All user reviews for the Yamaha S30

The S30 is very similar to the CS6x that is also made by Yamaha. The S30 has 64 voices and MIDI capabilities with 256 presets. The presets are great; some of them are stereo samples instruments like acoustic pianos, guitars, strings and analog synths. I did not expect to get this many good sounds when I got my S30 because all I kept hearing was how good the CS6x was and that the s30 could never live up to it. I beg to differ; I think the S30 is very similar and the only difference is, is the price. They have the same sound set and synth engine/ basic functions.

UTILIZATION

This 61 key synth has after touch and a huge effects list to mess around with. There are 23 different chorus effects and over 10 reverbs plus a large selection of insertion effects. There are 128 types of arps that you can choose from and you will have full control over how your arps will be played out. You can tweak all of the gate time and velocity rate parameters until you are happy with the result of your arp.

SOUNDS

There are also knobs that you can use as controllers when assigned to functions within your DAW, which means that this keyboard can be used as a MIDI controller. For a while I was using this as my main keyboard synth and my MIDI controller. It is not very portable though and is made to just stay at home, it is pretty bulky and heavy to want to take with you plus you would not want to travel with this many keys.

OVERALL OPINION

The filter section on the S30 is also very similar to the filter section on the CS6x. You get 13 different types like low pass, band pass and some standard EQ options. You can use this synth to power your DAW and it will be a great sound module for your set up. It is a “win win” with this synth.

I s30 version without extension. I just added a smart media card for more sounds in memory.
I have added a sustain pedal.

UTILIZATION

concert recording.
I had taken the time to read the manual that is clear. Honestly sounds are not really old, by fiddling we found excellent, they are very configurable but be patient for access to more menus.de screen is not huge and uses abbreviations that eventually master.
The multi-effect is ultra-clear and often leads to the use of databases predefined sounds.

SOUNDS

I played rhythm and blues, variety, metal, electro.
In rhythm and blues, sounds of organs and pianos életriques can be fun, pianos yamaha are very typical and not all are terrible.
I like bands are, electro synth is doing very well can get sounds really modern.
The apréggiateur is also nice but not exceptional sudden I had bought the rm1x complement and surprise, the synth is not ... xg

OVERALL OPINION

ten keys are missing, damaged, all is robust, never fails, only the volume a little flu from time to time.
At the time it was a risky choice for me in its price class there was no competition. It was a good choice.

See data sheet ... complete line what to expect. With more expansion possibilities

UTILIZATION

The menu navigation is a bit tedious ds accder you want a more drives: CRER or customize sounds. But is it too inviting?

SOUNDS

I find the sounds convincing. No forcment trsralistes when compared with the multiple layers existing banks, but always musical trs.
The electric pianos dmnagent severe, synth leads have a nice size, orchestral instruments soloists are far from being ridiculous, organs are rich and Varis (some apps spcialiss I think not much has choselui envy). I have a soft spot for orchestral ensembles with delight that s'paississent VLOC. The filters also the sensitive VLOC compensate fairly well I think the lack of layers of certain sounds (piano) ... The drums are dats, Obviously.

OVERALL OPINION

Mconnu a synth too, trs versatile, I use happily for 3 years ... only one regret: missing a tap tempo for the arpeggiator, but there was not a 99
one more: you can fiddle with the buttons in all directions.

In short a good choice forthe scne as for the home studio.

Very close to the S80

The controller is interesting there are assignable
There is the possibility of adding a card plg (just one, two on the s80) which makes it much more interesting.

There is an editor at Yamaha and more than enough that is the same as the S80

UTILIZATION

I find the simple setup, I quickly made the rounds of possibility.
Sounds are fairly easy to find through the right buttons
I tried the card plg vl is monaural, the management is good.
There is also the map plg DX FM synthesis and AN for analog emulation.

SOUNDS

No real synthesis without the addition of plg card, and there is no built-in sampler or the possibility of extending the range of sounds AWM2.
Few bank available on the net, there is a site devoted to the s80 which includes.

OVERALL OPINION

I have purchase history to have a keyboard, I was sold when I started seeing these limits.

May be of interest to control a rack pattern, the structure should be similar.

This is a true copy of Yamaha S80, but 61 keys synth version
61-key keyboard, a little lighter, a bit noisy too, who do not inspire confidence, but very resistant to my attacks so far.
After compared with that of a Korg Triton Le76, I prefer the Yamaha S30, which is not that bad.
Velocity and aftertouch
Pitch bend and modulation.
The sounds can be edited at will, but the screen is too small (2 lines of 64 characters)
Connection to host (serial link directly to a PC or Mac)
64 channels polyphony
It is not the standard GM or XG (you need an expansion card for compatibility XG)

UTILIZATION

The general use is quite simple.
We choose a sound (voice mode), or an assembly of sounds (performance mode) and go.
The 5 knobs below the screen provide direct access to various sound parameters.
In general, the first 3 are assigned to a 3-band equalizer, quite effective.
The following 2 are often used for sending to the chorus and reverb.
But all this is editable, and you can choose almost any parameter, then grind in real time.
The 2 pots are extreme selectors notched endless menus to navigate, and seem a bit too fragile (on my own, there is one that moves but that still works).
The manual is not very clear, but we can do without in most cases.
on the other hand, how to change the sounds via MIDI is not described in the manual. You must go yourself to fish on the net to find the series to send (the 2 ControlChange followed by ProgramChange).
The storage of sounds on SmartMedia card is not always easy to find. Managing this map is not the easiest either, arriving to load automatically at startup banks internal sounds and PLG cards.

SOUNDS

So here it gets a slap on the eardrums.
This little synth relatively unknown and under side (I bought mine for 300 €), one gets a lot of that sounds more correct. Some are found on the EX5 (I had one under the fingers) as violins, or other clavinets Wurlitzers.
The guitar distortion is more than well (thank you onboard effects).
The piano sound is a little below.
But this machine accepts an expansion card type PLG 150. Paint it the card PF or PA and you will be all good from Yamaha acoustic piano.
Unlock Your map DX (which I did), and you have a DX7 compatible with thousands of sounds DX arranged on the net. You'll also available the resonant filter and the integrated effects of S30 for a little more tweaking your sounds

It can also take the patches provided for CS6x.

In performance mode, the arpeggiator can provide bass lines, drum beats or, perhaps less sophisticated than those of a pattern, but still fun to use.

Maybe a small problem: if I push the volume up, it distorted.
So I leave the volume at half and all goes well (I did not try to escape through the headphone jack, to compare). This is apparently not valid for the expansion card-DX in my case, where even with the volume turned up, everything goes well.
FM synthesis can yet do much harm to the speakers, but FM sounds them out without worrying. An explanation from Yamaha?

OVERALL OPINION

It has an interface for SmartMedia, allowing you to edit the sound banks on a PC, upload midifles 0 format on the card, and then reuse it all on the S30, which has a small sequencer, only replay midi. Practice to take his compositions on stage without fear of unreadable sector of the floppy or hard disk crash the PC at the wrong time.

I use it for 4 months now.
My only regret is that Yamaha still has not made a version with 76 keys keyboard with a valid.
It is lightweight (external power supply ...), compact but extremely powerful, especially if you add a map type PLG.
I add, after more than a year of use, that this synth has a tremendous potential, mostly unknown, and is a very good investment for those seeking general sounds of good quality, and electronic sounds (like CS6x) .
S80 version, with 2 slots for PLG cards, and keyboard 88 keys, must be even more interesting, but bulkier and heavier.

The value is frankly good, saw its rating occasions.

And if the keyboard loose, I will keep as expander.