But not mine....just sayin'..... enjoy.
#2 touch screen with no physical buttons to mix is a concern
for live play..
#4 home screen blurry display, small fonts, contrast, wasted space?
#8 really has me thinking about a purchase when the sx900 sounds just like ALL the previous S models???

and no Audio styles & after touch?

Hi Donny,

Thank you for posting this. I've been following his videos for a while now and I really like how he presents them.

I share some of his sentiments, its very true that the previous models of the S970/S975 do sound just as good in a lot of area's, I know as I still have my S975 and I've been comparing them. It's still a worthy upgrade though.

One thing that nobody has been able to explain yet are the drums, what exactly are they if they are not Genos drums. He quickly skipped past that topic because perhaps he didn't quite know himself.

Other things that's not been mentioned is that it appears the SX900 doesn't seem to have Video Out which is surprising since it can be useful hooking it up to a monitor and most previous models had it.

Still early days and lots to explore though, I am sure the SX900 will open up more.

Danny your very welcome the more I really look into the SX900 the more I have to wonder about it,.....now I find out from you there is NO Video out also? and yes who knows about the drums, after touch, weak electric pianos, and blurry display with small fonts?..I am glad now for the delay in shipments to the USA as we find out more & more each day before it arrives.

No tilt screen, small screen
Key feel not as good as my T5
2 pedal ports, I use 3
Don't need onboard speakers

It will be a great upgrade for many people.
For me it is a downgrade.

For me an upgrade would be a Genos. (Still wouldn't like the screen not being adjustable.)

Regards,

Jerryghr

Jerry well said...thanx for your input..
no TILT display was a mistake on the sx900 and a must for players..

oh boy now I'm rethinking again Grrrrrrrrrrrrr!

Thanks Donny, yes I forgot to mention the display and touch screen. I wouldn't say it's blurry, it seems clear enough to me, however the fonts are indeed small & the home screen is a little cluttered. I do prefer the previous home screen layout, the screen display of the S975 is beautifully vibrant and everything is laid out nicely. Not saying the SX900 is bad in any way, just looks a bit cluttered in comparison. Tilt screen would have helped for sure. I've not found a problem when selecting things from the menu, everything is very responsive. I know in the videos the chap sometimes missed the area he was pressing and pressed something else, I've not had that myself too much and if so I've usually blamed myself for not looking/aiming accurately. For sure though if you're in a rush to select stuff you will make a mistake so maybe this could be improved although you can assign important features to the knobs or as shorts on the assignable buttons.

The more I look deeper into it it seems more of a
FEATURE change then a SOUND and STYLE change from previous Yamaha arranger models.....
not a bad thing but something to be considered when someone would change, upgrade, or simply bailout and go in a different direction, etc,...

The Genos hasn't got one either, maybe Yamaha have done away with that as well.

I would still try one out Donny otherwise you'll always be left wondering !

At this point I am still in pre-order waiting patiently

Keep in mind that if the display has now switched to TFT with Supertwist, there is no glare from overhead lights. I have asked Yamaha to do this for a decade - maybe we'll get lucky.

Gary

Hardly a MUST. Maybe you need it, but that's never been a concern for me. I told you at least a MILLION times to stop exaggerating!😬

No exaggerating but yes a necessity for many including me which makes it so much easier to read display or keep it down the option is yours ..

To be honest, I thought I would, but I really don't miss the tiltable screen at all.
The screen at Genos is very good, but that may be an other reality for those who play outside in direct sunshine.

Overhead recessed lights at most gigs is a display killer
simple as that ...
having the angle adjustment is just more sensible...
use it or not but at least it's there.
Sheeesh my 20 yr old Technics KN5000 had a tilt display

My dad was using his KN5000 the other day, I've never owned a Technics, I was pleasantly surprised at how good it looked and sounded for it's age.

Certainly one of my TOP 3 arranger kbs

Here is another vote for who cares that it doesn't have a tilt screen..

And Yes I had a couple Roland EM2000's with tilt screen... asking for troubles.. They are fragile and probably contribute to screen problems..

