This is a promising start. An electric sax that replicates exact feel of a real sax is needed to suit after hours and quiet practice....as others have said something that responds to or relies on embrochure would be a dream

@ross-carlson

2 жыл бұрын

You should check out the old WX-7 - I've had one for years and as it supports lip bend you can be MUCH MUCH MUCH more expressive with it. Vibrato and pitch bend with your embouchure are both possible and while it doesn't feel like a real horn, specifically pitch bend is a bit tough, but vibrato on the WX-7 is very easy and natural. Very disappointing they wouldn't have included that on such a modern device. Pair the WX-7 with a modern sync, I use the (now older) VL70m and you can get some rather impressive sounds out of it. The sax sounds suck, at least for a sax player, but the other woodwinds - specifically the flutes - are extremely impressive.

That you can basically practice all four types of saxophones on the same 700 dollar instrument more than makes it worth the cost. If further iterations include mouthpiece manipulation, this thing will become the gold standard for digital sax.

As usual, this is a great, honest and in depth review, Jim. I don't purchase anything expensive until I see what you have to say about it.

As a trumpet player who always wanted to learn sax that thing is baller for me.

Mine turned up today at around 11.30 AM ( 30th October bang on schedule from pre order ) It is awesome. When the Missus was watching TV 4 foot away This evening I had my headphones on practicing and she couldn’t hear a thing. Even the press down on the keys is silent and hardly any blow can be heard in the instrument. I have only been playing and learning my Alto for 14 months so the key positions are vital to me to be able to pick up the real thing and make good use of the silent practice. This is going to be a game changer for anyone that needs to practice at unsociable hours. It sounds great through its own speaker but through the headphones it is brilliant. I’ve done nothing but play with this all day and tonight. I honestly couldn’t be happier with it.

@TheDavidmachin

3 жыл бұрын

Yes I agree with this. I have had one for a few days and while it may not sound like a real sax, you can practice many techniques any time - so long as you also get time to practice tone etc on a real horn as well.

@silotx

3 жыл бұрын

This is great for the neighbors of a beginner sax player.

@je6874

Жыл бұрын

This is exactly why I want to get an electric saxophone… I don’t want to let apartment living get in the way

Appears to be a great practice tool that also happens to be a lot of fun to play. Few people will buy it instead of a saxophone or to replace their saxophone. Play anywhere anytime and easy to travel with. When I travel on a plane, I'm thrilled I'll be able to take this instead of my "real" sax.

Thank you for this helpful video. I ordered mine back in Mach and it arrived in UK on Weds and with me Thursday. I’m 66 years old, just a basic self taught player in my late 40s…..and I had a lot of fun and satisfaction from my alto and tenor. But then I got ill;became disabled; and had dentures fitted. Still not in the best of health but retired I tried playing again and just didn’t have the breath or embouchure…….then I read about this and it has solved all my problems.

@rishikwatt483

2 жыл бұрын

So what.

That is one fantastic review of an instrument. Thanks man. This is how it should be done.

Probably the most intriguing wind synth on the market right now. Would love to try it out and see how the real sax key layout feels. However, tones still aren't good enough for a professional player imo, and that's going to limit this thing massively

@patrickkyle4601

3 жыл бұрын

Hopefully it should have midi out so you can put it through any synth box (it will have breath response data) i have a WX5 which I use solely for silent practice.

@jasonlawson1369

3 жыл бұрын

@@patrickkyle4601 according to the yamaha promo video, it does have a usb midi out and you can see the micro usb port in the photos on the yamaha site.

@kishiberohan7955

3 жыл бұрын

Yo what do you think about the slyphyo?

@williamsanborn9195

3 жыл бұрын

I was just about to @ you on Twitter to see if you knew about it lol

@kennethfink3835

3 жыл бұрын

@@patrickkyle4601 It does. You may need a USB to MIDI converter, though.

What I am still not convinced about is how well they replicated the feel of a real saxophone in terms of fingering. In other words: is it a good tool for practicing without bothering neighbours?

