Yamaha MX49 and MX 61 Synthesizers | Everything You Need To Know

Yamaha Product Specialist Phil Clendennin joins us in the Sam Ash Spotlight for a complete overview of the new Yamaha MX series Synthesizers.
Featuring built sounds from Yamaha's professional Motif series, the MX series also works great with DAW's, VST's and the FM Essential IOS app. The app was actually inspired by the legendary Yamaha DX-7 Synthesizer.
Phil shows us some of the great sounds available on the MX including an excellent Grand Piano Emulation. Next we get a tutorial on layering sounds with the MX, including using the split function to play up to the 3 sounds at once. He even Throws in some rhythm and plays over it for a full ensemble performance.

[@danielrupert2317]

This guy is an absolute gem of a product demo person.

[@anatolio8689]

Yea he was awesome. Great speaker

[@manjams2249]

I know right I wish did all synth/piano reviews

[@amazinginfo1370]

Yes. I agree

[@amazinginfo1370]

Need more person like this

[@Jesoteric]

Yeah he definitely knows how to sell you on a keyboard for sure

[@GotYourWallet]

He looks so happy when he says 8 pounds. He must have carried a lot of instruments during his career.

[@scottcruikshank8689]

I could listen to him all day.

[@bwall615]

This guy is great! The MX isn’t bad either!

[@fullborev8906]

You sir, rock! Awesome demo. I'm sold!

[@gRosh08]

Mr. Clendennin does a Fantastic job! Thank you!

[@jimigproductions]

Excellent video, the commentary is natural and spot on!

[@jugglerjoe]

Awesome Review! This guy is great 👍

[@pr3pp3rchan69]

He's a great salesman, love his charisma 😎 🎹🎹🎹🎹🎹

[@markfennah4322]

What a great demonstration - awesome presenter! ❤

[@dimitargadzhev3800]

Amazing video, thank You!!!

[@JCox964]

Great video Phil.👍🏽

[@PersonalIncomeSolutions]

Great demo!

[@kingtrance6826]

Magnificent demo here!

[@SamAshMusic]

Thanks for checking it out!

[@faautobahna9416]

Very useful review.

[@febinmjacob]

The best product demo person

[@heroknaderi]

Great job I appreciate it 👍

[@MsLacy707]

Great demo and demo guy! Great info delivery. Gonna roll w/the Yamaha MOD, though.

[@plugdn1917]

Phil is a legend

[@michaeltyborski4802]

Great presentation. I just found one at Music Go Round.

[@maxwellvangulinja]

nice review team

[@dandannyt4432]

kool playing

[@ahojahojish]

Give that man a sustain pedal!! :D

[@gregoryminor7441]

Thank you, Sir!

[@tommymandel]

Phil, you play so great! Miss you. And i miss my MX-49: I loaned it to my daughter! And i don't think she's using it either! Gonna ask for it back. The Montage may be jealous though. Hey Phil, did I mention: I miss you. And you play so great!!!!

[@TommyChris9001]

Thumbs way up on this!

[@donkeevney]

Cool dude

[@DinoNardelli]

Can it have a knob or fader for real time volume changes on the layered sounds while you play?

[@DannyBFunman]

Hi how Are you my question to you, is do you know how to save the kits that I choose so when I turn off the keyboard and turn it back on it saves the Sounds that I have chosen So I don't have to keep looking up sounds I like to work with. In other words a template

[@nijahmartin5461]

How to save your favorite tone for other day use?

[@magmasunburst9331]

Can you compare some of the features of the KX line to the MX line?

[@dthorne4602]

Shake it you Babylon Sisters. Great demo.

[@jeremiahmansaray5849]

want one of these bad boys

[@DrawbarPete]

King Bad Mister🎹🎼👍👌👌

[@Madmohawkfilms]

How close to the Motif XS is the sounds in the MX49/61? Thanks

[@Dannytyrellstudios]

Excrllent

[@leapest]

Hows the action on the 88? is it heavy or light?

[@lolsucks3599]

How does the MX61 compare to a Yamaha Motif? What are the differences for its cheaper price?

[@PersonalIncomeSolutions]

I bought 2cMX 61 Blue. Why 2? It's that good- I used to have Motiff XS 6. Loved it- but it was a beast to gig.

[@Keyboardman88]

I have a MX88. Great keyboard...with one issue. After about 1 year of playing ( about 10-12 hours per week in my home - no professional gigs) I started having problems with the keys. They were getting sloppy, noisy, and didn't feel right. I sent an email to Yamaha explaining the problem. They were nice enough to give me a one time extension on my warranty to cover this repair only. The technician switched out the 88 note key bed with a new one. The old one showed excessive wear. I'm not sure the board would hold up under professional playing 4-6 night per week I haven't played it much since then. Hopefully Yamaha will find a solution for this issue with the 88. ( I'm not the only person who's experienced this. I've owned a PF 70 piano, DX7, DX5, and a CS-5 synth and never had any problems with the keys. Just my experience.

