Yamaha Racks

[PatrickD]

I would like to ask an opinion of K owners who may have purchased any of Yamaha's rack units in the past ?
If you were going to buy a used one which would you pick in terms of value and age? I have been wanting to pull the trigger on one but I don't know Jack Didlely about these and what was first second third. What was the big jump in terms of sounds.
I know some of the families but I don't know features and quality. If you have time I would like to here what you know. Thanks

[vEddY]

I would like to ask an opinion of K owners who may have purchased any of Yamaha's rack units in the past ?
If you were going to buy a used one which would you pick in terms of value and age? I have been wanting to pull the trigger on one but I don't know Jack Didlely about these and what was first second third. What was the big jump in terms of sounds.
I know some of the families but I don't know features and quality. If you have time I would like to here what you know. Thanks

FS-1R
followed by
EX5R
followed by...
basically nothing.

[GregC]

I would like to ask an opinion of K owners who may have purchased any of Yamaha's rack units in the past ?
If you were going to buy a used one which would you pick in terms of value and age? I have been wanting to pull the trigger on one but I don't know Jack Didlely about these and what was first second third. What was the big jump in terms of sounds.
I know some of the families but I don't know features and quality. If you have time I would like to here what you know. Thanks

I think you have to consider the time/work its going to take to make edits on the Motif racks. Not easy to program seems to be a common sentiment

[apex]

the yamaha racks are all nice. There is an editor that you can use to help with programming.

The above poster was right about the order (I believe)

FS1r
EX5r (ABSOLUTE BEAST MACHINE)
Motif Rack (classic)
Rack ES (Motif ES)
Rack XS (Motif XS)

They all have the standerd motif sound engine in them... the Rack XS actually has four knobs on the front that help with programming.

It's really not that bad at all once you get used to the interface (plus, I'll mention again, THERE IS AN EDITOR)

[JFree]

I have an EX5R that I may part with if that ends up being something you're interested in.

[Derek Cook]

Hi

All of the following based on Yamaha units that I own (and still do). In top priority order first.....

EX5R (I currently have an EX5 as my main controller paired with my Kronos). The EX5 still kicks the Kronos's butt when it comes to Analog Modelled sync leads, and the SkiRhodes (from EX5Tech) is still a brilliant FDSP based Rhodes. All these years on, I still prefer an adapted version of the EX5 "Stereo Piano" preset for certain songs, where it just cuts through (the Korg pianos are much better where you want subtlety). In my Welsh Floyd gig, 90% of my sounds are now Kronos, but certain sounds are still EX5 (and it is a lovely controller keyboard as well). As well as AN, you get VL and FDSP.

Then I would go an FS1r if you want cold/brittle FM and of course Formant synthesis and something quite different from other FM (but they go for pretty silly prices these days)

Then I would go for a TG77. There is still something very special about the SY77/TG77. Be prepared to fix the inevitable failed display backlight (have had to do it on my SY77, TG77 and SY99! )

Motif Rack ES. Not much that the Kronos cannot cover unless you drop in a PLG150-AN and PLG150-VL, like what I have

If you have these PLG cards, AN wise the Kronos can cover the AN side, but not the Wind Synthesis of VL.

[Derek Cook]

They all have the standerd motif sound engine in them... the Rack XS actually has four knobs on the front that help with programming.

I'm afraid I disagree. The FS1r is a pure FM (and formant) engine with not a sample in sight.

The EX5 AWM engine is very different to Motif AWM (or at least compared to my Motif Rack ES) and has features dropped in the Motif Range like static control filters, additional LFOs and FDSP.

[lonelagranger]

I have the EX5R and XS rack. I like the XS rack. I think for the money that will give you the latest technology and biggest bang for the buck. When used with the editor and a good controller the XS sounds wonderful. The EX5R is no slouch either. Got great reviews but people complained about the sequencer. What about the Roland Integra 7. A very nice rack and tons of sounds. Good luck.

[StephenKay]

The Rack-XS is a great unit, all of Yamaha's latest sounds (with the exception of some stuff in the XF) - and it's supported by my KARMA Motif software, should you wish to add an extra dimension to it.

[DaveBoulden]

For something extra, check out any Yamaha rack unit that will host the PLG add-on cards. I have a CS6R and MU100R for this very reason and have the PLG board slots populated with PLG150-VL for physically modelled sounds, PLG-150DX for FM, PLG100-VH for a harmoniser and a rather unique PLG100-SG that is full of those Vocaloid type voices... all in addition to whatever your chosen host rack module offers.