I just ordered one of these babies! Thanks for the excellent review!

Best demo so far, thanks for posting!

good night, I'm from Brazil and I watch your channel since the beginning, I really like the videos, congratulations on your work!

@gustavogomes2320

3 жыл бұрын

Tmb sou brkkkkkk

Im not surprised. Knowing that Yamaha makes good keyboards and acoustic sounds are one of their best sounds

That pitch bend can’t be done with the embouchure is a deal breaker for me.

@aritwcomposer

3 жыл бұрын

Yes, unfortunately. If it has a bite sensor in the mouthpiece I think it would be great feature.

We hope you enjoyed the vid! We 💖 RoboSop 🤖 🎷

@Ricetamiya

3 жыл бұрын

It's the first in-depth intro to this instrument, much appreciated. I am a current Roland AE-10 user, YDS 150's build quality, bluetooth function, new USB interface all looks superior, I'm very anticipate to this one.

@garyhonor4220

3 жыл бұрын

Awesome work Jim Cheek

@fredfonseca6034

3 жыл бұрын

Hey Thank you so much for this video. I own a Roland aerophone ae-10. I have to say I like it as long im using a external speaker. After watching and learning about this yamaha I'm taken by it. Is an Elegant instrument and sound beautiful. Let be real. It will never replace our 🎷 by a long shot. But its a fun instrument to play with

Thanks for the review! Would be good if we could hear some of the synth sounds too, and maybe what it sounds like in a mix / with backing tracks!

Anyone else drinking a shot every time he says “sort of”?

@matthewbrown7722

3 жыл бұрын

More "in the sense"

@bradsilwood5845

3 жыл бұрын

Raising my glass

@tabbywarrior

3 жыл бұрын

I'd be dead lol

Salivating. Waiting for it to come out

Jim, your professionalism and consequent very good and comprehensive review made me sit through your video to help your statistics in the channel. As soon as I understood that the mouthpiece is purely cosmetic, my initial enthusiasm got completely killed. I guess the people watching your channel are actually looking for a silent sax that is completely realistic in fingering and embouchure. I know there are these silencer cases to put a sax into while playing but these have a very high psychological barrier to purchase.I think a sensor to measure lip pressure would have been easy and a second sensor to register tonguing too.

Oh man, I am so tempted. My wallet is itching.... must.... wait.... Edit: Man, just read some of these comments. Very very valid criticisms. Maybe I'll wait!

@anthonygiordano792

3 жыл бұрын

Just don’t run it over pls

@Saxologic

3 жыл бұрын

Anthony Giordano :’(

@Amedeus1756

3 жыл бұрын

I knew you were going to be here man, I can't wait until you review this thing on your channel.

@jeremybear573

3 жыл бұрын

@@Amedeus1756 🤣🤣🤣

I’m actually really suprised at the bari sax sound

@ulysax1979

3 жыл бұрын

Yeah me too

@carlorenzi1802

3 жыл бұрын

Me too

@joseperazza2221

3 жыл бұрын

I agree !

@lukas85as

3 жыл бұрын

Plastic Bari sax...

@espr7564

3 жыл бұрын

Bari sound is the ONLY useful thing about this horn. 🙁

Woooooow!!! Just what i was waiting for!!!👍

I've had one for a few weeks to try. I've played a WX5 for some time so was thinking it was in that area. It is not designed for that market, although it does has several synth sounds. It is a lot of fun to play. when I quit trying to make it a traditional sax, I started getting more fun and understanding of it. This is a good video showing the options. people who wan t to learn sax or have played but not in a long time will really enjoy it. I am going to spend some time with it and see how aI can best use it.

@stephenruggieri

3 жыл бұрын

Hi Richard, would you mind sharing your comparison between the fingering action of the wx5 and the YDS. I have the ewi 5000 and prefer it because there are no keys. The wx5 had no spring in it's keys making it hard to play fast passages. How does the YDS compare?

