Dexibell Vivo SX7 MIDI Sound Module - Intro / Overview / Review

Dexibell Vivo SX7 MIDI Sound Module - Intro / Overview / Review.
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Dexibell at DISCOUNTED Prices: www.PianoManChuck.com

[@EverettDudgeon138]

Really wish more companies would do modules. I would love to see a new Kurzweil module.

[@pighater951]

Yup me 2?

[@GerryMoningkey]

maybe soon enough

[@tysonrichards2011]

Kurzweil module PLEASE and a NORD too!

[@meusdisco]

I Agree with you

[@lrblouie]

And a new Montage module!

[@dare2win215]

i have ignored Dexibell until today. i was going to buy a Nord Piano 5 until the Vivo S7 came into my preview & now I'm going for the SX8! thanks

[@dennismichaels1205]

I appreciate your informative and quick reply. Thanks so much

[@rcom9880]

Hey Chuck, been hoping you'd review this. Great product. Thanks! Sure wish Nord would take note! Their soundset in a module would sell big in my humble opinion.

[@PianoManChuck]

That would be my wish too! But Nord's are also known for their realtime controls and that would also have to be part of what they'd have to put on a standalone unit.

[@grahamcmusic]

Always helpful videos Chuck and very good careful ways of explaining things Thanks i have a Vivo S3 Various v good sounds AND light to carry with a good action

[@pizzagogo6151]

I was just thinking recently how it was a shame no one made specialised piano modules anymore (when these were common it was a great way to add better/up to date pianos to your existing keyboard) and then this review come up! Thanks.

[@Kougeru]

Most companies follow the Apple method of forcing people to buy new hardware in order to get new software even though the old hardware can technically run the new software easily

[@philfisher8962]

Fantastic.... I have been waiting for this video for a long....

[@Zoco101]

I'm going a bit off topic now, but for any pianist who has suffered while playing in a band with no bass player, I have a good hack for playing the bass lines without splitting the keyboard between bass and piano. Put a rock piano on the lower and your favourite piano on the upper. Nobody will notice the transition between the two pianos if you play arpeggios or two-handed chords, but the rock piano will cut through much better than your pretty piano while you are playing bass lines. It's not as ideal as hearing a warm bass sound, but balancing the attack and volume of keyboard bass sounds is a minefield, particularly if you have a simple portable piano with all the controls in the menus. Using this hack means you get to be a pianist and not a pseudo bass player playing RH piano the whole gig. And you don't have to worry about getting the right volume balance between upper and lower. On some pianos you have to dig right into the menus for that - which is impossible on live gigs.

[@georgeneilson6070]

Thankyou, sounds nice. Always good videos.

[@PianoMan-hx3ev]

I thought you might play “All of My Love” on the slow strings. Thanks for the awesome demo. I have the pxs3000 and LOVE IT. I think this sound module will be my next purchase:)

[@PianoManChuck]

Thanks for your comment!

[@BethGreenTV]

Thanks for this. A question: If your keyboard allows for layers or splits, can you use the keyboard to layer the SX7 sounds, instead of trying to do it through channels, which looks confusing to me? In fact, I didn't see layer in the manual. Sorry, I'm not the most technologically astute. Thanks!

[@marcThysebaert]

Wouw top demo grts marc

[@blevens7251]

I own this module and highly recommend it. Two years of versatile and reliable gig usage so far.

[@PianoManChuck]

Thanks for sharing your experience with us for this module!

[@blevens7251]

@@PianoManChuck thank you for your channel and thoughtful reviews.

[@xp50player]

Every tried Korg Module app, with Ivory and Scarbee deep-sampled expansions?

[@jamesh5406]

Hi Chuck. Am I able to connect the SX7 to my Casio Px870 via the USB B to MIDI output? And if so, will there be a noticable latency?

[@henrythaler4419]

Can the assignable pedal be used to adjust rotating speaker speeds for the organ sounds?

[@delanobersan7344]

Hi, could be used with yamaha clp series? Thx

[@chrisdickson5686]

Does it have a microphone in feature?

[@DonswatchingtheTube]

I've got a GEM rp-x module. I haven't used it for years. When I got a new keyboard with built-in sounds and reset things up, I just never reconnected it, because I've either used the built-in sounds or the computer. I never move the keyboard. The only complaint I had with the rp-x and the same looking at this module is the small screen that allows you to navigate the features. It's a bit like using an old mobile phone screen as opposed to a smartphone or tablet. This looks really good though.

[@EverettDudgeon138]

Btw Chuck, are you going to review the new Kurzweil PC4 when it comes out?

