Does anyone here who owns the Yamaha QY-100? If so can someone please share their thoughts and opinions on the unit. I may have asked this question in the past and if so I apologize.

As many know I tried the PSR-2000, but there were some issues there. My wife practically skinned me alive when I told her I was buying that keyboard (on top of another synth).

I was looking to the QY-100 because of several things. 16 track linear sequencer, 8 track pattern sequencer, voice editing, guitar/mic/line input with effects, smart media, and really important (which keeps me out of the dog house with the wife), is the size of the unit. It's so small that I can actually set it in the middle of my music rest on my Casio WK-3500 (which would be the controller for the unit).

From what I can see it's a nice little unit. I also understand its sound set is just an XG tone generator, but on the plus side you can edit the sounds a bit. Any comments from anyone???

Thanks,
Squeak

Hello.

I have his very big brother the QY700 and I also have the tiny QY20.

For what it’s worth, the QY700 is absolutely fantastic. The 32 Track sequencer with real-time patterns makes it one almighty song writing too.

Midifile play back on the QY700 is better than my Triton Studio for some strange reason. The QY 700 just has better GM sounds.

Comes with all the patterns from the QY70, 100, 300, and a few extras.

The only catch with all the QY series devices is that while they are basically Arrangers / Sequencers, they don’t work exactly like a normal arranger module.

For example… if you where playing back variation one, and pressed the fill-in button. It wouldn’t just play the fill-in and then revert back to the variation. It will stay on the fill-in until you select the desired variation.

After all they are Sequencers at heart, so they are only doing what you would expect a sequencer to do.

Other than that you can’t go wrong with this. They drive the kids mad too. Makes their Nintendo look old fashioned :-)

Regards.
James.

An old friend of mine had the QY-700. He loved that sequencer. I've played with the QY-70 (just very briefly though), and I was curious how well the QY-100 would do.

Squeak

Hi Squeak_D,

I use two years this qy 100 and it is a perfect sequenser on the road, i use my smart media-card for storing songs and patterns (card 32 mb). You can make patterns (this are backing tracks for playing with, only give the measure's and chords,tempo,timesignature...also intro and ending you can set). The sequenser is great!! many options and controllers are standard. plug in your guitar or mic and sing/play with the effect you can choose.

When i go on holliday i have always the qy-100 with me!!!!!!!!

one minus: Use it so much if possible with the adaptor and not with battery (the lifetime is short and expencive!!)

regards,

notlos

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Thanks for the reply notlos A lot of the reviews I have read have been very positive about this little box. At first I was little drawn back when I saw the sound set was an XG tone generator, but then I became more at ease with this when I saw you could edit the voices. I remember on my PSR-550 how frustrated I got that I couldn't edit the XG voices or the panel ones for that matter. Curious about something. The typical XG voice set is 480 voices. The QY-100 has 500+ voices (I think 28 more voices than the QY-70), and 22 drum kits. If the standard XG voice set is 480, what extra voices do you get on the QY-100?

Again Thanks,
Squeak

one prolem

no direct disk play-you gotta load(I heard)
since seq mem is 32,000 notes-
if you don't play live much it's OK.now like 180-200$ street price.
but don't buy it new.
get a used 2k or 2100.

[This message has been edited by jamman (edited 02-22-2005).]

No direct disk play isn't a problme for me. I don't play live anymore. I did try the PSR-2000, and liked it very much. There were a few issues I had with the particular unit I bought though (check past posts). I'd still buy a PSR-2000. However it would have to be from a member of the Zone who has been here and established themselves. That's why I bought the first one. I would also have to get a 2000 for around the same price I paid for the first.

Squeak

Hi Squeak,
had the QY10,QY20 & the QY700 ( not the QY100,though). At the time , early to to late 90's I thought they were wonderful. I just to take the QY10/20 with me everywhere, they were that tiny. I thought of them more as a sketch pad for ideas . They're not a realtime arranger.
As much as I loved the QY700 ( bigger brother, much more expensive) for it's sequencing capabilities etc, I was not overly wrapped in it's sounds. At that stage ( late 90's)I had a Roland G800 & a Technics KN5000. Personally I preferred the sounds of those 2 keyboards.

