Hello. I'm thinking about buying a Yamaha Motif ES7 - please give me some advices about it wether i'm making a good choice or not. Thank you in advance

If you are looking for an arranger, then it is a poor choice, because Motif ES7 is a workstation.

If you are looking for a top end rompler ( sample based workstation ), then it is a a very good choice. I have an ES6. Any of the big three ( Triton Extreme, Fantom X ) are rather good boards imho.

Pros- Excellent soundset especially acoustic instruments vs the other two ( my opinion of course ). Maybe a little weak in the synth sounds though vs the other two, but you can add the AN150 plug in analog modeled synth and it rocks ( sounds a lot like a Prophet 5 ).

Ability to add user arps and user patterns. The whole "phrase factory" thing ( very good step-sequencer with slice functions ) is very cool.

Nice key feel for a synth action board. ( ES8 is weighted and feels more like a real
piano )

Assignable knobs and slider that helps make it a very decent controller for other synths or even Vsti / software samplers.

Cons- Small screen.

Difficult or complex OS to navigate through for some ( although it isn't bad for me once I learned it ).

Sampling- Cool functions, but a pain to learn the menus and navigate through. I always recommend using a dedicated sampler for anything complex anyway.

I still have mine, and probably will for a long time.

AJ

Thank you for answering me. I currently have a Casio wk5300, A roland va-76 ( professional arranger ) and i wanted a workstation. For playing at european weddings. Do you think that i made the right choice? I heard someone playing on a Motif ES7. What do you think about MOTIF 6 ? Again, thanks for answering me.

Are you going to be with a band or playing solo? A workstation like the Motif or Motif ES is fine for use with a band, but might not be the best choice for playing solo.... unless of course you don't need backing. Perhaps you would use midifiles and or a drum machine or just play acoustic piano ?? or string along drum patterns in the step sequencer while playing left handed bass and comping with the right hand ? Or perhaps you just want it to complement your arranger ( for better solo / lead voices ). I've used my Motif ES and stacked it with my Korg PA80 ( arranger ) when playing live solo.

When you ask about the Motif 6, I assume you mean the "classic" ( not ES ) ? I had one before I got the ES. Excellent sounds, very useful for band use.

Compared to the ES, the disadvantages are : half the polyphony ( you'll notice that when playing along with midifiles ). Very few arps and pre programmed drum patterns for the step sequencer. Only one bank for user sounds vs 2 banks on the ES. Less wav rom, so fewer voices and raw samples.

There are a few other differences as well, but either board works fine for someone playing in a band.

AJ


[This message has been edited by Bluezplayer (edited 10-23-2005).]

The Motif is great for band use. I still use AJ's old Motif 6 that I bought off him back when he upgraded to the ES Motif. You can see me pretending it is my Clavinet in Las Vegas http://www.synthzone.com/clips/LoveSneakin_1.AVI

And AJ is right it is great in a band but would not be the keyboard to use in a solo situation. You could play over MIDI files but an arranger would be a lot more flexible.

Hi AJ,
if Claudiu is actually keeping his VA7?? and just wants the motiff for better melody voices, another option may be midiing the two together, or playing it like an organ, left hand VA7 styles, right hand motiff melody.

I used to have my VA7 midied to my Clavinova
piano.

Suppose depends on what he wants it for.

best wishes
Rikki

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Bluezplayer:
[B]Are you going to be with a band or playing solo? A workstation like the Motif or Motif ES is fine for use with a band, but might not be the best choice for playing solo.... unless of course you don't need backing.

I'm going to play in a band. I will use the Roland VA76 like an arranger and the casio wk3500 - for completing the VA76 - those two are on a double stander. And on the other side, a friend is going to do stuff with the Motif. Do you guys think that will work out? I'm using the casio because it has cool sounds, and i'll play with the left hand on it and on the va76. The motif is for the other guy. Do you think that the Motif is necessary ? or i should play on the va76 and him on the casio...? Please, advices... Thank you very much for your answers.

I don't know if anyone can give the right answer on that Claudiu. I know I can't. It's really going to depend a lot on the type of sounds you need. My best suggestion is find a Motif to demo and try it out.

I have only played a little on a VA76 quite a while ago, so I cannot remember much now about the sounds. As far as the WK goes.. I'm getting so tempted to buy one to hack around with. I had an MZ2000, which was Casio's one attempt at producing a higher end arranger. The WK 3700 supposedly uses the same sample engine. I liked some of the sounds a lot and the synth editing engine was about as good as any that I've ever used in any sample based machine. I disliked many of the styles though.

If the board you choose is mainly for playing solo voices, then either version of the Motif is going to have nice sounds. In a band setting though, in my own situation, I sometimes prefer to use my laptop with softsynths ( for even better quality of voices ) even though my ES is always there, since it also doubles as my midi controller.