[@PianoMan-hx3ev]

You ended up playing All My Love with the warm pad!!!

[@misterguy9051]

temperaments? alt tunings??

[@Musicchannel-wp2je]

I like this, casio pxs3000 is very good piano

[@phranquepeasant5688]

Hi Chuck, thank you for this great in length explanation. I am sure you are also familiar with a lot of Native Instruments Kontakt based products. The Vivo sounds great. But so do some (not all) Kontakt libraries. To your knowledge, how do these sounds honestly compare in quality to Kontakt (3rd party) multisamples? I ask this, because I already have a bunch of those to emulate acoustic instruments. Or is this just an ideal way to leave out a computer and audio interface? Thanks.

[@kevinkrohn6916]

Chuck, I watched this video and took the plunge...I also use a Casio as a USB controller...and when using USB, then sending audio out back to the Aux in of the Casio it creates the same high-pitched whine that someone in the Casio forum pointed out is present (and escaped my notice) in your video as well! Unplugging USB causes it to immediately stop, which means 5-pin MIDI probably would not cause a similar issue, but for anyone using USB I can not recommend this unit!

[@brucepedalty8684]

I can hear a faint USB whine in the background of this video that starts as soon as the module is connected

[@aviromuziek]

Don"t forget the great dexibell Xmure app with also give you a arranger function ect...

[@dmackiii5534]

Can you layer sounds with this. And can you control the volume of each sound with say a fader perhaps?

[@mrdavies7894]

Yes; it is up to 3-part multi-timbral (one part per MIDI channel, where a "part" equals a sound/patch) with volume independently controllable per-part.

[@FulvioGa]

Does it support the Casio PX-S1000 enhanced resolution midi (I do not remember the exact name of that function)?

[@tony-be3ty]

FulvioGal yes it does

[@la2123]

I know it's a noob question but where does the sound come from? Did you connect speakers to the module or just the keyboard's built in speakers? Thanks.

[@PianoManChuck]

The sound you're hearing was recorded directly from the SX7's LINE OUT jacks.

[@wajang1000]

Can I run a Kawai VPC 1 into this and would I then output from this to monitor speakers?

[@PianoManChuck]

Absolutely!

[@bluename4]

can it combine/mix its sounds and have sound shaping capabilities like ADSR and Filters (and modified with its fx)? can it split these sounds on the keyboard (how many splits)?

[@essjay2910]

blue name You can use 2 fx per channel, you can split and layer the SX7 3 ways as it only has 3 channels. However, it’s sound shaping or T2L modeling is for Dexibell’s sounds only and limited modeling at best. Any sounds downloaded (i.e, an sf2. format) has no modification capabilities. It has no ADSR on any of its sounds either on the unit itself or via the VIVO Editor app. It’s sampling rate, polyphony and seamless transition is great. it’s editing features are (to put it politely) limited.

[@bluename4]

@@essjay2910 many thx

[@billsolomon1]

Is it possible to connect the hub and two keyboards and multi patch to each keyboard?

[@PianoManChuck]

Off hand I don't think so, but to be sure go to www.dexibell.com and ask them at their 'contact' page.

[@dennismichaels1205]

Can you program this module with a split, such as bass on left side, piano on right side, split point,volumes of both sounds?

[@PianoManChuck]

Yes, but you'd need a master controller keyboard for that.... one that would send the bass portion on say MIDI channel 2, and the piano portion on MIDI channel 1. Everything else can be programmed at the module itself.

[@ChristofRoeyaert]

If you're using an iPad, there's an app called Midiflow which should let you do splits. I'm looking into this myself as I'll probably be buying a Kawai VPC1 and this Dexibell SX7...

[@cosmicfugue1226]

Could be I'm mistaken but the sound select feature is a bit primitive... a data entry dial would have been of much help and/or a direct number punch-in system to select the sounds then perhaps with a sound map written somewhere added.

[@lucacabianca929]

You can select sounds from Master Keyboard via Program Change.

[@tysonrichards2011]

But is it anywhere near as good as Nord?

[@pianomikeoct]

Pianoman Chuck , i just bought the SX7 , and I went to the Sound Library but could not find a Saxaphone to download , they used to have a beautiful sax , what happened to it ?

[@PianoManChuck]

Download the Dexi Brass Library - its part of that sound library. Here's the contents list: www.dexibell.com/dexibell/documents/EXP_Dexi_Brass_LIBRARY.pdf If you need help downloading for the SX7, contact Dexibell via their website.