Don't know if you're planning on just using it at home, and if you have a computer anywhere near your keyboard, but there is quite an array of software out there. If you really want to use psr styles why not consider something like OMB. You can tweak the styles and use the Casio for the soundsource or possibly consider getting something like xg soundfonts.

My laptop /omb/soundfonts/digital piano, has replaced my qy's of the 90's plus my 9000pro. VA7, & kn7000. Hubby's never been happier. Plus he doesn't notice an additional piece of software here or there.

best wishes
Rikki


[This message has been edited by rikkisbears (edited 02-22-2005).]

Squeak,

If I remember correctly from the proir model it will only recognize chords properly when they are played in the root position.

Tom

Thanks all for your replies!

Rikkisbears,
I'm looking to the QY-100 because I feel it will fit my needs for home use since I do not perform anymore, and do not have plans to get back into the business. I think it will work well for me. I like the sequencing, and the ability to plug my guitar or mic into the unit as well. I could even route my drum machine through it.. My main concern was the sounds since it was all XG, but since it edits voices it has sparked my interest more.

Squeak

Hi Squeak,
you may want to try and listen to one before you buy.
The earlier models QY10/20 ( to my ears at least)weren't on a par soundwise to the keyboards of that day. It wasn't the sound quality that you were paying for but, the portability and functions.

One thing I always did before I bought a keyboard , workstation , whatever, was to try and read the manual, just to make sure it was going to do what I wanted. I always thought of the QY's as a mini workstation.

best wishes
Rikki

It's interesting that the QY's have had the longevity they have. They've existed as they are with only minor changes for quite a few years. It begs the obvious question as to why there is no QY1000? I think the QY-100 has improved the most since it's inception. I've tried all of the QY's and they all are fun, useful and unique. They pop up on eBay often too.

I still have and love my little QY-22.
The only unfortunate thing about the QY series
is that they are not PSR .sty file compatible.

I'm curious to know if this thread is about the same type of Yamaha Sequencer which I have, the QX 21, which I still have together with the original invoice of May 11 1988 !! I paid £269 for it (app $500) which was a lot of pocket money then.
I used it only a couple of times as I remember and couldn't get used to the New Concept(?)!
cheers

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Eddie from Rotherham
www.yamahakeyboards.info

Eddie: the answer is no. The QX21 is a completely different device from the QY-series being discussed here. While the Yamaha QX-series were small sequencers, the QY-series is a group of battery-or-adapter powered "pocket" arranger/sequencer/tone modules. Here's a picture of the QY-100:

Pretty little thing isn't it I showed this to the wife (she was pleased with the price and what all it does for that too). She said there's another thing for me to play with on the toilet

Squeak

You know when you think about it the QY-100 is really a pretty powerful little box. The unit is extremely small, and will fit on a keyboards music rack. It has an XG sound set with ability to tweek the voices. A total of 22 drum kits. It has preset styles and phrases,and allows you create your own. Good effects (customizable too). A 16 track linear sequencer with good editing (and it's internal). It also has an 8 track pattern sequencer. It has a micro keyboard on the panel for quick input, or you can use a controller. It also has a mic/guitar input with effects on that line. That alone is awsome. I can plug my guitar or mic in and jam to what I record. Plus it has smart media storage. I know there's a few features I'm missing, but all this for less than $500.00 You really can't go wrong with it. When I had my PSR-550, I'd always record my songs using the XG voices for backing and the panel voices for soloing. With the QY I can record my backing on it, and solo with my Casio WK-3500. Plus as my wife mentioned "the ability to record music while on the can" It runs on batteries and the adapter is less than $15.00 I'm fairly certain now that I'll be picking one of these up.

Squeak

The single thing I have against the QY-100 is the form factor - tiny multi-function buttons, a screen that begs for reading glasses, a mini-keyboard that is silly to even think about inputing music with it, and once you hook up everything you really need like midi/audio cables and power it becomes an ungainly little box that is inconveniently falling everywhere. I'm not saying this to knock it (you'll do that plenty by using it, ha ha) but the cute-factor and functionality does get offset by the reality-factor. I like the form of the QY-700 better because it's a desktop unit with larger buttons/screen etc. but you'll have to decide for yourself. Here's the QY-700:

Well those aren't really issues with me regarding the QY-100. I like the size of the unit. The size of the buttons don't bother me. I can understand how it may bother some who have thicker fingers. The screen isn't an issue to me because my eyesight is fine, and it would be used in a well lit environment. I like the portability in the QY-100. I agree the QY-700 is a nice unit. It also has a great screen too, but I wanted something that wouldn't take much space, pack a good punch, and very portable.