@d.williams7887

3 жыл бұрын

Hi Richard, I see that you've had the YDS-150 for some time now so I thought perhaps you can answer a vital question for me regarding it. Since it is not designed for a swab, how do you clean the residual condensation (saliva) from this instrument? I would imagine that over time, if it's not cleaned fairly regularly, it can become a breeding ground for bacteria.

Thanks for this great review, a comparison between the EMEO and this one would be very nice and helpfull.

Such an unexpected start with that bari from a soprano😂😂😂

At last, someone who actually has something to say about it. Thank you! Just looking at the list of voices. I'm a little disappointed that there are so few voices other than sax. Great that there are so many sax options but I am particularly fond of the muted trumpet on the Roland AE10. Hopefully Yamaha will update the voice list in the not too distant future.

@lux4us

3 жыл бұрын

I am an Aerophone user since Aug 2017, and 100% agree with your comment.

@nickbarrow2805

2 жыл бұрын

It is more sax-oriented, maybe try the EWI solo? It’s got a lot of options and some fingerings for other instruments

Always a great explanational video - thank you.

Great demo Jim, I can’t wait to have a go on this myself. I wonder how it compares to the new EWI Solo?

At last!!! From the legacy of the WX5 (I own one and love it!!!) an upgraded up-to-date wind controller!!!

Without the emulation of pitch bend, vibrato, altissimo through embouchure, the only thing that this would help for the purpose of sax practice seems to be the fingering and keys as far as I can tell.

I love it!!!!

Muito top esse sax. Como sempre a Yamaha surprendendo.

One advantage of the Roland AE -10 compared to other similar products is that it features a bite sensor to adjust the pitch so that it is possible to play bending notes.

I’m a Yamaha drummer...(a drummer who loves Yamaha products), and this is yet another reason why Yamaha is the best!

Great Presentation!

I returned mine immediately due to an unsatisfactory amount of real time controllable influence over the sounds from the mouthpiece. It is so much more satisfying to play a saxophone quietly.

Awesome review

It looks nicer than my AE 10 but I think I would rather buy another real saxophone 🎷😊 Thanks for an excellent demo.

I've played on a wx11 for over 20 years and the one thing that makes this controller unique is the pitch bend, lip zero control, I think it is the same on the wx7. This is the one feature that gives really nice control over expressive vibrato. With the wx5, it's as though they designed out the sensitivity of the best feature of that controller. Also have played on an Akai 4000 but always go back to my trusty old wx11 that has a soul. Yamaha, If it works don't fix it!

I’m a little surprised about the amount of negative comments, but I’ve no intention of cancelling my order. It’s not perfect some way of doing vibrato and bends with the mouthpiece would have been great. That said though being able to practice anytime anywhere ‘ with the identical key layout is ideal. Also the app allowing to program your own altissimo fingering is a bonus I didn’t expect. Does anyone know if the app is avail either yer

@Valero7

3 жыл бұрын

Ditto!

Man... I have been waiting for a new Yamaha Wind Synth! This one looks great. I am going to get it just because of the physical layout of the keys! The only thing I wish they would have done was put some expression sensors in the mouthpiece. Well...maybe in the next model! I wish Yamaha would buy the Lyricon patent and bring back that instrument. The original machine used additive synthesis which I have never seen in any other synth. This new synth is going to be THE wind synth to have. I am looking forward to the new models as they improve the instrument.

When I was gigging more on clarinet I only rarely needed to play saxophone, but when I did it seems like they always called for 8 measures on soprano, 24 on alto, and then another 8 on bari (all in the background supporting the real sax players), making three or four extra instruments to bring for just a few minutes of sound. This could've been a device to lighten the gig bag dramatically.

That's awesome.

So what are the non-sax sounds? Are they all synths or are there other instruments? Does the fingering adjust to the instrument you're playing? and can you add more instruments from a database like you can with the Akai 4000s?