[@pianomikeoct]

Thanks Chuck , I did not see that part of the library when I looked , I'll have to find it .@@PianoManChuck

[@ivonsmith2024]

Wonderful review! Why have they stopped making this module??

[@PianoManChuck]

Because this model has been replaced with the new and improved Dexibell Vivo SX8 module!

[@jermainelong1843]

Does it work in multi-timbral mode? How much does it cost? Does it have any Rhodes / Wurly / reed EP sounds?

[@essjay2910]

Jermaine Long Q1. Yes Q2. Here in Europe about €1100 Q3. Yes.

[@jermainelong1843]

@@essjay2910 Thank you.

[@gamer-wl5sv]

before they called that EXPANDER , i dont no y the name changed for sound module !?

[@simonsharp9162]

That usb in should be on the back of the unit like every other electronic device. Who wants cables running into the front of unit that could be placed on top/at the side of your piano ?

[@PianoManChuck]

Its primary purpose is for USB thumb drives which is something you'd want front access to. It also doubles as a MIDI over USB connection for those keyboards that don't have the legacy 5-pin DIN MIDI jacks - they probably didn't plan on many people using it that way but the reality is that there's a LOT of new boards out there where that's the only way to connect their board. A better way would be to have an additional USB port on the back as well!

[@robertolotti2669]

About this little issue (little, in my opinion), you can also use an L shaped (90 degrees) usb cable at the front connection, so that panel and socket are safer and not so bad looking as if you would use a standard straight cable. Speaking of memory, I only wish Dexibell will increase the RAM in the future, from 1,5 Gb to 5 Gb at least. So that you can load up several platinum samplings at the same time. Actually, if you load a couple of them, you have no more space (ram) for additional well sampled instruments, and this is a pity….

[@blevens7251]

This is a good criticism and one of the few things I don't like about the module (which I own).

[@macsaif1]

What do you think which is the better solution: SL88 Grand + SX7 or Kawai MP7SE. 1st I need good AP sounds, than Rhodes, CP80, Wurli and pads(strings). Other sounds are not so important.

[@PianoManChuck]

My personal preference is to have stage pianos that double as controllers.

[@macsaif1]

@@PianoManChuck are the keybeds of Sl88 Grand a and the mp7se in the same category? I have seen your review of SL88 Grand and based on the review it is really good. The RH3 is just plastic. Is that noticable in the feel and the action? Which one has sefter action?

[@PianoManChuck]

Only YOU can determine which is better, especially when it comes to keyboard actions - which is why its a policy here to never make personal recommendations. I strongly advise that you get to your local retailer and try each one out, changing the velocity curves on each one until you find what's right for you on each one, then make your decision.

[@macsaif1]

@@PianoManChuck Ok, I understand. My plan is to install the SL88 with sound module (maybe Sx7) to one case like Crumar Seven. I did the same with the GSI Gemini module, I have installed it to a dual manual controller. Personally I like the SL88 action (but I can not tweak it to respond as my upright piano.... But still OK). If you compare the sound engines on Kawai and Dexibell which one you prefer? Based on demos it is very close. Maybe the EPs arw better on Kawai and the APs are comparable.

[@markjaylandes]

Are the tonewheel organs fully editable? And how is the internal Leslie?

[@PianoManChuck]

I don't think they're fully editable. I'm definitely NOT an organ player by any stretch, so your best bet would be to post your questions at forums such as forums.musicplayer.com or www.pianoworld.com (in the digital piano/synth section) or www.yamahamusicians.com (no, its not limited to just yamaha as the name implies).

[@essjay2910]

Mark Landes On the SX7, they’re not editable. Even the app disables the organ mode when loading up.

[@markjaylandes]

@@essjay2910 That's a deal breaker

[@titaniumslug]

@@markjaylandes Yeah, kind of stupid that they would disable functionality arbitrarily with such an expensive peice of kit. If it was £500 or maybe you could understand that sort of product segmentation but for £1000 its like they dont even want you to buy it. It probably because their keyboards of the same price dont have adjustable organ either. But really this just shows you how overpriced they are in general.

[@joecaluda9920]

Can Sounds be edited. Attack, Sustain, Release, etc... ?

[@PianoManChuck]

Yes. For answers to additional questions, here's a link to the user manual: www.dexibell.com/pdf/SX7_OM_EN.pdf

[@kaybhee6]

no limit poly,,,,but can i layer 16 sounds like my mx49 or no

[@Sam_imman]

How do u layer 16 sounds in mx49 .. would like to know

[@derekbaker3279]

@@Sam_imman HI Samuel. I'm not sure that you can layer 16 sounds from this SX7 module, because it is limited to playing 3 sounds simultaneously (it only has 3 'engines' in it). The controller may be able to send 16 channels of midi (which represents standard specs for midi), however the module can only 'hear' & reproduce 3 channels at a time. I hope this helps. ☺

[@jpdj2715]

As a musician, how many virtual instruments do you need? Actually? Would you be satisfied with an instrument that does 5, but better, than one that does 88 or 300?

