As a KN5000 owner, I am thinking of a Keybaord upgrade. I might go for a change of sound, and go for Yamaha.

However, I would like to know how well the Yamaha 9000 Pro Handles Polyphony. It has 126 Notes, but how would it work in a Sequence programme (Cakewalk/Cubase), in that, would the "8 elements" that are used for some sounds make the Piano cut off when you hold down tha sustain pedal?

Or To put it bluntly: has any Yamaha 9000 Owner ever experiened Note cut-off, because a bit of math calculation tells me that three layered sounds of say "C E G C" in both hands (8 notes), with 8 elements per note, would take up 192 notes....or rather it wouldn't, because 126 is the Maximum!. So is the "So-claimed" 126 notes Polyphony that good afterall?? - and since the PSR2000 uses "only" Four elements, and obtains a good sound, would this be a better buy?. (I have plenty of cash/room for the Pro 9000 BTW, so money no object here.

To Yamaha pro 9000 users:, What sounds onboard DO use 8 elements on there sounds? - and what about the Piano? (Technics uses TWO), How many the Yamaha?. I am hoping that "8 element" voices are specialists ones,(not that many in other words) as a "String layer" comprising of these amounts of layers would put limits on other sounds when used in sequence mode, and many more tracks etc

NR



[This message has been edited by Nimrod (edited 11-21-2001).]

Nimrod: I'm not a technical expert at how Yamaha allocates polyphony vs how Technics does it, but, from my 'real life' pro playing experience on the KN5000 arranger keyboard (playing piano sample mostly in full keyboard mode), and now the PSR2000 (in split mode, both left & right sounds ON) as well, I can say that I have not experienced any polyphony problems (except on very rare occasions) with either of these boards. I can only assume the PSR9000 would be at least as good in this department.

[This message has been edited by Scottyee (edited 11-21-2001).]

Hi Nimrod and Scott. I do not own a psr9000 or 9000pro but I seem to recall there was a polyphony issue with the 9000 series having to do with the way many of of the samples are layered. If more than one sample is assigned to a sound patch, each additional sample will take one note away from the available polyphony. I seem to remember the 9000 series as having quite a few layered patches that sucked up additional polyphony. Perhaps one of the 9000 series owners out there could shed some more light on this.

I never experienced any problem with mine.
During the time that the question came up, I opened the built-in polyphony counter and tried to over-load it. It can be done, but only if you layer several big voices and use sustain while changing chords. In normal use, I can't see how it would ever be a problem.
DonM

I have never experienced any problem with
polyphony on the 9000 Pro.
Like DonM has said if you turn on the
poly-counter & try with sustain on you can
do it.
I have played for Hrs. & then check the
poly-counter & it is never at 126.

Enjoying the 9000 PRO
Denny

Thanks very much for that info.

This Polyphony counter seems very handy I must say. So you can display the remaining poly on the 9000 on the screen at any given time? Well, sounds good to me, very good actually .

There was talk that when the Yamaha 9000 came out, and comparisons to the KN6000 were put forward, Technics users, in there defence of "less Poly", was that you only need 4 tones to make a great sound, whereas Yamaha 9000 requires 8. Well, not sure about this, because the PSR 2000 uses 4 tones, and seems to sound great (according to 99% of Synthzone users )

Is it possible to create a stereo Piano, Stereo Strings, and use then on ONE part on the 9000? (Stereo would be two notes I would have thought). If "8" elements can be used, then a Piano & strings in full stereo/No compromise etc...could be used on one Patch?. Or do some of the elements act different to others (like Sub tones that can't use stereo etc).

Anyways, It looks good to me, and since it has a harmoniser on it that is supposed to be better than the Kn6000, I may take up singing after all (it was my only hope . It would have been nice if the Sampler was up to Motif Standards.

BTW, what are the Rhodes Electric Piano's like on the 9000/9000 Pro?, because the one on the Motif (Rhodes), sounds very good (on the Demo anyway). I wondered if the Rhodes Piano (and acoustic) was as good as the Motif (this Yamaha pro is much more money after all). I will be new to Yamaha keyboards BTW, but I wondered if it was possible to load Technics Styles into the Yamaha 9000? (Or any other Yamaha arranger for that matter).

Thanks all.

Poly counter hey? – hmmm really does sound interesting

NR

Hi DonM and Denny. I'm glad you shared your experience with the psr9000/9000pro. I'm sure that same polyphony issue would apply to any arranger mine included (wk8) if you pumped enough notes into it. The last time I can remember having an issue with polyphony was when I was driving an ensoniq u220 sound module with cakewalk sequencing software. The u220 had 30 note polyphony and every now and then it would drop some notes usually where I had a string section playing. I can't remember any notes dropping with my wk8. Have a happy Thanksgiving.