All user reviews for the Yamaha RM1X

Everything has been said.

UTILIZATION

I use this machine to create repeating patterns (synths, bass, etc.) that I manage and then transforms live coupled with the use of other materials.

This machine is designed with an impressive intellect, we never tire of marveling at what it can do so easily and yet with means for ergonomics at the base extremely precarious at a time when the computer music in full swing.

You can have fun with the hack as soon as you plug it. But as always for this type of machine I strongly advise you to buckle down for a day or two to read the manual from beginning to end by manipulating each of the proposed functions, even those who a priori do not interest you. This helps to understand little by little all that is possible with the beast, and very often more than we think. Moreover it is one of those machines so malleable that we can divert each basic function to get what you want: after a few years I still often discovers new ways to use it!

The sequencer is really excellent, but if you are not attracted to electronic music, or simply by the repetitive music, go your way. The interesting features are all those who play on repetition, including live editing capabilities. To compose a piece from start to finish, a sequencer on PC today will be ten times better ten times the job in less time.

For live use, some features are useful:
- Translating immediate pressing a button and selecting the value of transposition
- 8 knobs effects with two levels (ie 16 effects hacks live, 12 unchangeable and 4 that can be assigned to a large panel of effects), damage, however they are not infinite.
- Usual features of groovebox: trackmute

I put 8 because of the fact that the machine saturates fairly quickly when the accumulated effects and trickery, which means that we must either limit the hacks, either limit the number of tracks ... And as the sounds are unusable as such (see next section), it is necessary to limit the number of tracks.

SOUNDS

I have long hesitated to buy the machine there are a few years, because I was told that the sounds were very bad. So what is it?

The RM1x is also very old and it already was not famous for its output sounds. It is true that when you take them "pure", and put no effect, without editing, they are pretty disgusting (it should say what that is). They are simply impossible to use "plain" in your music without making it ridiculous.

As against the machine has so many ways to process sounds that it becomes possible to obtain results rather nice, especially impressive at times see the old view of the beast. There are ways to do something, and indeed something quite personal.

For cons: if you do not like electronic music, go your way. The only good sounds you have come to create electronic sounds. The effects of the direct RM1x generally toward either the electro rather hard (well big fat bass, synths mad, etc..) Or quite vintage ambient music.

Finally: Use the RM1x as a drum machine seems to be avoided at all costs. The sounds have changed too since. If we can get something instrumentals level, it gets really hard to have a clean result with percussion. I do not just use, preferring to synchronize with another beast for it (the MPC1000 for me)

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for 4 years.

I have a Akai MPC1000, but one can hardly compare the two machines (the MPC is based sampler).

What I like most:

- The sequencer marvel of inventiveness
- Opportunities Live
- Her great backup system (simply: everything is logged into the machine continuously, we can turn it off when you want and find everything you did to relight - and you can save at any time on a few floppy seconds)

What I like least:

- It was nice to deal with midi channels, you can not play external midi channels live. You have to play each track separately, which ruined any chance to play live several VST instruments or keyboards for example ... What a pity!
- The RM1x saturates quickly and we are obliged to limit its use (unless you use the basic tools as they are, but it's impossible because they are so ugly)
- Apart from the 16 pads, buttons, rectangles are certainly strong, but too rigid. At first it goes, but after a few hours it was sore wrist.
Value for money: new it seems to me far too expensive today. But on occasion she has fallen so low that you can jump without hesitation.

With experience, I do it again this election if my budget is limited. In all cases I can do without this machine, but if I had more money I think I would take the RS700 which seems to be substantially equivalent but improved with even more live opportunities.

The Yamaha RM1X is a versatile music workstation that is aimed at users making dance and electronic music. The RM1X was made in the 1990's and I'm pretty sure that it is no longer being manufactured. It can be used both on the stage or in the studio as a production tool. While today this has mostly been replaced with DAW (digital audio workstations), there is still a lot that can be done with this. It's easy to compile your own beat or use it as a 16 channel sequencer. It's fully MIDI compatible and also has a now dated floppy drive.

UTILIZATION

Being that there is a whole lot that you can do with the Yamaha RM1X, it definitely will take a while to learn how to use this inside and out. I definitely do not know everything there is to know about the RM1X, as I've only used it a handful of times. I'd say that while it's easy to get some simple tracks going, it will certainly take some effort to learn how to use all of the features on the RM1X. While I haven't seen the manual for this, I would recommend having it around unless you're pretty experienced.

