88 key weighted keyboard.
Typical no-frills stereo analog outputs, midi-in, out, through, 2 ports for damper and volume pedal.
Nice, diverse bank of effects which are easily edited or disabled when necessary. 4 rotary controls which perform a variety of functions-octave shift, reverb density, 3 band EQ control, and 2 assignable switches which will do just about anything you need them to do.
Acoustic piano sounds are my first priority and the ones on the PC1X don't disappoint. I wouldn't rate them as the best out there, but they do a fine job of cutting through a less-than-perfect stage mix and crowd noise. Like all stereo acoustic piano samples, they won't satisfy unless they are played in stereo. But, I can always find one that matches the room I am playing in well. Rhodes and Wurly sounds are decent--not the best but decent. Strings are a mixed bag. My personal favorite is the "Intense Strings" patch which is rich and full, with plenty of attack, yet offering excellent dynamics. You can set up your favorite programs from the 6 available preset banks and 2 user banks so that you can access them on-the-fly from their assigned buttons. The PC1X is also very easy to do splits on, as well as layering up to 4 sounds. One of the songs I perform with one of my artist gigs requires 10 program changes within the same song and the Kurzweil gets it done effortlessly.
Typical no-frills stereo analog outputs, midi-in, out, through, 2 ports for damper and volume pedal.
Nice, diverse bank of effects which are easily edited or disabled when necessary. 4 rotary controls which perform a variety of functions-octave shift, reverb density, 3 band EQ control, and 2 assignable switches which will do just about anything you need them to do.
Acoustic piano sounds are my first priority and the ones on the PC1X don't disappoint. I wouldn't rate them as the best out there, but they do a fine job of cutting through a less-than-perfect stage mix and crowd noise. Like all stereo acoustic piano samples, they won't satisfy unless they are played in stereo. But, I can always find one that matches the room I am playing in well. Rhodes and Wurly sounds are decent--not the best but decent. Strings are a mixed bag. My personal favorite is the "Intense Strings" patch which is rich and full, with plenty of attack, yet offering excellent dynamics. You can set up your favorite programs from the 6 available preset banks and 2 user banks so that you can access them on-the-fly from their assigned buttons. The PC1X is also very easy to do splits on, as well as layering up to 4 sounds. One of the songs I perform with one of my artist gigs requires 10 program changes within the same song and the Kurzweil gets it done effortlessly.
Utilisation The action sold the PC1X to me. It is lighter than a Yamaha, Korg or Roland, and even significantly lighter than it's more developed sister, the PC2x. I could have bought either,but opted for the PC1X because I flat-out loved the performance of the keyboard. I'm 52 and have been playing all my life. I can play just about as fast as anyone, but the Kurzweil's keyboard keeps up with me no matter what I throw at it, yet it is extremely dynamic. To me, it is the single most inspiring aspect of the instrument. If I am doing session work and the producer or engineer wants a piano sound that the PC1X is not capable of, I still use its keyboard to play their sample of choice. I can outrun any Yamaha or Roland, so I hope Kurzweil never lets go of this action. However, if you are a classically trained Steinway fan, you might not appreciate the lighter action as much as I do.
The manual is big and complete, although not always easy for this technophobe to understand.
The manual is big and complete, although not always easy for this technophobe to understand.
Sounds I think the horns and organs leave a lot to be desired. The strings are deceptive. Many of the string settings don't sound that good by themselves, but most of them sound surprisingly fine in a mix. I've often been amazed by how well some of them lay in a recording mix when I listen to the playback. This makes me believe that there are--or at least were--some brilliant sound designers under the employ of Kurzweil.
The Rhodes samples are kind of funny. It really seems that the PC1X's action sucks as badly as an old Fender Rhodes suitcase piano when using any of the Rhodes patches. I find that the Rhodes and Wurlitzer samples have about a 3 octave limit in the center of the keyboard. If you go beyond that zone in either direction, the sound is both unconvincing and unplayable.
The Rhodes samples are kind of funny. It really seems that the PC1X's action sucks as badly as an old Fender Rhodes suitcase piano when using any of the Rhodes patches. I find that the Rhodes and Wurlitzer samples have about a 3 octave limit in the center of the keyboard. If you go beyond that zone in either direction, the sound is both unconvincing and unplayable.
Overall Opinion I still manage to glean a lot of inspiration from this board after over 3 years of owning it.
There are several things you should be aware of, however.
