Yamaha Keyboards NAMM 2008

[Cheez]

Remember the famous KX88 midi controller that is built to last? Well, the newer version is out. This time from 25 keys to 88 keys. KX25, KX49, KX61, and KX8 (not KX88 ). Yamaha added phrases and arpeggiators in the controller to play guitar/keyboards etc phrases.

Not much info yet on the touch of the KX8. And details are still skimpy. Nothing too exciting, but for good touch (and if the price is right), it may be a competitor to the lower cost controllers. Not too keen about the phrases though.

http://www.dv247.com/news/KX8%20Yamaha%20Keyboard%20Studio%20Controller%20/131598

 

[utano]

This is pretty exciting! Yamaha has been out of the midi controller game since forever!

 

[bongman]

.....................

 

[Cheez]

No news of 76 key version. The last high-end controller in the market was Roland A90. Then came all those low-cost lousy touch controllers from M-audio etc.

Bongman which 88 key controller are you using?

 

[bongman]

..........................

 

[Cheez]

I have to correct myself. I now realise this is not a midi controller. Yamaha calls it "USB keyboard studio". There's no mention of how many midi ins and outs there are. We know there is a USB port. Also no mention whether we can split the keyboard into zones and how many. It's unlikely since there doesn't seem to have any independent zone control.

And worse of all - they only have knob controllers and no faders. And I know Yamaha is in partnership with Cubase, but putting 2 buttons on the keyboard with the print "Cubase function A and B" is plain silly. Not everybody uses Cubase. (You can see the enlarged picture of the keyboard in Harmony Central - http://namm.harmony-central.com/WNAMM08/Content/Yamaha/PR/KX-Series.html )

I really don't know what Yamaha is thinking about. Again and again, they are coming up with silly ideas. This is an insult to the legendary and original KX88.

 

[bongman]

probably this is targetted at software instruments users.

all control by one keyboard

 

[Cheez]

Which is also why Yamaha didn't think in terms of ergonomics, yet again. Faders are almost indispensable in software audio mixing. And they left that out. Compared to M-audio and CME, it has so much fewer features and with a much higher price:

Pricing and Availability:
KX25 - $399 MSRP, January 2008
KX49 - $449 MSRP, January 2008
KX61 - $499 MSRP, January 2008
KX88 - $799 MSRP, May 2008

The question now is whether people are willing to spend extra 200USD for a controller with much fewer features but better touch (comparing KX8 with Keystation Pro 88 ). I'm willing to spend that on a midi controller with more controls. With one that has so limited control....I don't know....

 

[mingguan]

More info available at YAMAHA website. http://www.yamahasynth.com/products/kx/index.html
(juz happen to saw it...)

 

[Cheez]

Thanks for the link! Confirms that they are targeting people into arpeggiators. That means KX8 will not sell; what will sell are those with fewer keys. Very sad for KX8. No aftertouch. No expression pedal support. 1x1 Midi. Obviously not competing with the other midi controllers, and cannot be categorised as one.