[@officialWWM]

Keyboardman88 that's concerning :/

[@Keyboardman88]

As one who has played full time for quite a few years, it is very concerning. I'm not confident with the durability of the key bed in the MX88 after my personal experience. I've used several different Yamaha keyboards; DX7, DX5, PF70, and a CS-5 synth for left hand bass, and never had one problem with the keys. I've gone so far as to purchase a MX49 and am looking for a good quality keyboard controller to midi up to the MX. I still have the 88, but I'm not sure what my next option with the board will be...sell or keep. Perhaps my experience was just a fluke and my keyboard had a bad key bed from the start; however, I've seen posts from some other MX88 owners who are having similar problems. Kinda makes me wish I had kept my Kurzweil PC2X. Had it over 10 years and not one problem.

[@faautobahna9416]

@@Keyboardman88 How was MX88 after new keybed. Experience since then? I have a Kronos 2 (will remain only in my home studio). I am only a hobbyist but for playing something not heavy in another location or the very occasional live performance, I am thinking of getting a used MX61 Version 2 or used Roland DS61 or used Roland DS76. What will you suggest, and how does one tell apart MX61 V2 from MX61, both look the same? Thanks in advance.

[@Keyboardman88]

@@faautobahna9416 The MX61 V2 had some upgraded sounds that the V1 didn't have. The sounds in the V@ are the same as the MX88. The MX61 plays and sounds great; however, I prefer a piano action. The MX is OK as long as the keys hold up. I haven't had the opportunity to play it much since the new bed and keys were put in. I'm thinking that a really good keyboard controller midied to the MX61 would be the best way to go.

[@Am71919]

There's a church around the corner from my mom's house that's had an mx88 for almost ten years now and it's still going strong, all companies are entitled to one dud but 98% of the time the mx88 is a very tough and dependable board

[@Probinussangriang0708]

Will it work with android mobile

[@crazybobdj]

yamaha mx49 how to change the pitchblend range?

[@Reedemedknight]

Phil rules

[@shookstylez]

Damn, this guy playing Steely Dan so smooth, SO GOOD.

[@childrenofminervaofficial4316]

The MX 49 is a great synth and the best investment ever.

[@justmeblac7273]

Do you use it solo?

[@ET2carbon]

Best?

[@childrenofminervaofficial4316]

@@ET2carbon for its price range, yes

[@ET2carbon]

@@childrenofminervaofficial4316 no. It doesn't have any updates. Lame for being considered an investment.

[@ET2carbon]

@childrenofminervaofficial4316 investment would be like Arturia adding new features constantly to their hardware year after year

[@dioniferiturriago669]

podrian hacer este tipo de videos en español please

[@vervetech9395]

Is the app only available for iPhones and iPads?

[@greatsajby9266]

MX 49. Why are all the synth and many other sounds "phasey" by default? Why can't I just get the clean tones? I don't suppose anyone else has this problem?

[@jimmcdougall9973]

I take it these are the version ll models? I have had an MX49 for about 5 years and it only works as a controller for FM essentials but does not read incoming data from the iPad.

[@Keyboardman88]

I believe they have an upgraded software that takes care of that problem.

[@karendalsadik7119]

I want it so bad.

[@shamarcrump9111]

Also White

[@CodClips594]

@@Islabookie 😅

[@ET2carbon]

Any updates? MPE?

[@giovannisilagan1090]

is this have a user bank?

[@MrKeys57]

is there an app for Android?

[@chicobellini6297]

Great demo !Babylon Sisters! The guy can play👌 Big Steely Dan fan so I can appreciate this👍

[@brailintaylor584]

2:23 So can you layer sounds like Piano/Electric Piano/Synth

[@dripxster6436]

Yes but you can only layer 2 sounds

[@teroyhumol8033]

Hello Sir, whats the best amplifier or sound system for this kind of Keyboard? thanks a lot

[@officialWWM]

Teroy Humol just plug it into any powered floor monitor or pa.

[@peterlanghaar]

Is it just me or were the drums stuttering, when playing piano/strings layered at 6:40? Is that what he means when he says 16-part multitimbral, but only for the sequencer?

[@assnapkined9295]

No it was just an awkward time signature

[@Daniel-tv4dp]

How I can find the name in App Store

[@aloysiusfernandez4116]

Does the mx series come with PC software to edit tones as well ?

[@gracegeorgeabraham4725]

Yes there is VycroMX which is a freeware. Using VycroMX you can edit the performances and save them. It's sad that there are not much videos available for VycroMX. It makes this keyboard a big deal. You can only layer 2 sounds using the keyboard panel. Using VycroMX you can layer 16 parts and save that performance onto the keyboard, and use it in the gig without having the keyboard connected to your laptop.

[@MINDoSOFT]

You can also use John Melas tools there is a bundle for the MX under the Motif page. It is not free though ! :)

[@EduardoBach01]

The only issue with the MX is that everything is buried in lots of commands. It's a pain to learn how to do stuff in it. A couple of more physical knobs would be much appreciated.