1. There is a tiny screen contrast knob on the back of the board, which is very necessary, especially if you are going to be using it outdoors. If you try taking this keyboard to a gig in a soft case or with no case, I promise you that you will eventually break that knob off of the circuit board that it is soldered to. It will get pushed back in to the body and the screen will be rendered unreadable. After the 2nd time this happened to me, I glued a large rubber grommet around the knob to prevent this from happening. I'm not the most mechanically inclined guy to come down the pike, but this girl was a bear to get inside of to solder that control knob back on to the circuit board. It took 3 of us wrestling with it to get the job done. This was a terrible engineering oversight.
2. Another completely idiotic afterthought is the fact that you have to scroll down through 16 pages of the global menu to find the transposer. Fortunately, I can make all the setups I need prior to a performance so that I can just keep the screen set on page 16 of the global settings. For someone who plays with the same band all the time, this might not be a problem, but I have as many as a half dozen different gigs, many times having some of the same songs in different keys. A transpose button is a Godsend in those instances. What were they thinking??
3. You have to periodically go around the keyboard and tighten all the screws. It seems that they come loose rather easily.
4. While I haven't broken any yet, the 4 multi-task rotary knobs I mentioned earlier are very spindly and I know quite a few guys who have broken them off, so that is another thing which requires a little TLC.
Well, nothing's perfect. But, overall it is a great board. Mine is over 3 years old and I will likely buy a new one soon and keep this old girl around for a spare. I ride 'em hard and have put 'em away wet more than once and this one has yet to let me down. Kurzweil has had some hurdles in its transitions between companies, and hopefully they have been able to maintain the integrity. Those questions aside, it's a fine tool.
There are several things you should be aware of, however.
1. There is a tiny screen contrast knob on the back of the board, which is very necessary, especially if you are going to be using it outdoors. If you try taking this keyboard to a gig in a soft case or with no case, I promise you that you will eventually break that knob off of the circuit board that it is soldered to. It will get pushed back in to the body and the screen will be rendered unreadable. After the 2nd time this happened to me, I glued a large rubber grommet around the knob to prevent this from happening. I'm not the most mechanically inclined guy to come down the pike, but this girl was a bear to get inside of to solder that control knob back on to the circuit board. It took 3 of us wrestling with it to get the job done. This was a terrible engineering oversight.
2. Another completely idiotic afterthought is the fact that you have to scroll down through 16 pages of the global menu to find the transposer. Fortunately, I can make all the setups I need prior to a performance so that I can just keep the screen set on page 16 of the global settings. For someone who plays with the same band all the time, this might not be a problem, but I have as many as a half dozen different gigs, many times having some of the same songs in different keys. A transpose button is a Godsend in those instances. What were they thinking??
3. You have to periodically go around the keyboard and tighten all the screws. It seems that they come loose rather easily.
4. While I haven't broken any yet, the 4 multi-task rotary knobs I mentioned earlier are very spindly and I know quite a few guys who have broken them off, so that is another thing which requires a little TLC.
Well, nothing's perfect. But, overall it is a great board. Mine is over 3 years old and I will likely buy a new one soon and keep this old girl around for a spare. I ride 'em hard and have put 'em away wet more than once and this one has yet to let me down. Kurzweil has had some hurdles in its transitions between companies, and hopefully they have been able to maintain the integrity. Those questions aside, it's a fine tool.
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Characteristics Quote :
Midi in, out, thru, headphones out, 6 separates mono outputs (from A to F, A+B can be used as stereo main out) and two in that can be used as trig.
Quote :
You have about 9 synths (GND, TRX, EFM, E12, P-I, MID, INP, CTR, ROM and RAM) divided in machines. Machines can be bassdrum, snare, audio in, external/internal midi controller... tons of stuff.
Quote :
Elektron made C6 for sysex and samples transfert. You can dump all your kits and patterns, or juste some of them. And for the UW version, you can sand/receive samples in the rom section.
Some people created editors made to work in a musical way.
Quote :
Each track have his own FX page, with a two-band filter, a sample rate reducer, a eq thing and a modulator fx that gives something close to ring modulation. Via the routing page, you can send each track to reverb and delay included in the MasterFX wich also contain a compressor and a multi-band eq. But the MasterFX only works in main out mode.
Quote :
It's a Tr-like with avanced features : a swing for groovy patterns, the setting is global but you can set the swing steps for each track. Same thing for the accent. Also a mute mode.
Sequencing md is all about the parameter lock. It makes you able to set different machine settings for any step of any track... it is simple to use, and powerfull. There is a slide function that you can activate for any step for all track at once or for each track.
