Yamaha S90 XS

The Yamaha S90 XS is a 88 key synth with a stage piano as well, it has over 1000 voices as well as a built in USB drive and on board DAW controls that can either be used with a Mac or a PC (any version of Windows). At first glance looking at this board you will think that it cost way to much money for as simple as it looks. They key part of this board is that the sounds are very good, there really are no bad patches on the whole thing. It is a very good synth to have for a large genre of music. When it comes to the stage piano part of it, you can easily plug a microphone right into it and have an on stage set up right at your finger tips. I have used the Yamaha S90 XS with Reason 4 and with recording directly into Pro Tools.


UTILIZATION

Setting this synth up takes no effort at all. You can read through the manual if you need it, but I hardly ever do everything on this board from the song process. I basically used it for the sounds and maybe a few small performances for some friends. Editing the parameters of your sounds are very in depth. I won’t say it is easy because it is not, unless you are use to doing your sound editing from a keyboard. Its actually a lot different than doing it on a software synth. But after you get use to it you will be very comfortable with editing all of the parameters on the Yamaha S90 XS.


SOUNDS

When you are playing the Yamaha S90 you will love the feel of the keys, they have a nice weighted feel to them. As a player, you can really get your expressiveness out like you can sitting at a real piano. The piano sounds are very good and realistic, they are actually some of the best piano patches that I have heard coming from a synth keyboard.


OVERALL OPINION

The Yamaha S90’s sounds are the selling point for it, if you get a chance go to your local music store and see if they have this on display. You will be locked in on it for hours just messing with all of the sounds and effects. But, the fact that the price is so high almost makes it not affordable for the average “at home” musician. I do suggest purchasing this keyboard though if you can afford it. The quality of the Yamaha S90 XS is well worth every dollar that it cost. I have been using the Yamaha S90 XS since the winter of 2009, and I am still learning new stuff about it.

I just recently sold a Fantom Xa, XP-30, Korg X-50, and a Yamaha AN1x. Now I have only this board and I can pretty much get any sounds I had before out of just this one board. It is a great sounding synth but the pianos are the best I have ever played in hardware. In fact, I own software pianos that aren't as nice or versatile as this board. They sound great and there are several of different styles. None of them are bad and the good ones are pretty much great.


UTILIZATION

easy set up and manual is easy to understand.

SOUNDS


Sounds great, no matter what style of music you create this will do it for you without a problem. You will be very happy with how realistic some of the sounds are. The sax is outstanding and so are the strings. You will feel really connected with the Yamaha S90 XS and you will spend hours on hours playing as time just passes you buy. As a keyboard player we love to just sit down and play great sound chords, this will do it for you.

OVERALL OPINION

Overall, At this price you can't do better. Put a software sequencer to it and you have pretty much everything the Motif has. The sounds are great, the feeling on the keys quite piano-like. I am no expert at this, and there is a lot to learn, but I have every intention of keeping this instrument around for a while. This keyboard can be for a beginner or a seasoned veteran. Either way you will feel right at home with this board. This is a great piece of equipment. Not only is it much lighter than its big brother (Yamaha Motif XS8 it features the Yamaha S6 Grands, and has a great user interface. If you can afford this one, I say go ahead a and make the purchase or look around online for a discount.

for the characteristics I invite you to go directly to the page of Yamaha France


UTILIZATION

Then to configure it so simple, it may be understood how the system (OS) of the machine, from there his journey

Yes 2dition of its easy and quick, nothing wrong I have fun like crazy sounds

SOUNDS

agree totally has my styles my creation ..
The expression is excellent, I never felt that before ...
sounds are a realistic hope, the sax, I would not say ...
The effects are excellent adapted and modified a wish ..
Having not heard any, I will say piano, wind instruments has, as the violins, then there's good .... I hate anything

OVERALL OPINION

since not long less than a week, I spend 8 hours per day over a feast ....
In real synth, not a Sonic Cell and by my master keyboard M Audio 88es ....
The most touch keyboard, the sound quality and ease of working on it ...
Least, uh, I try, oh yes, there is no digital I / O perspective, to work in 24Bit 96 kHz for example, is not a minus, gosh there is no

Finally, to summarize, you need a good keyboard for both computer music or concert, look no further, and pass the test, the S90 XS