M3 or Motif XS ?

[miket156]

Sewa and Khazul:

There will always be new models coming out. What I look for is something that is revolutionary, unique, or ingenious. It helps if it sounds great, I can afford it, and its easy to use. So far, I haven't found ALL of the above in ONE KB.

I don't know how the M3 will sound "in person", but think about the modular system approach Korg has come out with. You could have an 88 keybed in your studio. You could have a shorter Keybed to gig with. You could have the M3 brain as well as the Radias brain, and only take out what you really need for each gig. Take the 73 note Keybed and the M3 module to solo gigs, or a 61 note KB and the Radias to a jam with a band. You could buy different components as you need them and can afford them.

What a GREAT idea.

Mike T.

[MrT-Man]

... and how's that different from buying a standard MIDI controller & synth modules from any other vendor? Ergonomics, I guess, but otherwise..... am I missing something?

(don't get me wrong, I think the Korg modular system is a great idea, but it doesn't strike me as revolutionary or anything)

[miket156]

Yeah, the gear will all match. So the Korg keybed could be your controller for other Midi devices, if you need them. No you're not missing anything. I don't think its revolutionary either, but it beats hell out of being stuck with one configuratioin.


Mike T.

[Boynton]

This year, after swearing off the daily flow of NAMM information instead choosing to wait almost a full week, I looked at both and immediately said - "well this year it's an easy decision - the XS for gigging.", which is why I would be purchasing a workstation.

But as usual (Sewa - definition of insanity - repeating the same thing and expecting different results - that's why you own so many hardware keyboards already - you will not be able to buy something and just hang with it for 3 years or more - none of us can - it's not in our blood!), after a week or so I'm leaning away from the one (the XS) and towards the other (the M3).

I heard a guy in a "typical" lounge group playing a Triton LE and you know what: it sounded pretty darn good. Made me realize when it comes to live playing, realism is not the primary goal. Sounding good is!

People have said it a thousand times over, more megs does not equal better sound. Korg has something that the others don't. I've always heard it and I hear it again in the M3 demos. It's a certain fatness, size, whatever.

BTW, many people seem to be comparing the Motif XS to the pre-M3 Korg workstation ROM, such as in the Tritons. Remember, the M3 has a completely different ROM, and different way of producing sound. It owes its lineage to the OASYS, not the Tritons.

And from what I've heard so far, I hear a very nice acoustic piano, nicer maybe than the XS. And nice orchestral sounds as well. Are we comparing the XS to the M3 or the XS to the Tritons? Let's be clear on this.

This "Motif for acoustic, Korg for electronic" statement may need some re-evaluation now that Korg has introduced a new ROM and tone generating method with the M3. Personally I listened to the new XS voice and performance demos and was not as impressed as I thought I'd be. Thus looking some more at the M3. I'd like to hear some more "organic" demos from it - i.e. Rhodes, bass, classic synths, etc.

[miket156]

Quote by Boynton:
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People have said it a thousand times over, more megs does not equal better sound.
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Up to date samples sound better than keyboards of even 10 years ago. Memory and processing power has gotten so much cheaper. But it’s even more important what you do with the sound than the sound itself. Example, if you play an appropriate sting ensemble arrangement on a modern mid price ranged synth (under $3000 USD) you can get an excellent replication of a string quartet. Conversely, if you “just play chords” on a synth, that’s what its going to sound like. A KB player just playing chords.

I wouldn’t put too much value on the sound bites we’re heard on NAMM; they are not going to be high quality. If a camera man is just using the mic on his camera to record a sound bite, it will have poor fidelity. Even the sound bites on manufacture web sites are compressed and don’t sound as good as the instrument LIVE.

The other thing that’s important is an intuitive user interface. I can’t tell you how much hair I pulled out of my head trying to learn how to use the Yamaha Motif ES. The manual isn’t very well written, more references than how too sections. What good is it if an instrument “sounds great” if you can’t figure out how to use it? Yamaha has apparently upgraded their UI on the XS, but I doubt that it can be as simple to use as a touch screen system. But that costs money. Korg has apparently brought down that price barrier from the Oasys on the M3, although we don’t know for sure what the actual retail and MAP prices will be, yet.

Mike T.

[vEddY]

This "Motif for acoustic, Korg for electronic" statement may need some re-evaluation now that Korg has introduced a new ROM and tone generating method with the M3. Personally I listened to the new XS voice and performance demos and was not as impressed as I thought I'd be. Thus looking some more at the M3. I'd like to hear some more "organic" demos from it - i.e. Rhodes, bass, classic synths, etc.

You and I would get along excellent if we were to start a synth duo, trio, or anything else Or a band, no problem, I'll do the guitar You said it just the way I'd like to say it, but shouldn't

[7thsense]

512 programs in the M3? huge mistake, no competition for the fantom x, heck the Triton extreme will appeal to more folks.