Does it have a midi jack? I've always wanted to control my hardware synths with a wind controller with realistic sax keys, but everything's been going usb-only. It's really frustrating.

Great Video Jim. Can you edit a voice sound by using the App and then download and save it to one of the user setting so that it can be played in the stand-alone mode? Also can you modify the alto sounds to always be in Bb when played?

I’m digging this. Not sure if I would pay the asking price, but I wouldn’t try talking someone else out of it.

Jim, Great video. Can you permanently set the YDS so that all the voices play in Bb and copy a current voice to one the User voices. Also, does this all get reset once the unit is turned off and back on. Thanks.

I think the 3rd/4th generation of this instrument will be amazing. For me the sound is akin to a child's toy, key response slow and you can't vary tone through your embouchure. Sure in 5-6 years all those issues will be resolved.

Very Good

That’s epic

Sticking with my Roland AE-10 and SWAM modeled sounds. Can't be beat.

The demo was done very well. The product was well represented. But like others who commented, I too was hoping for more from Yamaha. Literally decades ago Yamaha made the VL70-m paired with the WX5. Way ahead of it's time. If they updated what they had it would have been amazing. But they didn't. I'm sure this new synth is good. But it could have been fabulous!

@haroldtoups

3 жыл бұрын

vl70-m and WX5, with Patchman ROM is still my combo of choice.

@chrisliddiard725

3 жыл бұрын

@@haroldtoups same here. However none of the patches on the Patchman ROM matched the Jazz sax patch on the plg-150-VL card, at least not to my ear.

Muito legal esse Saxofone 😍

I wish they had put a bite sensor in the mouthpiece, like all of their competitors have. It looks really cool though.

Hi, can I use arturia or native instruments software to voice this instrument?

I just use my Helicon Voiceplay harmonizer if I want effects on my sax or to sound like a section. years ago I had the Maestro box which basically had all the sounds that this Yamaha has!

오~~ 신기하네요!!!! 모양이 소프라노 색소폰인데 다양한 소리가 나네요

Just got one. Played half an hour. They have done a great job with the key work. It feels like a sax in your hands. It is very lite. It is a shame the bell does not seem to come off. Seems cosmetic and it would be easier for travel without this. It is not a strong instrument either. Keys feel they could snap with a knock. It does not feel like blowing a sax. But in a hotel, or at night, or wherever you can practice licks, scales, changes, melodies all you want and this will transfer to your horn. I will now take it with me as I travel. I will miss my horn, but really glad I have this to take with me so in the evenings I can still sit and work on music I am presently looking at. I could not get it to sound exactly like a real sax, but with the earphones on it was certainly good enough to use to practice. Not sure how long batteries will last but you can also connect to computer with USB/5V which you have to buy yourself. I think it is great. For people who find it hard to practice due to noise, this is something special. I would be very interested to try some of the others coming onto the market that also hav sex keywork. I am less bothered by the sound and more with how practice transfers to the real horn.

@abolajiidowu8284

3 жыл бұрын

I think it’ll be interesting when users start posting their settings that give it some near sax sounds. I have heard a few demos that ain’t bad, and also heard some that worried me as they sounded horrible. But these two demos I think ain’t bad at all if I can get mine to sound this good kzread.info/dash/bejne/X6qqqKqEZNXNpJc.html kzread.info/dash/bejne/jIZ5uNiPnq7elLg.html

@TheDavidmachin

3 жыл бұрын

@@abolajiidowu8284 Yes, great point. Also I am sure it will help just when I get used to how to blow it. I am playing it like my real sax, when this is clearly not the way to do it. And I just tried with the earphones again and its not bad at all. But agreed, will be useful when people start sharing.

It is worth noting that the title of this video called it a digital sax and not a wind synth. It is an impressive accomplishment, however I don’t understand why any sax player would use this digital sax over a real sax. I guess their target market is people who don’t play the sax but wish they could? I love my Akai EWI, but I use it to supplement my sax use with synth sounds...I don’t try to digitally recreate sax sounds! Regardless, Yamaha has got people talking with this thing, and I’m sure they will sell many of them.

