written by barrett on 13/01/2011
Cons:
dated sounds (well the machine was built in the lat 90's and Yamaha never made a modern version of this very capable instrument) ; the floppy is also dated. Very tedious 'phrase-scrolling' process to audition, what, almost 4000 phrases? It's a shame, because the screen is huge. Also, building music 'phrase by phrase' is a very tedious process also. Who makes music that way? At least Yamaha should have given the option to just select a style, fills, etc , and build a track (like on their Tyros keyboards).
Pros:
far more immediately gratifying to use than a computer. The QY-700 is a musical instrument. Big difference. It truly is a music-maker tool.
Huge screen.
Highly specced sequencer.
Very portable and ergonomic, good design.
Can write backing tracks with full chord progressions.
That's it. It's a shame that Yamaha never made a modern version of this great machine, because a sequencer like that, with the sounds of a Tyros, an USB key, and the option to write tracks 'measure-by-measure' (as in the Tyros) other than 'phrase by phrase', would be truly a composer's dream, if you, like me, don't find computers at all inspiring.
I still use computers, of course, but only to make the final version of my music. But for WRITING music? No thanks. I would prefer the QY-700 any days.
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