AJ

Thanks Bluezplayer - I have a question: I bought my Roland VA-76 from a New B Stock and i didn't get the Zip Disk that should've came with it. How can I get it? Where from ? I need it. I need a Zip Disk for a Roland VA-76 - or a copy of it. I'll pay for it. Any offers are accepted ! Thanks you guys.

Hi,
if you don't have any luck, try the va7 user group, not sure how active they are anymore http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/va-7/
or try the Roland forum on this site.

best wishes
Rikki

VA 76 NOT VA 7 !!!!!!!!!!!!!11

Hi,
VA76 is the 76 note version of a
VA7 ( 61 note). I think the VA76 may have some additional functions? but they're very similar keyboards. I did a comparison on them a few years back.
Either way, the group would have VA7 & VA76 owners.

best wishes
rikki

Thanks for pointing that out rikki.

By the way we haven't been seeing so much of you lately. How are both you and your husband doing ? And how is your software based arranger sytem using OMB and Soundfonts doing anyway ?

Great to see you posting again mate


[This message has been edited by Nigel (edited 10-25-2005).]

Cool - why do the Motifs don't have Zip/Floppy drives ? Just wondering.

Hi Nigel,
been having a bit of a break. Hubby's doing well thank goodness, though now that he's had to retire, I'm seeing TOO much of him, haahaa, he's taking up my precious forum time.
My OMB/Soundfont arranger is going well, I think it'll keep me busy for some time yet.
Frank (flr) keeps trying to lead me astray with all sorts of wonderful new softsynth options for the styles, but I'm still hanging in there with the fonts. It's so great having such an inexpensive arranger option to keep me occupied.

Lovely to hear from you.
best wishes
Rikki

Rikki, using modern math....when you have a lot and you spend a little you still have a lot....or is it....if you want to make it big you have to spend it big???

Good to hear your love one is doing well. Does he participate in your investment decision making (music)???

Hi Frank,
if that was the case, I'd be top of the hit parade. haahaa

Hubby has no interest in music what so ever. He doesn't even listen to music on the radio. There again, he kept me in keyboards for 20 years so I can't complain. He was happy to buy, as long as I wore a good set of headphones when he was around. Now I just make sure he spends LOTS & LOTS of time pottering round his beloved garden haa haa.
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Frank L. Rosenthal:
[B]or is it....if you want to make it big you have to spend it big???

motif is not necessary if you want to play solo and if you have an decent arranger.

things to do before buying

dump you Casio(i don't want to break your heart but),buy a good used workstation.nothing against casio but using casio for backing and soloing motif es doen't make sense.

if you want to go solo
or save money and go for sd1,pa1x,used t1 or t2 or stick with your va.yes you can play them with the band(or get a used wkstation like I said).




[This message has been edited by jamman (edited 10-25-2005).]

I will play in a band man! I'm gonna play on the va-76 arranger and on casio - My friend is gonna play on something - is that going to be MOTIF ES workstation ? that's what i'm asking - i'll use the arranger to play the "negatives" and sequences that i'm creating on zip/floppy ! and solo with right hand - and the other guy is gonna complete me - ! is that ok ?!

Hi Claudio,
I'm not a performer, so I can't really advise. but you could use
VA7 to play styles in realtime or as a sequenced song/backing track, which pretty much takes care of the backing,
A motiff could be used for a sequenced song/backing track, but remember, it doesn't have styles ( like the VA76) so you'd have to record these songs in your sequencer from pretty much scratch.


You or your friend could use the casio to add additional parts to fill the backing out ie add strings, guitar whatever ie you're using it as a synthesizer.

I don't think you've mentioned whether you have a singer or whether one of the keyboards is going to play melody part?? If you're using keyboard for melody, then either the VA76 or Casio or Motiff could be used. Motiff would probably have the better set of sounds as it is a dedicated synthesizer.

If anyone can saw any flaws in my logic, please jump in, I'm not a performer.

Years back I've seen bands where a keyboard player had 3, 4 synths stacked together.
I would imagine the only reason for doing it is to give the player a choice of variety of sounds. Each manufactures synths had their own sound. Some had better piano's some had better strings, some had better brass, but it was probably in the synthesized type sounds that they varied the most.
The quality of the modern day synth & keyboard has come a long long way.

best wishes
Rikki

yeah..i'll have a singer - right now i'm very upset on roland ) i can't find the tones...i found the map - i choose different maps and nothing changes. i'm thinking of selling it or returning it.

Hi Claudiu,
apart from yourself & your friend, who is in your band ie drummer, bass player??

Do you actually require an arranger keyboard??

The VA7/76 are not that easy . There are a lot of sub menu's that you have to navigate. I found my VA7 difficult at first, you really have to read the manual. You don't need to read every page for starters. It's broken up in to sections, so if you're trying to choose sounds, read the section on choosing sounds.

