Yamaha EX5

A whole world of synthesis (EX: expanded synthesis) lot of techniques to make sounds, but not very friendly to integrate as one. Sampling is very cool with the EX5, but the memory capabilities are very limited. you can reverse sounds without accessing editing screens, and make 1024 waves from the samples you have recorded. The sequencer is the worst feature of EX5. It has 16 tracks, but you can assign effects only with three of them. If you jump from one track to another one, there is an annoying interference on the sequencer playing. If you use an analog sound, you can't assign effects to the other 15 sounds. The arpeggio secuencer is really cool, but complicated also, and with some innecessary feaures. You have a four track secuencer for making 50 user arpeggios, an 8 track secuencer for 50 user patterns. and a song mode for lineal recordings. But only 30.000 notes capability for all these features???? Who understands Yamaha enginneers??????

Price paid

$1.200

UTILIZATION

Well, the EX5 is one of the most complicated synths to navigate. The user interface is really annoying, you get lost in a huge mess of directories and subdirectories. They try to put too much features in just one machine, a terrible waste. Yamaha put a lot of their synthesis knowledge in this synth. The result is a keyboard with too much software, an infinite path to create original pads, with a really confusing hardware to operate it. the sequencer is a waste. It has 30.000 notes capabilities.

SOUNDS

The EX5 has FM, AWM, FDSP, virtual, sampling and analogic synthesis. Something else? The quality of the sounds is really good. The virtual sounds rocks, you can improve thwm with a brath controller, and the FDSP effects are very original, it has very realistic effects, for example, for playin' an acoustic guitar. If you combine the different ways to edit sounds in just one, the EX5 can make incredible sounds. For example, you can layer a sample wave, a FM voice, and a virtual voice, and make an original pad with these features, and resample this pad. EX5 synthesis is really original, an odditie for pads creation. The coolest feature of EX5 is its capability to make new sounds from the combination of all the Yamaha's different synthesis into a unique instrument.

OVERALL OPINION

No customer support for this keyboard. I can't even find accesories, supplies, memories, etc. how much EX5 or EX7 users around the world? 600, 700???? This keyboard is the factory prototype for the Motif. Motif is the improved version of EX5.

I like EX5 because just a few people has it. It's a freak, and a failure from Yamaha sound engineers, who tried to make "the new DX7" for the ninetiees. you have to take your time to learn how to operate it. But it's an incredible machine for sound editing. Combining the different synthesis like FM, Analog, FDSP, virtual and AWM into just one single pad is possible. I use it for editing weird sounds. Its very handy for me when I want to create sounds with my personal signature.

Originally posted on FutureProducers.com
Posted by: Unknown (January 1-, 2003)

76 weighted, very nice to play keyboard keys, I have a ts12 and AN1x and ex5 and much higher.
Many assignable time, which also helps for the edit control.
The synth itself and beautiful, it is very solid and quality, but also very heavy I carry every week, eh Ben c is sport.

UTILIZATION

The strong point c is really the very fast access to all parameters for sound editing, have enable or disable the elements that will constitute the final sound very quickly.
The general configuration is thought, the comprehensive manual.

SOUNDS

The sounds are beautiful but only if the create because of factory sounds are quite uneven, has also found much on the net.
Strong point are the synth bass, sound sequences, tablecloths ....
Brass can also be very realistic with the synthesis vl
Ex5 its grain apart, c is of the high level synthesis.
Only the drum kits are not terrible, and the piano sounds that are far from being the best.
The effects are very comprehensive, principally made with fdsp synthesis can make sounds unusual

OVERALL OPINION

I bought the new in 1998, always impeccable just the battery that I have changed to paid time 15990fr
I m still using a lot even with all the vst that I have because it is the grain I used in all the pieces I made.

I bought it new, all options at its output ..... and frankly, I do not regret it at all because it is an excellent workstation.
I do not know enough about the series "Reason" to really compare, but from the few docs I've read above, it seems that the "improvements" are mainly located at the ram which is relatively low EX5.

UTILIZATION

I find excellent ergonomics and the only difficulty could (possibly) be due to the large number of adjustable parameters added to different types of syntheses.
Well ... it should not be too stuffy anyway, it helps!
For my part, I spend a lot of time on my synths and fifteen years later, the EX5 is always a pleasure.
Some complained at its output a MIDI latency problem when using multi-timbral. A particular set of EPROMs corrects this problem.

SOUNDS

The low power DSP limits the use of multi-synthesis therefore, actually ... always depends on what you want to do!
Synthesis VL is excellent for strings where brass, it is only when associated with the synthesis AWM2 (16 bit/44, 100 kHz).
The AWM2 is reading and editing samples, the principle of which all sampler!
AWM2 in the synthesis is very extensive and the possibilities are enormous.
The AN is nice here but not worth a good analog.
Synthesis FSDP is a set of effects applicable to voice where AN AWM2. The result "may" be very original here depends on you.

The possibilities of expression are tip-top, it's simple ... everything is customizable!

OVERALL OPINION

I had bought it new when it came out and then live his competitor was the Korg Triton.
I did not hesitate a second and even today, I do not regret it.

For my part, I have other machines more, but in almost all compositions mas there at least one of the EX5.
The presets do not interest me on a synth and I love creating my own sounds.

If you want to buy a OCCAZ go ahead but I would advise you to find a fitted options because then it will be mission impossible to find.