[@jscordoba3]

I would love this! 4 or 5 top quality sounds, small unit.

[@Zoco101]

Most musicians use mainly four or five sounds, but not necessarily the same ones as each other. I think I use about 8 sounds on mine, but the extra ones are more for practice and recording. An instrument with 30+ good sounds should cover what most pianists are going to need to to. There is no harm in adding more sounds since many of them occupy little space. That a pianist only needs one sound is a fiction.That's the mentality of an acoustic piano player who is lucky enough to play in "perfect" acoustics. Digital pianos must be much more versatile. I play two or three of the piano patches every day. And I might have to play a more mellow piano all through a gig if the acoustics are too lively. Equally a pop/rock grand is vital against an electric guitar.

[@jpdj2715]

@@Zoco101 - appreciated, thanks. I need to point to my "virtual instrument" term, though. Let's take a virtual piano in mind. If you can change several parameters with one "instrument" like microphone type and positions used in the sampling and can influence tonal balance or reverberation, and more, then don't you have potentially all you need in one "instrument" (called piano). With such settings you can change the acoustic perspective and in that the character of you instrument from audience to player to cinematic. But you may need a Fender Rhodes too. Or. There are significant differences between a Steinway D or 10 ft Fazioli or Bösendorder Imperial, but also there are big differences between one Steinway D and another. To most listeners that is an insider thing, though.

[@Zoco101]

@@jpdj2715 Are we still talking about the Dexibell box (which I don't know very well) or are we talking about computer plugins? A lot of modern music pianists are also keyboardists, in that they might need to play a bass, vibes, sax or whatever. In my case, it's jazz, and I need such sounds to create custom backings, so that then I can practice or play my piano in a more meaningful way. I also give backings to my students and do duo gigs in which we have no bassist or drummer. I record these things, because I don't like auto accompaniments. As for tweaking VST pianos, yes I do understand, but those which work mainly via presets have effectively X number of sounds, just like the 4 piano sounds on my DP are probably just 4 variations of the same piano. It's nice if there are plenty of DSP tools for further adjusting your sound, but having some good presets is important. I remember returning a Roland FP-50 because the default piano settings/presets were too far from anything I would use. I got tired of reprogramming it and wondering where I was up to. Sometimes, simpler is better.

[@regmason2329]

Everything you say Chuck is dead on! WHY, this unit does not get more exposure (probably price) is beyond me!

[@PianoManChuck]

Ditto here!

[@essjay2910]

Reg mason232 The quality of its Pianos and Rhodes sounds are impressive. Only 3 midi channels compared to any sound module with 16 midi channels No ADSR, Cutoff or Resonance as any standard sound module would have and yes, for that price range, it is a big reason it doesn’t get more exposure.

[@floridaessene]

@@PianoManChuck Maybe because it's BLUE? Why are they thinking. Many people will not like this color.

[@MrPonkine]

80 sounds is way too little. Think about the legendary Roland JV 1080 from 1994 (!)... 640 sounds ready to use. I wish this Dexibell box had at least 500. Lacking most of the iconic synths and keyboard instruments we all love (see the new Arturia V 7). Add features like several layers and splits with independient volumes & effects and edits like octaves, touch sensitivity on/off, etc and you'll truly have a winner, to put the Roland Integra 7 onto shame!.

[@essjay2910]

MrPonkine For it’s price range you’re absolutely right. The irony is if you wanted to download their new PLT sounds, you have to remove more than half the presets that are in there. There’s literally no room for layering at all. The mind boggles with that setup.

[@PianoManChuck]

It comes with 80 sounds, but you have access to all SoundFont2 files out there (thousands of them)!

[@essjay2910]

PianoManChuck For what it’s worth, only 80 Sounds for over a thousand bucks that you have to remove to add sf2 format sounds to is unheard of in terms of quality and in particular, that price range these days. Please try loading the Italian, German (and the biggest word is) OR Japan PLT grand piano on top of the 80 sounds that are installed to know what I mean. Please understand I’m in no way condemning it’s quality, it’s lack of memory and lack of internal modification is the issue. Yes you can download sf2 files. You can add 2 x fx’s but you can’t modify them. No ADSR on any of the sounds, internal or external even as a minimal standard. As a user of an SX7, these are my findings.

