Yamaha MU15

Expander while lightweight, compact whole, not rack.
676 sounds + 21 drum kits compatible GM / XG.
Can be applied only three effects: reverb (11 diffrent), chorus (11 DIFFERENT) and "variations" [including: flanger, phaser, tremolo, delay, echo, etc..] (43 diffrent).
Note that we can select an effect given to all sounds. For example, one can not choose a flanger effect to the first channel and a delay effect for deuxime, which greatly limits the possibilities.
For sounds, we can not change that basic custom settings (such as time attack and relchement). The effects are not at all ditables, you can just choose which "degrquot, they can be applied.
No extension available.
MIDI IN / OUT, To Host, only a mini jack socket with respect to the audio output Stereo Lines Out / Phones. DC IN jack for AC adapter or battery-operation.

UTILIZATION

Trs configuration really simple.
There is no edition of donations and effects, making it even easier.
The manual is clear enough, you just have to fly over just to know which button to press in order to do this or that, and we just aisment APRS without it. All fawns, the DIFFERENT menus are shown on the mini-screen buttons and allows to visualize what we do.

SOUNDS

I mainly metal and symphonic sounds, trs varies though somewhat "cold", in part to the lack of effects that can be applied to them can match this style as both sides, even if it is to have ct prfrable other hardware.
Some sounds are trsralistes t enjoyable and I surprised to see your exact as a given in some records. Some sounds such as the bassoon and the horn are ralistes on most synths yet more upscale.
I did not test the aftertouch raction (a-y 'you it just one?), The same as the raction VLOC but seems mdiocre t was not a problem, I do not need it.
The sounds I prfre: lots of instrumental sounds (harp, bassoon, horn, brass in gnral are not bad, the music is nice bote ,...), and some leads, which although they are certainly not those good choices, however, synths prsentent INTERESTED. Other synthetic sound that does prsentent trs intrt little, and some instrumental sounds are pluttdcevants (I think including piano, recorder and flte shakuhachi).

OVERALL OPINION

I have used for just over a year, but not regularly. Before the expander, I had my first keyboard, a Yamaha PS-6100, and the sounds of the expander are much better than this keyboard.

What I like most: the large variety of stamps, some ralistes well, the fact that batteries can work (I've never used as such but can be useful), the mini keyboard Intgr (tiny buttons, but I'm dj used to play certain musical phrases that I could not do with my other synths in RPET ') .

What I like least: its appearance too "toy for 'tits begets," that sounds gnral lacking in "life", the piano sound (really dcevant ), the fact that there is a mini jack socket for audio output.

In the era I'd pay 90 hand and I thought that dj c'tait a good deal. Now we found for a few dollars less and still a big deal. Some will say that I overestimated a bit the MU15 and my notes are too leves, but this instrument offers excellent value qualitprix, and I'm glad t buy for beginners.

GM sound generator - XG - TG300B (thus largely compatible as GS). Runs on 6 AA batteries and AC adapter and its cable-PC = Parallel Host are optional.

UTILIZATION

I currently working on midi files and I can not stay still in the studio to do them. So I'm working on a netbook with an old Cakewalk. The problem is that laptops are rare to embed a chip in the XG sound card onboard - and even less with the way TG300B. GM is often see the GS. And as the XG - TG300B allow settings impossible to do with the GM and GS ... ^ ^

This tone generator device is unique. Portable, battery operated and has dimensions of a VHS tape, he made the feat of taking 32-note polyphony, 16 MIDI channels, banks GM, XG and the famous fashion TG300B. Well, of course, its port Host PC became unusable because no new PC has no parallel port but neither, it just plug netbook in MIDI interface and USB MIDI voila ^ ^

He has a great LCD screen on which you see the meters velocity of the 16 MIDI channels, it's great. With this, one quick oeuil we see if the midifile contains original channels too low or not. We also see on which MIDI channel is assigned as her ^ ^

There's just something that's too bad: Can not access the user TG300B since the buttons, it is possible to access the message only via MIDI exclusive activation mode. Therefore why it is connected to a master keyboard with integrated control surface. Anyway, in my case, I use it with the netbook ^ ^

Anyway, among the current models (late November 2010) (MU15 because it dates from 1999), there is almost nothing equivalent if you want to stay in the XG laptop batteries, except the Yamaha MDP-5 which has the USB SmartMedia reader which supports more the GS but lacks MIDI output (argl !!!)...

SOUNDS

Not bad ^ ^ A bit more warm than the Yamaha QY70, perhaps due to its mode TG300B that he did not. But it does not always compete with the Yamaha QS300, nothing to do.

OVERALL OPINION

November 2010, I have every right to receive it.

What I love:
- It runs on batteries, battery life: approx. 6 - 8 hours
- The mode TG300B
- Its super handy LCD

What I like least:
- The mini keyboard is not velocity sensitive (for the cons of the QY70
was)
- The mode TG300B accessible via MIDI
- As an audio output, there is only the headphone output on 3.5 mm mini jack, it is a bit fragile.

It is clear that suits me better than the Yamaha QY70 I had to work before the midi files from outside the studio (in the train for example).

Another variant of this model:
- Yamaha MU5: same thing but in black and contains only the GM banks, that's all.

Portable model in VHS format type (cell or sector), lightweight and sturdy, perfect for mobile use, connections MIDI In & Out, To Host port Mac and PC switchable, stereo mini-jack. 6 banks of 128 sounds, all kinds.

UTILIZATION

Extremely simple and intuitive to use, the parameters are clear, useful and quickly accessible. Manual clear.

SOUNDS

Good overall dynamic sounds XG, stamps a variety of instruments. Forthe natural sounds are unbeatable in this class of machine.

OVERALL OPINION

Sounds and more versatile than correct, ergonomically perfect for mobile users, a device at unbeatable value for money in this price range.