Yamaha QY100

from www.musicproducts.com, for less than $400 US

despite its compact size, this piece of gear is basically a self-contained music-making machine. the sequencer is amazingly versatile, you can program up-to-8-track patterns (phrases) which you can "copy" and "paste" into your songs. the 500+ sounds are also very wide-ranging in the musical styles they are suitable for. the editing capabilities of the qy100 is also very impressive. i love that each sound can be played through a virtual 8-octave keyboard. 8!! so you can play the sound at an extremely low or high frequency and come up with really neat sounds.

like most people who have used the qy100, the batteries get eaten up in no time. if the keyboard was velocity sensitive, it would be an even greater stand-alone workstation. it would also be nice to have included a sampling capacity (although right now you can record analog instruments into it). otherwise, it has won my heart.

plastic case, rubber keys. it would be nice to have an MC-303/505-type of keyboard on it.

i love it! the time spent on the manual is well worth it. there are so many musical things you can do. i think this little machine is actually a challenging medium for song writers. because of its limited screen space, you can't see everything you do, which makes you compose and think of the composition in a different way than you would if you were writing it on staff paper or something. just my more philosophical two cents.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

Paid about $500 on ebay.

This unit sounds incredible. For such a small unit you really can't believe the sound quality. You can do anything with this unit from writing full songs to doing backing tracks, etc. You can create drum, bass and backing chord patters, plug in a guitar and get amp and effects modeling. You name it!

Also, the unit is very light, small and portable. Would easily fit in a backpack or gig bag.

It's really hard to learn to use effectively. It goes through batteries like it hasn't eaten in a month.

Pretty high quality, other than the fact that the unit housing is made of some high impact plastic. Sound quality is first rate.

If you're looking for an all in one unit for writing music and backing tracks, you have some money to spend and you've got the patience to sit down and learn this thing, go for it.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

There are already many opinions, so I'll try not rpter which says t

The QY100 is essentially:
-to play and rpter with accompaniment (guitarist, vocalist, keyboardist)
-to deal
It features a squenceur, Expander twelve o'clock XG (tense bank), amp simulator / effect for guitar and voice
If it is based squenceur, so do not assimilate with a groove box. Here no step sequencer and other parliaments spcifique the grooves box.
Here, first select a style, it determines the sections of the song (intro, Maina mainB, Fillab, fillBA, ending) and following agreement.
Style is used (including with 4pistes drums) + 16 tracks
You can change styles / piece of current tempo
We can create their own styles
You can play midi with an external keyboard or with the mini keyboard keys making office (without vlocit)
External devices can be controlled, but I do not see how to manage the control changes or sysex

Spcification
-line OUT mini jack (blah for the output quality)
-Guitar / Micro IN jack
-Midi IN / OUT
-Map 3.3V SmartMedia
-output host (deprecated for old computer quips of entresrie)
-32000 Composed by rating (low), 64-note polyphony
-mmoire 20 songs
-Simulation amp / effect: 18 guitars and microphones 5


USE

The ergonomics of the device is very good, and we will soon essentially simple.
The creation of a new style is not very complicated especially if one takes an existing style
In short, we are left be more effective than on a computer for raliser essential. on the other hand, for automation and mixing, it is a little less obvious.

To accompany it is just a shame to press 2 keys (shift + play) to start playback loop (not easy)

The autonomy of battery is low, this machine uses a lot and it is better to connect a transformer


SONORITS

The sonorits simulation is just correct. Guitar, it is not worth a POD2.

The XG midi bank is correct, all the drum sounds, bass, guitar, synth are (for keyboards and sound modules, Yamaha rput for guitars over the Roland and Korg competitors).
Nevertheless it is far from a pattern of the same era as it lacks punch and precision.

The proposed styles, many (over 100) are very well done and believable.


NOTICE GLOBAL

To sum it is a good box to do everything for guitars or for claviriste.
Great for practice and one can take it anywhere very easily
To dial, we'll basics. With a smart media card, you can finish the song on a computer.

To use it in live, it seems to me less fit (bank its just, 32000notes limitation ...), unless you use another GM or XG bank (a pattern, for example).

See full specifications on the previous notice or on the net.
Noon on / out.
Guitar input with effects, but I do not use it.
For audio, one stereo mini jack is a fair bit, but ...
If I hook up my midi keyboard and I use it as a workstation, it works very well.
Can run on batteries for mobile use.

UTILIZATION

Paid 110 euros with 3 cards smart media (very hard to find now, and out of, ashamed prices). The value for money is very good now, on the second hand market.
I found it terribly sad that little gray box, so I opened the battery changed the way, and painted yellow .. (See my photos).
And now I have a drum end which already want to make music, just to watch!


Anyway back to the camera
Complete and clear manual.
The linear sequencer has sixteen tracks it is very comfortable and is very powerful.
Very thorough editing, everything is possible.
I went to the computer and even the iPhone (the application Musicstudio very well by the way, a real sequencer for musician and not a toy), but I think in terms of ergonomics the QY100 is still far ahead. ..
Once you get accustomed to the operation, it is a relentless logic, and created pieces to light speed and with ease ..
Ideal for songwriters who want their ideas down while doing something already own if opportunities are exploited well.
As against the smart card storage media is another time, so expect the cards to save your songs, do the Qy 100 stores and 20.
The VERY good point is that the data is saved automatically power off if you forget to save no worries when back on my tracks and settings are still there. NICKEL!

SOUNDS

Okay so there do not expect to last Korg or reason ..
The piano is limited, but by working a little it works well in the mix.
Good electric pianos and organs.
Guitars, blah blah .. With some heavy guitars.
Correct but not terrible low.
The rest of it sounds "gm2" what (AWM2 yamaha I think), it is not separately transcendent but to make a mix that can get a good idea of ​​how the sound track "for real".
The batteries are good, but not great cymbals for my taste, too bad ...

OVERALL OPINION

In short a good tool for composing. I do not have money to make music and for 100 euros I record my ideas and make already good sequences.
It is the interest of the unit, which allows you to go more quickly, you can choose your instrument, it is recorded quantize and youth hop on to the next track, roll!
Simpler you die, and so much nicer than all the software ..
For more pro result it will use superior gear is clear, but in the meantime the QY100 is the perfect companion to write your tubes ..