Is it possible to remove the brass bell? It would make it easier to travel with it.

someone knows how many fingerings can be added in octave 5, it turns out that I add a D5 and an Eb5 and when I put an E5 the others are erased, I try to do the same fingering that the WX5 had in that octave although in the WX5 it could be used in any Thanks

Hi Jim. I've had my YDS for 6 months. After 4 months the F# key stopped sounding after short sessions and occasionally the G# key as well. Adjusting responses in the instrument made no difference. Also, the Octave key seized up and became a touch sensitive option but I assume that was a precursor to the octave key failing to work at all. I have returned it to the store and have a store credit to purchase another if they ever become freely available here in Australia. I am disappointed that the instrument appears to lack a robustness I would expect in an instrument costing in excess of AUD$1,000. On the other hand, it was a most amazing instrument to play and I preferred to pick it up rather than my tenor. Neighbours and my wife were very appreciative I can tell you. I am hoping a replacement YDS will be able to cope with regular playing and that I just happened to have received a "lemon", in car parlance.

Can you tell me please if its posibble to expand the sounds whit any sound module , in case yes tell us what module is ok thanks

The video is very useful ... but you can make a video in which you can see and hear the response you have used as a MIDI controller, that is, using the USB MIDI output connected to an external device, for example MAINSTAGE, or a module of external sound. Thank you very much from the Canary Islands!

I've had a WX5 and VL70 controller for many years, but it needs an external amplifier for live performance. Of course the quality of the amplifier/speaker makes a tremendous difference in the quality of the sound. I suspect this new YDS-150 unit would sound considerably better through a quality amp and speaker than it does playing out-of-the-box on its own. The demonstration here did not state whether it was being played into an amp/speaker or not, but there was an obvious wire connection to something which wasn't identified. Anybody have an answer for that?

Will it drive a sound engine such as SWAM - like a normal midi-wind controller?

Does it have a bite sensor inside the mouthpiece? Just like Roland AE-10 has.

Thanks mate, just wonder if you can do a continuous glissando on this? Like the intro bit of Rhapsody in Blue?

Thanks for the preview. I'd have preferred if you showed us what the speakers can do, instead of using an amp.

I'm only a simple guitar player but I can appreciate a well crafted instrument.

Hi thanks for your review. Do you know if it has Bluetooth functionality so it can be connected to wireless earphones/headphones?

I heard some vibrato in the voices that you played. Is that produced automatically, or did you somehow produce vibrato?

Can you practice with the ear phones on .to practice in silence no matter where or what time of night ?

@martinwatkins1444

3 жыл бұрын

Yes

Anyone any idea how to save voices in the app? Tried to save my setting but it kept refresh back to factory setting.

Hi, nice video. Compliments. Have you used OBS to do this? Ciao, bel video. Complimenti. Hai usato OBS per farlo?

I have a HUAWEI phone model P10 Lite. In it I can pair the YDS-150 Audio but the YDS-150 Midi cannot. Does this difficulty happen to anyone else?

The sax patch dynamics sound all wrong. That's a shame, but I assume one might still use it with something that actually sounds good, like Audio Modeling's SWAM saxophones, even if that means having to have a computer in the signal chain.

Can you demo with the audiomodeling SWAM Saxophones?

Were you using an external speaker, or was that the built-in speaker that we hear in the video? Also, does the app allow you to transpose sax voices to the key of C?

@jqmtv

3 жыл бұрын

Great question

@saxyric8992

2 жыл бұрын

yes, you can in the user section u01 through u20 with the app

Thanks

4:14 "Swallow the mouthpiece" 😂 That was funny

...emulating perfect sax sound is kinda not the point right? If you can play this, you can play a regular saxophone and sound good. I think new sounds is the way to go with something like this. Do what Brecker and Mitzner did in the 80's, but with better sounds. This is like a digital keyboard for woodwind players. Not a sax replacement.