SOUNDS

The sounds possible with the Yamaha RM1X are quite versatile, as there is a serious amount of different sound banks to work with. This includes a variety of presets including different drum patterns and phrases. It also has built in effects and it's easy enough to layer your sounds to get new ones. Most of the sounds on here are pretty realistic considering what the box is, and there's almost an endless room to do what you want with it, but the actually sounds themselves aren't the most impressive. I would probably recommend using this as a supplement and have something with some more sounds like a DAW. If I were doing a serious project with this I would probably bounce everything into a DAW at some point along the way, but this is definitely a self sustaining work station and everything can be done inside of it.

OVERALL OPINION

While most people out there building an electronic music rig will go with something computer based, the Yamaha RM1X is a nice alternative to get started with. It's also just a nice supplement piece of gear to use in tandem with a DAW if you so choose. I must admit that the one that we have at the studio where I work doesn't see much use, but it's kept around as you never know when it might be helpful. If I were putting together a rig I'd be going with a DAW based platform, bu the Yamaha RM1x is a great little device and is an option definitely worth exploring.

Multiple Midi Outs would be sweet. A way to save user patches. A way to hear other tracks while recording in X0X mode.

Price paid

$700

UTILIZATION

The interface can be hard to get used to. There is a lot of sub-menus where certain features hide. It's a very easy machine to use though and it has never crashed or anything similar. The only big glitch is that after a lot of use the keys become worn and unresponsive. The manual is ok and should get you up and ready in little time.

Once again, the only big glitch is that after a lot of use the keys become worn and unresponsive.

SOUNDS

Sound is not where the Rm1x excels in my opinion. It's sequencer might be top notch but it really lacks in the sound dept. If this is your only peice of kit you will want to expand. However, its sounds compliment other synths well.

OVERALL OPINION

Aside from the few things I mentioned the Rm1x oooozes class. It's sequencer is top notch and suits both studio work and live work. While I dont think it's sounds are amazing they still have the ability to inspire and do work well when placed in a composition with other sounds.

Originally posted on FutureProducers.com
Posted by: Unknown ( 4-, 2002)

I like what the box has too offer. Features cool effects that can get very deep if you put the time in. Drum presets are great, something that is kinda unexpected from Yamaha. However alot of the instrument presets totally suck, with exception to some basslines. But who needs presets anyway?! With such an easy to use sequencer, making your own loops and building upon them is what makes this beatbox great. Once you have the loops built you can seriously edit them, you need a creative mind to appreciate what this box can do. Its easy and fast. Comes with a decent size tone generator. But the sounds are kinda cheesy and dated, even the drums are weak. If you edit them and really use those knobs the sounds can be impressive, almost inspiring. The knobs are GREAT and brings life to even the most whack loops. The RM1X has plenty of cool features that will keep you happy, and it is not to mention a great alternative to software sequencers.

Price paid

$700

UTILIZATION

Dead easy to use. Its alot like the QY-70. The manual is very useful and makes a great reference, but some of the unit's features are not explained in the manual.

Built like a tank. The only downside is the small keyboard built on the box. Plastic keys and it may seem that they could easily break with enough abuse. But this will most likely be hooked up to a MIDI keyboard controller, so who cares? The knobs really get broken in after enough twisting, but i like that they slide even smoother than when i bought this item new.

SOUNDS

The sounds seem to be the weakest aspect of the box. However, with decent editing, really cool sounds can be created. Why would anyone use factory sounds anyway? Even with a high quality sound module, you have to edit the sounds a little to get what your looking for. So I can understand that this box gets alot of negative feedback from people because the majority of the people that are doing all the bashing are the ones at SamAsh that just finger through the factory sounds. You have to utilize the effects block and really twist those knobs to appreciate the sound that this box is capable of delivering.

OVERALL OPINION

I love it. This is the heart of my small studio. I use it to control my sampler and sound module. Without this piece, my other gear would be lifeless. Very easy to use and thats a major factor. It seems that Roland and Emu sequencer dont have that ease of use like the Yamaha RM1X, which may lead some to believe that this box is actaully some kind of "toy". It a sense it may be, buts its powerful and FUN TO USE and thats why I enjoy it so much.