And sound become powerfull and versatile in way you often can't imagine. Seriously.
What connection types are there (audio, MIDI...)?
Midi in, out, thru, headphones out, 6 separates mono outputs (from A to F, A+B can be used as stereo main out) and two in that can be used as trig.
Quote :
How many different sounds and/or styles available?
You have about 9 synths (GND, TRX, EFM, E12, P-I, MID, INP, CTR, ROM and RAM) divided in machines. Machines can be bassdrum, snare, audio in, external/internal midi controller... tons of stuff.
Quote :
Can they be edited? Through a Mac/PC utility software?
Elektron made C6 for sysex and samples transfert. You can dump all your kits and patterns, or juste some of them. And for the UW version, you can sand/receive samples in the rom section.
Some people created editors made to work in a musical way.
Quote :
Is there an effects section?
Each track have his own FX page, with a two-band filter, a sample rate reducer, a eq thing and a modulator fx that gives something close to ring modulation. Via the routing page, you can send each track to reverb and delay included in the MasterFX wich also contain a compressor and a multi-band eq. But the MasterFX only works in main out mode.
Quote :
What are the features/Characteristics of the sequencer?
It's a Tr-like with avanced features : a swing for groovy patterns, the setting is global but you can set the swing steps for each track. Same thing for the accent. Also a mute mode.
Sequencing md is all about the parameter lock. It makes you able to set different machine settings for any step of any track... it is simple to use, and powerfull. There is a slide function that you can activate for any step for all track at once or for each track.
And sound become powerfull and versatile in way you often can't imagine. Seriously.
Utilisation Quote :
Oh yeah. This machine is made for live and on the fly work. You can edit everything and hear the result in real time. For each track you got three pages : synth, wich is specific for each machine, efx page and routing page wich is the same for all track. In routing page, you can set the amount of disto, volume, pan, reverb/delay send, lfo speed/depth/mix.
16 lfo, one per track that can be routed the way you like (yes, you can rout 16 lfo to one track), set the speed, the depth, choode one of the 6 waveforms + the same waves reversed. For each lfo you can use two waveforms at once with the mix function, working like a crossfader.
Is the sound or effects editing easy?
Oh yeah. This machine is made for live and on the fly work. You can edit everything and hear the result in real time. For each track you got three pages : synth, wich is specific for each machine, efx page and routing page wich is the same for all track. In routing page, you can set the amount of disto, volume, pan, reverb/delay send, lfo speed/depth/mix.
16 lfo, one per track that can be routed the way you like (yes, you can rout 16 lfo to one track), set the speed, the depth, choode one of the 6 waveforms + the same waves reversed. For each lfo you can use two waveforms at once with the mix function, working like a crossfader.
Sounds Quote :
Yep. Made for various kind of electronic music. With the sampler... why note make drum'n bass? Nothing is impossible.
Quote :
Nope, but you can use samples, so...
Quote :
Good, pretty good. Simple and effective.
Quote :
There is no velocity, but you can play with volume setting and accent.
The sequencer is truly binary. I mean, you dont have that groove feeling, like in 909 or 808. It would be sooo cool.
Do the sounds suit your style of music?
Yep. Made for various kind of electronic music. With the sampler... why note make drum'n bass? Nothing is impossible.
Quote :
Are they realistic?
Nope, but you can use samples, so...
Quote :
What do you think about the effects?
Good, pretty good. Simple and effective.
Quote :
Is the expressiveness acceptable? (touch sensitivity, aftertouch)?
There is no velocity, but you can play with volume setting and accent.
The sequencer is truly binary. I mean, you dont have that groove feeling, like in 909 or 808. It would be sooo cool.
Overall Opinion Quote :
Two years.
Quote :
His potential, this machine can make so much more than basic rythm... and you work with it totally on the fly, very intuitive, you can put your brain on the desktop and have fun.
Quote :
Expensive, but it can worth it. It's a matter of the way you work and the sounds you like.
Quote :
Oh yeah. No hesitation.
For how long have you been using it?
Two years.
Quote :
What thing do you like most/least about it?
His potential, this machine can make so much more than basic rythm... and you work with it totally on the fly, very intuitive, you can put your brain on the desktop and have fun.
Quote :
What is your opinion about the value for the price?
Expensive, but it can worth it. It's a matter of the way you work and the sounds you like.
Quote :
Knowing what you know now, would you make the same choice?...
Oh yeah. No hesitation.
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