@ryanbard8555

3 жыл бұрын

Not true, because the hardest part about a real sax is is manipulating the sounds with the mouth piece.. you could play like a pro on this and have no ability to play a real sax

Thank you! Is it true that the app is only available on Apple?

Hmmm. I’m wondering if someone will create an electronic mouthpiece in the future as an aftermarket add on that will allow vibrato etc. Just wondering

Hi did you know how to create a new fingering ?? becuase I only can add 2 extra notes only Thanks

I'm looking to get back into the sax. Should I choose this or a different wind synth? I can't go with any analogue instrument because I'm in an apartment.

Nice

When I play with just a reed and mouthpiece it makes quite a bit of noise. Does this produce that same noise when using headphones? If not, is it just fully absorbed into the horn? Thanks in advance, really interested in using with headphones while babies are asleep.

@berlogainvest

3 жыл бұрын

Came here to ask the same question

The Future!!!

It would be nice if it could be connected to my Motif Rack XS like the WX5 with a MIDI connection. Is that possible with the YDS-150?

@saxyric8992

2 жыл бұрын

did you ever get an answer to that question?

Any EWI beats this by a long shot. Like insaneintherain said, wind controllers sound best when they’re NOT trying to emulate real instruments.

@darthanddedeu2580

3 жыл бұрын

I'm just a fan of music, I believe this for any synth category instrument.

@ColeHenriques

3 жыл бұрын

Nice review tho 👍

@patrickkyle4601

3 жыл бұрын

never liked the electrostatic touch (no movement) of EWI

@ColeHenriques

3 жыл бұрын

Patrick Kyle It just takes some getting used to

@michaelalexander3927

3 жыл бұрын

Agreed! I love my EWI 4000S for that exact reason! I love expressive synth sounds that I can edit to my liking. Acoustic instrument sounds are useless.

Could you tell us how to record on a Mac the audio of the sax YDS and the audio of a track simultaneously

Well done Yamaha! Awesome practice instrument for those living in apartments. Real shame they decided not to add a lip bend option, they should develop more modulation controls into a mouthpiece. The analog control looks much better than the WX5 and Akai. 90% sure I will have to add one to my kit at some point.

@garyhonor4220

3 жыл бұрын

Also, nice review Jim! Enjoyed the demo of the app.

@user-zt3dv5cl4b

3 жыл бұрын

Indeed, as a teenager I was used to playing 4 hours a day for years, when I started living in apartments this just wasn't possible anymore if at all. With this out I can practice songs and scales again. 🙌

Best thing since the keytar 👍

For a moment I was afraid I was going to be dissapointed in my Aerophone AE-10. But the Yamaha has no bite sensor, so the Aerophone still rules :)

@nuttysquirrel8574

3 жыл бұрын

I also have an AE-10 and you have forgotten to mention the other 120+ tones that it has over this poor relation.

@Ejazz09

3 жыл бұрын

I agree I still like my Roland ae10 better although I do wish it did have that Bluetooth feature which I think is cool and I suggested it a while back that I wish it had Bluetooth

is the vibrato automatic or are you able to control that?

how come it plays in fifths in the beginning? sorry if it is explained later in the video

Also wondering if Yamaha will allow other patches to be loaded on this at some point. Again, just wondering. Mine arrives tomorrow so let’s see what I think of this. Unlike most people here, I’m not a professional, I’m just someone that loves music and I have an alto and a soprano. However I love the idea of silent practice, playing along to a song on my headphone and I honestly believe that one day, an electronic sax will be better than accoustic. It’s all a matter of time

@d.williams7887

3 жыл бұрын

Hi Abolaji, I see that you've had the YDS-150 for some time now so I thought perhaps you can answer a vital question for me regarding it. Since it is not designed for a swab, how do you clean the residual condensation (saliva) from this instrument? I would imagine that over time, if it's not cleaned fairly regularly, it can become a breeding ground for bacteria.