You know, call me old fashioned, but.... How the hell is this a problem? Plus it's misleading. I say you're ill-informed.

I'd rather 128 awesome, well implemented, useable programs than 1000 patches that sound similar and bland.

First of all here are the specs from Korg.com

Programs
1,664 user locations, 640 preloaded (512 EDS+128 RADIAS) (with EXB-RADIAS option installed)
Combinations
1,792 user locations, 384 preloaded
Drumkits
144 user locations, 32 preloaded
GM
256 GM2 programs, 9 GM2 drum kits

And why pit board against board based on # of preset locations? What about sounds, features, integration, synthesis, layout, expansion, etc?

Secondly,
You can save banks to disk or flashsticks via USB. So that's not a problem. I'm sure you can cherry pick sounds from saved 'banks'. and fill up the user locations with favorites.

The DAW integration allows the M3 to open up as a PLUGIN in any DAW. Then all the sounds are saved with the Session. Again, very amazing feature.



Somehow this post just annoyed me.... . Can you tell?

a year later and you lose, heh

[BasariStudios]

The DAW integration allows the M3 to open up as a PLUGIN in any DAW.

Welcome to the PROGRAM...That was done on the MOTIF years ago...
where have you been? Also, the MOTIF years ago could REMOTE CONTROL
DAWs...wake up!

[davc]

You could have an 88 keybed in your studio. You could have a shorter Keybed to gig with. You could have the M3 brain as well as the Radias brain, and only take out what you really need for each gig. Take the 73 note Keybed and the M3 module to solo gigs, or a 61 note KB and the Radias to a jam with a band. :shock: You could buy different components as you need them and can afford them.

What a GREAT idea.

************************************************************

Thus far ... no components will be available ..!! you can't just buy a keybed by itself ..!! they are only available in exchange for broken units ... at least that is what i've read from posts written by people who actually work for Korg ...
though i agree , as most do , that would be a great idea ...! just not yet .

[davc]

i have a M3 ... i appreciate the empty space for My own programs ...

Korg just released another 512 programs w/the last software update ..!!

and a bank of Combis that utilize the EXB-Rad ..!! so now we have a little more added value to our M3 ..!!

i also have the S90ES ... having the soundset from the Motif ES ...
i can only say that the Korg and Yamaha just sound different .... each doing some sounds better than the other ... i would hope the XS series is a step up sound wise from the ES ... just as the M3 steps up in sound quality from the Triton series ... ( i've had all the Tritons over the years )

if i were shopping ... i'd get the one that feels best and fits into your current situation the best .... then i'd save up and get the module version of the other when i could ...!!

right now i'm considering trading/selling my Virus Ti and S90ES towards getting the upcoming Roland G8 ..! i think the M3 & G8 will make some powerfull sounds together ...

later;
Dave C.

[bctines]

i would hope the XS series is a step up sound wise from the ES

It is, IMO. I sold my S90es to get an XS, especially since the ES piano is available for the XS.

The interface is also improved. Still has a long way to go, but definitely better. However, no comparison to the M3. And the M3 keybed is light year's ahead.

[GregC]

i would hope the XS series is a step up sound wise from the ES

It is, IMO. I sold my S90es to get an XS, especially since the ES piano is available for the XS.

The interface is also improved. Still has a long way to go, but definitely better. However, no comparison to the M3. And the M3 keybed is light year's ahead.

I think that was a good move. I finally got my first Motif, the XS7. it is really nice

I especially like the Loyalty piano sample, the S700

There is a lot to like on the XS

[bctines]

I especially like the Loyalty piano sample, the S700

That's the one I was referring to above.

But you know, the new piano in OS 1.2 (the one in U-D-1--sorry, I just spaced the name) is pretty hugely better than the original, at least on my PA and in the studio, and quite nice, too. In fact, the lowest register sounds better to me than the XS. The hammer sound up high also seems more natural. IMO, all the new pianos are way ahead of the originals. The lounge tack is especially fun.

If I had to have only one board for playing out, I'd go with the M3 because of the action, but you're right, there are a lot of warm fuzzies on the XS, not the least of which is the hefty feel it has for lugging around.

I think that loyalty program was a nice bit of marketing hype for coming right at the XS time of release. But Korg does a nice job with the rebate and the new sounds. I really do appreciate their sense of staying with the product. And I find myself reaching for the M3 more often than the XS (but maybe that's because it's lower on the rack )

Re the post above about the G8, I'm not a Roland fan when it comes to keyboards. In my experience they're terribly prone to electronic failures which are very expensive to repair, unless you're still in warranty.

[OmarNoori]

i personally prefer the yamaha motif because of the guitars and accordian

[GregC]

i personally prefer the yamaha motif because of the guitars and accordian

the accordian patch is killer ( A15)

I use it for an Electronica version of " she's too fat for me '