Yamaha QX1

The QX1 is a real business tool. Only studios and demanding musicians were offered this jewel at its output (it took more than 20,000 francs in 87), where he was described as "a concentrate of technology compact and light of extraordinary power." The beast still measure 52 cm wide, 33 cm deep and 10.5 cm high and weighs 7.5 kg!

The front has the floppy drive 5.25 "with the throttle lock and eject the disc and an LED indicator.

The control panel has 53 keys keyboard type computer, an LCD display (matrix: 40 x 2), 34 LED (4 Mode witnesses, four witnesses to function, 8 track stand-by/play witnesses, witnesses of 8 Track record / edit, a control run, a tempo control) and a rotary tempo.
Features:
32 banks (name = 8 characters)
time signature: 01 ~ 32/01.02.04.08.16.32
Tempo: 40 ~ 280 (+ 20% = ~ 560)
sequence data: note number, velocity, gate-time, distribution time (clock), Control Change, Program Change, pitch bend, time frame, tempo change (50 ~ 200%).
string parameters: (1 ~ 8) 8 letters.
string data: no chain 01 ~ 32, bank number 01 ~ 32, 01 ~ 32 executions.
disk parameters: disc name 40 letters.
bulk parameters (01 ~ 10): name of block 8 letters.
The pad has 14 keys 4 keys utility, edit, pay and rec can choose among four main modes: the four repeated touching, chain, and trans click used to activate / deactivate additional functions, and scroll keys 6 and reading like a tape recorder.
The keyboard order entry contains the character keys, symbols and functions, they are multipurpose. There is a "punch in" which may be preceded by two measures count vacuum.
In edit mode, include for example the modulation wheel, portamento, sustain, control pressure of the breath (breath control of wind controller noon), the gate-time, the pitch bend, etc..
The recording is done in real time or step-by-step and can be edited later (insert, copy, merge, quantize, etc.).. The quantize function of time defines a number of clocks (1 ~ 999) as the basic unit for time resolution and move all the bases of notes of that unit. The "Job 18" measures the time to read a bank to 1/10th of a second (useful for synchronization with the image).

The rear panel has taken 10 noon (1 in, 1 through, and out 8), 4 jacks (tape sync in / out, footswitch, click out), a switch and the insertion points of the desk.
Click the spell-out signal of the metronome to the table or an amp.
Foot-switch used to connect a pedal to engage / disengage the record.
Tape sync in and out: in and out signals to synchronize with a recorder (magnetic stripe).
Midi in: used to transfer data reading, memory, counter noon, etc..
MIDI THROUGH: the copy comes out in the midday.
Midi out 1 ~ 8: Numbers correspond to those tracks in the power, the signal of the counter (clock) out through midi out 8.

The sequencer is QX1 8 tracks x 8 x 16 MIDI channels midi-out. Tracks can be mixed (unlimited overdubbing) and assigned to 8 outputs noon
you can also send four tracks per release. The 32 "bank" can be chained at will (repeat, cut, pasted, transposed, modified tempo ...), each bank can contain 999 measures and be attached to the other as a chain of 32 steps (each step constituting a bank).
The backup on disk is 5.25 "which can contain 80,000 notes.

I do not know if we can replace the burner drive with a USB emulator as in 3.5, "but the same ground so why not ... If I test the result I would add to that opinion later .




UTILIZATION

Configuration is as simple sequencers used for "hardware". The functions are logical and the number of orders is more than enough to not get confused with menus and submenus twisted.
The manual is very clear and has only about fifty pages, it will pass very quickly.
There is a small defect that is no longer one once you got used, back in the recording mode is destructive to the party newly recorded (and should therefore be to save or to enter the playback mode ).
Small detail: the DX7 synthesizer with serial number ranging from 1001 to 24880 and 25125 to 26005 do not transmit aftertouch to the QX1 (they are the previous generation).

SOUNDS

There is no sound in a sequencer, except that of the metronome. It can be sent on the table or an amp, so the volume returned to the headphones or monitors will be on your own ...
I put 10 because curiously, it is necessary to note that point ("no note does not work), so perfect for the click.

Note: still perfect for her because there is no bug no lag with the expanders.

OVERALL OPINION

How to work with a sequencer machine is closer to the music of computing. The QX1 is a reliable, solid, indestructible and does not crash ever. No brainer, it goes straight to the point. With QX1, we can directly drive 8 expander (or expander modules as 8 TX 816 with which it joins Wonder + box to RX11 or RX15 rate). It contains 16 bulks and can also store all data of sounds and functions of a large professional expander as the TX 816.

Yes I do it again the choice. There are three sequencers that are really extra: the Roland MC50 Mk2, the Akai and Yamaha ASQ10 QX1.

Issue price, if you're lucky enough to find a QX1 (is rare), in perfect condition it can increase to € 300 (it was 10 times as he left and it's real professional equipment) but with the bowl, you may have to scrap prices (but hey, it's still heavy!).

Please show me an IT solution as reliable, practical, simple and effective which replaces, and without the fuss, a configuration such as a sequencer hard with a good master keyboard (like DX7) and modules noon (TX816, TX802, TX81Z, fs1r, rx11, etc). Even a simple midi sequencer software not boring, not complicated, I have not yet found ...