Software Version ? - the one with extra combined filters (LPF & BPF combined).
Very intuitive to use (tho' I did come from the QY100). The massive plus here is the real-time tweaking which include clock shifts, midi-delays, Octave switches, LFO, pitch, effects, filters...responsive and makes you feel like a musician rather than a programmer. Navigating menus and sequencing is easy, fast and ergonomic.
I always use the "Song" mode...great for live use and non-linear real-time track recording.
Can't really edit patches (the presets can and do sound a bit weak). One has to play with the various knobs and use your ears.
I have rarely referred to the manual but it seems well-written enough.
Very intuitive to use (tho' I did come from the QY100). The massive plus here is the real-time tweaking which include clock shifts, midi-delays, Octave switches, LFO, pitch, effects, filters...responsive and makes you feel like a musician rather than a programmer. Navigating menus and sequencing is easy, fast and ergonomic.
I always use the "Song" mode...great for live use and non-linear real-time track recording.
Can't really edit patches (the presets can and do sound a bit weak). One has to play with the various knobs and use your ears.
I have rarely referred to the manual but it seems well-written enough.
Features
Forget the on-board keyboard (use it for certain basic percussive sequencing) and use a decent midi keyboard. I recommend one with a good velocity range (the Roland PC ranges are good, 5 octaves for abt €130).
LOADS and LOADS of features, tasks, settings...a lot of them real-time controllable (with recording too). Tasks (or jobs) for almost anything you can think of...apart from synthesis or LFO programming (although there is a limited LFO-editor).
Built-in effects add a lot of meat, space and mystery to the neutral presets. Only being able to assign 3 effects in a whole song is limiting and one also can't choose a flange and distortion simultaneously. But the effects are fairly editable.
The on-board sequencer is the heart of the RS7000 and is flexible, powerful and easy to use. Might be weird for Yamaha newbies but I like it. Not a match for top-level Cubase or Logic sequencing tho'.
LOADS and LOADS of features, tasks, settings...a lot of them real-time controllable (with recording too). Tasks (or jobs) for almost anything you can think of...apart from synthesis or LFO programming (although there is a limited LFO-editor).
Built-in effects add a lot of meat, space and mystery to the neutral presets. Only being able to assign 3 effects in a whole song is limiting and one also can't choose a flange and distortion simultaneously. But the effects are fairly editable.
The on-board sequencer is the heart of the RS7000 and is flexible, powerful and easy to use. Might be weird for Yamaha newbies but I like it. Not a match for top-level Cubase or Logic sequencing tho'.
Expressiveness/Sounds
With a good midi controller you have the full velocity range of 1-127. The RS disappointments somewhat with its western real instruments sounds (guitars & pianos) but is better with ethnic patches. Some synths sound a bit washy and most all the drum-kits unexciting (as in standard) - again, one has to twiddle the knobs to personalise and excite the sounds. Example: for psy kick-drums select BEF filter with cut between -55 to -40 and resonance on minimum (-64).
Although it seems a lot of guitarring rock musicians use this for drum backing...and I gather hip-hoppers use it too, I use it for dance beats. On quality sound-systems and with an external hardware compressor (I used a Samson) I played some FAT sets with the RS reacting very well to live-jamming. In a techno club environment suddenly all your doubts about the RS-sound are blown away. RS also works well for non-linear ambient music.
I want: more adventurous presets, the ability to choose more effects for one song. Pan recording options.
I like: massive editing functions to make those presets sound better and much more interesting. Real-time record and jamming.
Although it seems a lot of guitarring rock musicians use this for drum backing...and I gather hip-hoppers use it too, I use it for dance beats. On quality sound-systems and with an external hardware compressor (I used a Samson) I played some FAT sets with the RS reacting very well to live-jamming. In a techno club environment suddenly all your doubts about the RS-sound are blown away. RS also works well for non-linear ambient music.
I want: more adventurous presets, the ability to choose more effects for one song. Pan recording options.
I like: massive editing functions to make those presets sound better and much more interesting. Real-time record and jamming.
Reliability
Well...I have had it for about 7 years and played dozens of squat parties, gigs and partook in many more bedroom jams. It's also crossed the north sea successfully. The whole time I only ever wrapped it in a soft suit bag with towels wrapped round it. It has a few scars and two real defects:
1) the master volume control is iffy, possibly due to a knock or spilt liquid.
2) sometimes a song will become stunted and start farting and playing out of time...I know of no other solution than to give up on the song.
Seen as it has been in some quite harsh environments I judge this to be a strong, robust baby.
1) the master volume control is iffy, possibly due to a knock or spilt liquid.
2) sometimes a song will become stunted and start farting and playing out of time...I know of no other solution than to give up on the song.
Seen as it has been in some quite harsh environments I judge this to be a strong, robust baby.
Overall Rating
I would miss it if it were gone. I can make techno from a blank song within 10 minutes and real-time jam away for hours thereafter! That live aspect I would miss.
Other gear have more been accompaniments to the RS: Zoom RFX2000, Samson S-COM, Roland PC midi-keyboard, some battered old mixer, mics/guitars and other instruments (not played by me), TC Electronics FX-box, Darkstar synth (hardly used).
I rinsed the RS a long time ago but can still have fun with it. I briefly played the Roland 909 and 505 but they somehow left me cold (granted, I didn't spend too much time on them). I started playing music with the Yamaha DJX in 1999, progressed to the QY100, then the RS in early 2002 (or was it 2001?). Nowadays I jam with the RS but also play around with software (not as fun).
The thing I hate most about the RS:
a) that bloody bug which stunts the song (see "Reliability section). I think this might just affect me as I haven't come across any mentions of it elsewhere.
b) after 7 years rinsing this baby...sometimes I feel sick of any sound it offers, effected or no...and curse its pretend claims to proper sounds (a banging gig is a good cure for this).
Thing I love: Well...lots of stuff as already mentioned. The fact that I have easily spent over 2000 hours playing on it since purchase mean it has achieved "Legend" status for me.
Interested people can check out:
www.myspace.com/elseedydeutschland & www.myspace.com/dhollmusik
for some unmastered, unadultered, straight-out-da-box RS action!
Other gear have more been accompaniments to the RS: Zoom RFX2000, Samson S-COM, Roland PC midi-keyboard, some battered old mixer, mics/guitars and other instruments (not played by me), TC Electronics FX-box, Darkstar synth (hardly used).
I rinsed the RS a long time ago but can still have fun with it. I briefly played the Roland 909 and 505 but they somehow left me cold (granted, I didn't spend too much time on them). I started playing music with the Yamaha DJX in 1999, progressed to the QY100, then the RS in early 2002 (or was it 2001?). Nowadays I jam with the RS but also play around with software (not as fun).
The thing I hate most about the RS:
a) that bloody bug which stunts the song (see "Reliability section). I think this might just affect me as I haven't come across any mentions of it elsewhere.
b) after 7 years rinsing this baby...sometimes I feel sick of any sound it offers, effected or no...and curse its pretend claims to proper sounds (a banging gig is a good cure for this).
Thing I love: Well...lots of stuff as already mentioned. The fact that I have easily spent over 2000 hours playing on it since purchase mean it has achieved "Legend" status for me.
Interested people can check out:
www.myspace.com/elseedydeutschland & www.myspace.com/dhollmusik
for some unmastered, unadultered, straight-out-da-box RS action!
No comments:
Post a Comment