Squeak

Thanks for the prompt.
I would now say that the QY Series is a very interesting range of accessories, having looked at the specs.
cheers



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Eddie from Rotherham
www.yamahakeyboards.info

I haven't read all this string, so this may not be applicable, but did you consider the Ketron Midjay? It's a wonderful-sounding, powerful little gadget. May be out of your budget though.
DonM

Squeak, I am not sure what your budget is but have you considered a PSR1100? Music123.com has them on clearance. Check this out:
http://www.music123.com/Yamaha-PSR1100-i105978.music

Man I'd love to have a PSR-1100. However my wife allocated $550 from our tax return for me to play with. Believe it or not Gary sold me his PSR-2000 for this great price, but that didn't work out.

With all that happened I don't think the wife will be willing to give me another $189.00 to buy the 1100 even though the 1100 is well worth the price they're asking at Music123. I thought she was going to skin me alive when I told her I was going to buy Gary's keyboard.

Squeak

I guess you are in luck! Musician's friend has the PSR1100 for $599.99, here:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=home/search/detail/base_id/104675

Call music123.com at 1.888.590.9700, tell them about musicians friend price and they will beat it including free shipping, you may even get it for $550 shipped or very close!!. It doesn't get any better than that

[This message has been edited by harosha (edited 02-23-2005).]

Wow good price! I'm emailing Music123 right now.. They better give me a good price, I've bought a great number of things from them.

Squeak

Hi squeak_D,

I Started out about a year ago with a qy100 bought new. I used my alesis qs6 as a controller. I liked it's size. versatility etc for a short while then it's shortcomings started to seem more and more pronounced. It is not really a dedicated sequencer and it's not really a dedicated arranger. Though it is a little bit of both, I found it dificult to get comfortable with. I was very happy the day I traded it in at GC for my wk 3000 and a 32 mb smart media card. Just 3 months after I bought it. Sequencing I do on my pc, and the wk as an arranger blows the qy100 out of the water. The sounds on the qy, even with editing, never were comparable to the casios imo.
You have the wk, and you like it. I do not know why you want the qy100. You can sequence on your pc way easier and I do not think you will be satisfied paying as much as you will for the qy as a sound source.

I was very fortunate to buy a psr 2100 from a forum member here at sz for as good a price as you had from Gary. At first, I thought it was not as good sounding as the casio, but that was just initially. After the first week, I've never even wanted to plug the casio in again. I just shipped my casio to the ebay winner and am using the funds recieved to buy the logitech Z-5500.

I am not exactly sure what you are in need of or what you are after. I do think your musical tastes run a little bit differently than mine, as you are a bit younger, I think in your thirty's?

One thing I will suggest though, is that you really make sure ahead of time that what you get next, you will keep and make good use of.

Your wife will be more upset at your buying something and still not being satisfied than she will be due to the size of whatever you buy. Those are words of experience talking.
She does not want you continually wanting/buying something new! And, she is your most important audience! You need to keep her happy.


Best of luck to you,



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The old Newb

OldNewb,
Hey thanks for the advice. I really wasn't looking to the QY-100 for arranger features. What sparked my interest was the 16 track sequencing with 8 track pattern sequecning. That along with an editable XG sound set would work for me.

I still have my Casio WK-3500 and have absolutely NO intentions of parting with her. I love that keyboard. I bought it because of the (bite) it has in the sounds. The saxes are great, Stereo pianos are really good, Digital Drawbars, Solid pitchbend and modulation wheels, EXTENSIVE effects section with indepth editing. Overall a damn good keyboard for the money.

My musis style that I play is mix of hip hop and jazz and sometimes a touch of funk. The Casio WK-3500 has good sounds and drum kits for this. I emailed Music123 regarding a competetive price for the PSR-1100. Musciansfriend is currently under them.

Squeak