I pass over anything with a tilt screen.. it looks cheap
Get off your butt and view the screen from another angle

Or buy a better keyboard

+1

I have worked many large outdoor jobs and the "SUN" wins always,

Laptops at any angle still lose, trying to shade the display on keyboard.. still lose.

I never had a major problem indoors just a slight adjustment from a overhead light is all that is needed.

There's always the KORG Pa4x/Pa1000 at least they get it..

"To tilt, or not to tilt"..... that is the question...

The sun sure is our enemy with screens outdoors. Even the tiltable versions.

Yes, he's getting up in the world. He recently was invited to the Roland UK event announcing the new Fantom. Got a free plane ticket and hotel too I believe. That's the power of YouTube.


My understanding is that the drums are the same samples as in the Genos. But the SX900 does not have the wave cycling so they are not considered "Revo."

Never owned a tilt display keyboard, never needed a tilt display, indoors or outdoors. The amount of time a player needs to see the screen is a few seconds when they select a song - after that, your eyes should be on the audience. Tilt and touch screen displays are meaningless for me.

Gary

+1!

I love tilt displays a very useful feature in many situations..
loved it on all my arrangers that had it.
what I don't feel is necessary is a chord sequencer.

My Kn1000 from 1992(?) had a tilt screen, small and limited in function as it was ... We

It also had double lenght compared to KN800, so that was like be in heaven when edit all the 'stars and dots' in composer/sequenser.
Really nice that technology goes forward, but I'll never forget all the wonderful 'Technics years' with lots of joy and fun. 😊

I have a tilt and touch screen with my Roland BK9. Its called an IPad.

++1

At home, my tyros sits in front of bay window with inspiring outdoor views of woods and hills. I tried it with the screen down and can't read a thing due to glare. Not moving it, and not closing blinds except at night. If I didn't have tilt I would maybe make one of those Gary Diamond sun shields..

++1

Which is one reason why Gary didn't need a tilt screen ...

The shield is just for glare ....
but that angle up is the real advantage.

A tilt screen was never a major problem. When there was a problem, and there was one with the Kn7000 also, I moved the keyboard or placed a shield that I made.

For me; it was never a reason to buy or not buy. So, let’s get back to the important issues. I still have not placed an order for the Sx900.

John C.

I designed the sunscreen way back when I had a PSR-500, which had an awful blue and white display that was nearly impossible to see with the slightest glare, and could not be seen at all outdoors, even on a very cloudy day. Same held true with laptop displays.

The sunscreen/shield I designed with made from black construction paper, looked like an air scoop for a hot-rod car, and held in place with narrow strips of Velcro along three edges of the keyboard display - worked great. However, back then, they used LCD lights to illuminate the indicator lights beneath the buttons, which were totally invisible when used outdoors.

I solved this and many other problems by going to Walmart and purchasing a 10 X 10 Gazebo, dark green, with screen walls and dark green side panels that rolled up for ventilation when needed. Did a great job of keeping the bugs out as well, which were always attracted to the keyboard and other lights. I got it on sale for about $79 - great deal and used it for decades.

Looks like they still have them for $92 - which is a bargain. [img]https://i5.walmartimages.com/asr/0f58eb5...mp;odnBg=ffffff[/img]

Gary

Gary, obviously that set up had to be for a multi- hour gig, no? Otherwise a LOT of work especially for one guy ...
I own one, and I've played under these before but fortunately the venue set them up ... Part of the engagement agreement ...

Tony,

Most of my outdoor jobs were 4 to 5 hour jobs, which made the 10 minute setup of the tent well worth it. Some were in locations close to the tidal marshlands of Chesapeake Bay, which translated into dropping the screens in place to prevent being eaten alive by the Chesapeake's vulture mosquitoes. While audience members were bathing themselves in insect repellent, I was protected by the screens.

Gary

Gary, I wish you had been around when I used mine for family functions - I couldn't set mine up in 10 minutes if my life depended on it, especially if I was attempting it myself ...