[@ET2carbon]

Vycro MX performance editor program handles this concern.

[@gregorymonacelli2257]

49 comes in white also. I have one

[@JCox964]

Limited edition in white. Hard locating one.

[@khanhnguyenvan7748]

What is the white device to connect between the usb cable and the iphone?

[@jimmcdougall9973]

It’s the apple lightning adapter. The same adapter you would use to connect a usb cable from a camera to download photos onto an iPad or iPhone.

[@MINDoSOFT]

It is also mentioned as "apple camera connection kit".

[@jessicabush3735]

How do I save “favorite” patches to the mx49 for easy recall?

[@EduardoBach01]

Anything you have to save has to be in performance mode, meaning you choose a performance do the edits, rename, and save. If you're saving a voice, you have to save the voice, press exit button then save the performance. Two operations in total.

[@nbuehster]

Some people said in video about the keybed being flimsy. I don't know what they meant, but is that true?

[@JonesyTheCat]

Nah

[@letitiamcmanus5808]

Yes. The keybeds in many Yamaha's under &1,500 don't last long. I own some

[@peteroppong1171]

GREETINGS PHIL...... THIS EARTH IS HUGE.... SO ARE DIVERSIFIED RYTHMS. DID YOU CREATE THE MX WITH THAT IN MIND. IN OTHER WORDS, DOES THE MX COME WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADD YOUR OWN RYTHMIC FEEL IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE A LAPTOP.

[@SamAshMusic]

Hey Peter, thanks for watching. Let me send this over to Phil and see what he says. Stay tuned.

[@maxwellvangulinja]

price guys?

[@donkeevney]

Real salesman

[@SGWinstar8844]

😃👍🏽

[@alexeonbel4304]

You play stella by starlight and you have my fucking attention sir!

[@guriausa]

Only ios? What about Android?

[@robeenero]

iOS device, what if you only have android?

[@AbleJedi]

This video doesn't seem to be working.

[@mindciller]

They won't make a noise without something connected?

[@mindciller]

I went to guitar center and experienced the no speaker thing. Had to hook up a guitar amp speaker. There was pre programmed noises in it though on the mx49 s I didn't need a computer

[@officialWWM]

mindciller you don't need a computer, it has the sounds on board but you do need headphones or some kind of speaker system.

[@davidonthedetail4256]

The fm essential app don’t work

[@ManosRK]

Price ?!

[@SamAshMusic]

Feel free to check out the prices here: goo.gl/2YfRvq

[@ManosRK]

Thanks! I asked because there wasn't any direct link :)

[@minusED]

My screen was juicing charisma for almost nine minutes

[@BillyBlaze7]

and if you have android youre just sol?

[@badger4361]

Don't need a bass player or drummer to help you get it out of the case, what ya tryin to say like? ha ha class....:)

[@justmeblac7273]

To bad u can't use this with a mpc

[@nickPOPmusic]

Jesus, the amount of subtle racism in the comments is astounding. Great review by the way!

[@goldiemusic8394]

07:13 eighh pounss

[@pregart001]

У меня с самаого начала амбивалентное отношение к этому синтезатору. С одной стороны его звучание очень детально и по качеству превосходит конкурентов в этой ценовой категории. Но с другой стороны удручают ограничения в управлении звуками с котороми приходится мириться. Его предшественник YAMAHA CS1x / CS2x был более гибким и открытым для работы со звуками. Функционально Yamaha MX на тмного слабее, хотя качество звуков значительно выше. Можно сказать, что это превосходный тонбанк с ограниченными возможностями синтеза. Не смотря на все его ограничения я всё-таки буду его исползовать в выступлениях.

[@thethinkingroom4532]

È un' inculata fioi comprate la kronos

[@notfoundrick3878]

Dio boia con una kronos ce ne compri 7 di mx49 spero sia un troll

[@SuperEddietv]

This video should be retitled "How to hook up your toy to an apple" or "Apple and this thingy Here" or "Apple, and some free stuff for Apple" or "Unlocking some potential of this device with Apple"...you get the idea. Somebody gave me an MX49. I now know why. What you get is what you get! Meh.......

[@faautobahna9416]

Be grateful for the gift. So many who can't afford even a 49 key. Quite a ..H you are.

[@KishoreRana567]

I ve become a fan of this blackie uncle

[@MAJFUNKSTAR]

It’s a pleasure seeing a mature black gentleman (who can play) speaking intelligently and positively with no hip-hop in sight! **PS I already had this keyboard before I saw this video and I love it!

[@faautobahna9416]

But it is never a pleasure seeing ass holes re-proving their racist pretensions.

[@kurrywurst0815]

Half of the time just talking? Salesguy.....

[@danaowens30]

Hey yall I own The MX,MO6,MM6,and Mofit 8 itself

[@floridahiker1800]

Is it only for iPhone or can I do the same with a android phone?

[@Roboprogs]

Android doesn't have good support for "real time" audio (i.e. - synthesis). Google for audio latency comparisons of Android vs iOS.