[@PianoManChuck]

I have loaded all of the platinum files (not at the same time of course), in order to make this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jpSWoJeDmNJsh7M Once you watch that, you can appreciate how it was made. I'll go for whatever it takes to achieve my goal in the studio... while live performance is completely another story and I agree with you there (no time for loading/unloading).

[@timpullen4941]

I have the Dexibell P3. Completely mindblowing. It is the best piano i have ever owned. It just works absolutely fantastically in a solo and band situation. I've spent my life in the music industry keyboard development side of the industry. These guys have done their homework. (The company was formed after Roland Europe decided to close its factory in Italy. The engineers and staff know the business. )

[@yamahamusicians]

Great video Chuck. I had no idea the SX7 could act as a host for MIDI over USB! Why is more not made of that? This is a big thing given the number of keyboard these days that no longer have the standard 5pin Din type connectors.

[@PianoManChuck]

Yes indeed, its a huge feat of engineering! The only other board I know of that can accept a MIDI over USB input would be the Korg Kronos... but that's because it actually IS a computer under the hood (and more than triple the price of the SX7).

[@billsolomon1]

Hey Chuck, what’s the price of the unit? Hank you for your videos!

[@PianoManChuck]

Dexibell SX7 has been discontinued but its been replaced with the SX8. Those currently go for $1,499 but if you go to my website, go to the Dexibell page and contact me from there with your USA zipcode and I can get you a much better price. www.PianoManChuck.com

[@PianoManChuck]

Update: Dexibell has increased the prices of most of their products. The SX8 is now $2,099.99 USD

[@philfisher8962]

Will it layer sounds? Up to 2 and 3 layers? I want modules but with layers.... Thanks a million for it!

[@EverettDudgeon138]

Yes I believe you can have three sounds at once and I believe on separate midi channels.

[@PianoManChuck]

What @EverettDudgeon138 said.... but each sound is on its own MIDI channel, so you may need a Master Controller keyboard where you can program it to overlap, using 2 or 3 MIDI channels.

[@titaniumslug]

@@PianoManChuck The SX7 manual shows that you can change the channel number for each part so you can presumably select the same channel for two or three parts which would allow for layers. And and at 18:03 you show how the 'Note Low' and 'Note High' settings can be changed which would allow for splits. All of which can be saved to a memory. So it looks like the SX7 will allow you to create a complex Split and layer memory and perform it with with any old keyboard, not necessarily a programable master keyboard. It would actually be a fun thing to see you test with an old keyboard using just a midi cable.

[@PianoManChuck]

@@titaniumslug - Absolutely correct! A future supplemental video will definitely include this information.

[@PrivateSi]

Hasn't anyone made an $129.99 rugged windows tablet with a selection of audio ports and decent ADACS... maybe $149.99... come on, easily doable.

[@jsfbay1]

Please encourage them to go to a 64-bit operating system so they can add 16 Gigs and more of memory. I was sold until I read that the max sample memory was limited by (I think!?) their 32-bit O.S. Please prove me wrong! I want to be wrong!

[@mrdavies7894]

It's not necessarily the addressable memory as much as it is how much throughput for any given sound and the load time between sounds. Adding lots of memory is easy. Switching between it, whilst running 320 oscillators and keeping them running, and not having any droupouts is quite another! Doing all of that and STILL being able to make an affordable product is something else again!

[@thomaspick4123]

How much?

[@PianoManChuck]

They're $1,299 everywhere. I can get you a much better price if you contact me directly via my website (www.PianoManChuck.com) along with your city, state, zip.

[@melodychest9020]

Looks like this one is more expensive than the Roland Integra 7 cos of its better sampling and unlimited polyphony, but only about 80 sounds on board plus the ones you can download from where I do not know! A bit of a gamble ...if the 80 sounds are good enough then I guess you would plonk for this. In Australia this is A$2000 vs Integra 7 which is A$1700 with 6000 sounds on board plus 4 virtual expansions on board and so many sets you can download from the Roland Axial website .. hmmm!!!

[@asmartasur2992]

The Kurzweil ME-1 sounds better.

[@Kontrabass66]

Good one...

[@floridaessene]

GREAT sounds ... but Blue? ... maybe a big mistake, especially for gigging musicians who need to look 'low key' on stage.

[@PianoManChuck]

The blue side faces the player, not the audience.

[@floridaessene]

@@PianoManChuck Thanks for the quick response and info, but I still think many men will think the color is too feminine. I think they should have chosen a more 'neutral' color (I've been in marketing my entire adult life)