Originally posted on FutureProducers.com
Posted by: Unknown ( 4-, 2002)

This is a classic sequencer. It has 3 main mode's: Pattern, song,pattern chain. Song mode is completely linear. Pattern mode lets you create patterns of whatever length you'd like. So, if you program some drum patterns in pattern mode you can chain them together in pattern chain mode and then in song mode lay down the melodies and harmonies while adding additional flourishes to the drum parts. The record mode's are:standard, overdub, punch, step, and step grid. Standard mode is straight ahead real time recording. overdub speaks for its self as does punch. With step mode you have a 32 step grid on the lcd screen; you use a knob to scroll down the grid and then press the key on your board or one of its 16 pads to enter that note. This is quite useful for drum parts and with 32 steps you can do triplets which is kind of difficult with 16 steps. The sted-grid is your "xox" style programming however its poorly implemented. Basically on an electribe you have your 8 sounds and can quickly change sounds by pushing 1 button. With this its just stupid since your scrolling through so many sounds and it feels clumsy. I think good ol' grid mode offers more detail with its larger grid and I always use that or use a drum pad. The 16 pads on the rm1x are not velocity sensitive btw. As for editing your sequence's, there is a menu called "jobs" with many functions allowing you to cut and paste every which way. if your used to software its a drag since its not drag and click, but if you can count and remember what measure's go in which place you'll eventually overcome the awkwardness of it and be flying around like nothing. Also, you can split the note's from one track, like a drum track into many tracks if you like. And, of course you can quantise(duh). The synth engine is crap, you cant really make patches which layer sounds. It has 2 outs. It uses standard midi file's so its easy to switch between a pc and rm1x. You can easily assign the knobs to control another synth. Only one midi i/o. The effects are o.k but I never use the rm1x's sounds, and therefore I don't use its effects either.

Price paid

$400

UTILIZATION

Well this baby follows a yamaha line of logic which in some ways is incongruent with whats usually considered intuitive. But, after a certain point you simply learn the machine and it become's your instrument, you automatically know where everything is and you do your job.

This baby is robust! The case is like a tank. Be careful though because the knobs can fall off and the pads are kind of cheap.

SOUNDS

Some of the pad sounds are cool. I dislike the drum sounds. The synth engine is weak sauce. For me this is strictly a sequencer.

OVERALL OPINION

This is an ill piece of sequencing hardware. I could blabber on about it, but it is what it is and that is that.

Originally posted on FutureProducers.com
Posted by: Unknown (January 0-, 2002)

The sequencer kicks ass. You can record in real-time, or you can punch in different notes individually. This machine also has it's own tone generator, drum kit and voice editing(sythinisizer) ability. It can serve as the centerpeice of a midi system.

Price paid

$450

UTILIZATION

It's reasonably easy to use most features, but some features reguire a lot of knowlege and technical music how.

SOUNDS

The sounds that come out of thing are not the greatest. i'd describe them as mechanical and robotic. The machines sounds are orintated more towards techno music. But with a lot of tweaking, a decent hip-hop song can be created.

OVERALL OPINION

Iv'e had the machine for several years, and the only thing that has gone wrong with the machine is one of the keys loss its pressure sensitivity. I have to really press hard for the key to signal the sound.

It's ok. It's not meant for hip-hop though.

Originally posted on FutureProducers.com
Posted by: Unknown ( 5-, 2003)

I think it has everything you need

Price paid

400

UTILIZATION

Well you have to sit down with it and learn your self because the manual is no good at all

SOUNDS

I think the sound i nice i see that many people say its not but it is to me because you can change the volume of a sound you can make the bass louder its alot that you can do with on the machine if you know how to work it

OVERALL OPINION

Its nice you just have to see for your self

i love this machine i mostly make hiphop or RnB

Originally posted on FutureProducers.com
Posted by: Tae2u03 ( 5-, 2004)

Honestly, this is the 2nd best hardware sequencer i EVER used. Simple and intuitive interface. Everything it should have. I Love the sequencer.

Price paid

200 usd

UTILIZATION

I learned the old school sequencers (MMT-8, MPC's ect...)and gradually updated. I didnt need the manual at all for the basic functions. Very easy to use, yet powerful sequencer.

never had a problem

SOUNDS

Ok, in general... yes. the sounds are weak and uninspired. I only use it if i need a quick basic hi-hat, or string sound, ect. The drums are weak, but i have found a few gems in the drum banks that sounded great when tweaked / EQ'd. Same with some of the other sounds.

OVERALL OPINION

Love it

Originally posted on FutureProducers.com
Posted by: kwic_draw ( 7-, 2005)