I didn't have mine for very long. I bought it from a friend to help him out, just before buying my kn7000. I spent all my time on the kn7, so I more or less left the VA sitting in the corner. In the end I sold it.
I'm not suggesting you sell it.

If you do sell it and you need an arranger keyboard, there may be ones that are easier to use like the Yamaha series.

best wishes
Rikki



[This message has been edited by rikkisbears (edited 10-26-2005).]

I'm not gonna have a drummer - It's just going to be me, my friend and a singer and maybe a bass - i could do the bass on the VA - but now i'm dying to find the many extra sounds - i with i could've had a bottle of water to pour it on the va - i'm mad - really mad - please help me out. Best wishes, claudiu ( maybe i'll die )

When it come to music on the radio in Australia I actually played on the first arrangement of "Downhearted" by Australian Crawl in a garage in Chelsea just outside of Melbourne. We laid it down on a cassette player which was eventually given to David Briggs from Little River Band who was producing Australian Crawl's first album and decided they should use "Downhearted" themselves. Of course not being a song writer on the song ( just an arranger/musician )I didn't make anything when it went into the Top Ten in Australia. I guess some stations there still play that song from time to time.

And after "Downhearted" took off the singer/songwriter Guy McDonough from our band The Flatheads was whisked away from us to join Australian Crawl. He then also wrote and sang the lead vocal for the song "Errol" which was a rework of one of our old Flatheads songs. But I must say it was a good rework. Guy was a great singer/songwriter but died much too early.

Here is Too Many People which is a relatively unknown song that I played bass and keyboards on with Guy. When we recorded the final version after Guy died we were missing the first verse with him singing ( we were just using some demo tapes of his vocal that we were playing to ) so Colin Haye from Men At Work kindly volunteered to sing the first verse for us. So this song has Colin Haye singing the opening verse and then singing harmony in the choruses followed by Guy McDonough from Australian Crawl singing the remaining verses. It really is a relatively unknown but significant Australian rock recording. Plus I actually played on it and am the registered co-writer on it

Thanks Guy, I'll always remember you.


[This message has been edited by Nigel (edited 10-26-2005).]

Please tell me how to select the "screaming" sound on the roland va-76 - i'm presing on the 4 maps available over and over and nothing changes - everything sounds the same even if i press map1 - map2 - map3 - and map 4 - nothing changes..do i have to press anything else after i press the tone map ? how do i select the screaming or laughing or car engine sounds ?? it's not on the "group" buttons ( 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8) it's not there...where are they ?! I am really hurt. Please help me...I might return my va-76 = I even read the book - on the " selecting different tone maps" at page 41 - and I DON'T GET IT - I CAN'T FIND THE SOUNDS. If i won't find the sounds in like ..42 hours i'll return it....thanks...best wishes ! I am starting to hate this thing.
after i press the different maps - ( 1,2,3,4) just the sound changes - for example - if i'm using the normal piano - i press map 3 - it just sounds a little bit different - if i press map 2, sounds little bit different, if i press map 1, sounds a lil` bit different - BUT WHERE ARE THE LAUGHING - SCREAMING - DOG - BIRD - GUN -EURO HIT - IMPACT HIT -JUNO STRINGS - VOICE FEM/MASC - WATER BELL - ERUPTION - EXPLOSION and all that ???????????????????????????? ASSISTANCE PLEASE - i'm desperate - i'm gonna pay you and i'm gonna pray for you if you're answering me.

Hi Nigel,
how great.
definately rememember all those great Aussie Bands. We're originally from Melbourne. Then we moved to NSW & eventually ended up in Turramurra .

Did you know any of the bands in Sydney.

Only time I ever met anyone famous , was when I was doing part time work in the local music store. Used to go home all starry eyed , with guess who I came across today. Unfortunately hubby didn't quite share my enthusiasm. Still it was a real buzz for me.

best wishes
Rikki

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Nigel:
[B]

IMO Motif is WAY to heavy to take on stage. For me the Motif is the studio board and the Ty is the stage board. Chony. (The motif es6 is 35lb and the ef7 44lb - without anything else).

I drag around a classic Motif 6 to live shows I play with a band in my 94 Camaro Z28. It just fits nicely across the back of my Camaro and while it has some weight it doesn't way near as much as my powered Wharfdale PA cabinet. It isn't even as heavy as my Fender Hot Rod Deluxe guitar amp. I guess it is all relative.

who cares about the weight of a keyboard ? It's not a big deal to own a heavy keyboard - who cares about the weight ?

Everyone... if not now, later. Back injuries are no joke, and all it takes is one wrong lift to end your music career.

what does your back have to do with your hands ?

Well it is a show stopper if you can't move your gear to a show because you can't lift due to back problems.

That is one of the main reasons I use a 61 key keyboard. I wouldn't want to try to be moving a Motif 8 around. But if you are setting it up in a studio then of course weight is not so much of an issue.

i'll be caring it around - it's gonna be motif es7 or motiv es 6 or motif 6