eBay or Stay: Yamaha QX5 October 11, 2009
Posted by introvert in Hardware, Review.add a comment
QX5 image from sonicstate.com
The QX5 (and later QX5FD with built-in 3 1/2″ drive) was the top of the budget line of Yamaha sequencers, competing with the Roland MC series along with the QX7 and QX21. Featuring sub-menu operation via soft buttons instead of punching in job numbers and a combined linear/pattern approach to sequencing made the QX5 a popular choice for the low-budget studio.
Inputs:
MIDI in, tape in, foot switch
Outputs:
MIDI out + thru, tape out, click (audio)
The QX5 is built into the same wedge-shaped case as a lot of other Yamaha stuff at the time (it’s pretty close in format to the TX7 module for instance). I wonder if anyone ever built a leaning wall out of these? Anyway – it could save data to cassette (yeah, right) or transfer song data via MIDI. The QX5FD had the luxury of a built-in 3 1/2″ drive, but they were quite rare, probably due to the price difference imposed by the drive.
Onboard memory was 128k which would store about 20,000 notes. (15,000 with velocity) The sequence would be structured into 8 tracks and up to 32 macros. (A macro is a track, which can be called upon from a track, a little bit like small patterns).Weighing in at 350x240x49 mm,s 2.9 kg (!) it’s not that easy to place in a rig. I once used a belt to attach it to my keyboard stand, positioned just below the keyboard.
I guess a use for it today would be as a sketchpad sequencer in conjunction with a keyboard, as the boot time is almost instant and it doesn’t lose its memory when powered off.
Yes
Backlit LCD display. Lots of features when editing tracks and if you can overcome the “track-1-mentality” (see below), it’s actually quite easy to use. Has most of the features you expect from a sequencer of its time, but this has the usual advantage of having battery-backed memory that’s always ready whenever you’ll turn it on, giving it a huge advantage over other models that had to load both OS and songs from disk.
No
All editing/recording is performed on track 1. This means a lot of swapping tracks, as track 1 always must contain the track to be edited, or the to-be-recorded track. Relies quite heavily on sub-menus, but they are logically constructed. Memory size may be obstructive. No undo function.
Beyond G.A.S. October 7, 2009
Posted by introvert in Inspiration.add a comment
Everyone knows the term G.A.S. Right? It’s short for Gear Acquisition Syndrome which is what happens when you learn about a new item for your studio – be it an intriguing software instrument, a new and interesting controller or just a synth that suddenly strikes your fancy. Something that you suddenly realize that you have to have and you can’t make music without it, thus going on a shopping spree on ebay, reading classifieds and doing what you can to fulfill this sudden need. Without making any new music until you have it in your trembling hands, of course.
For some, this is a chronic syndrome, leading to well-equipped and wonderful studios, and a handful of songs at best.
I propose something even more horrifying: A curse, which I will call SisyGAS.
Remember Sisyfos, who was sentenced to spend an eternity trying to roll a boulder up a hill, the irritating boulder always rolling down again when he was almost finished?
Well, I have seen SisyGAS and it’s worse. Imagine selling one of your studio belongings just to be able to afford the G.A.S-infected item you crave – but the very act of selling another piece of gear made you contract SisyGAS - leading to an eternity of missed opportunities. You will now never acquire that one piece of gear that will enable you to make the most fantastic music ever imagined, leading to fame, fortune, and front rows of female fans – because at the very last moment you will be sniped at ebay, you will always be number two on the phone (“oh sorry, I just sold it to another bloke five minutes ago”) etc.
Rumor has it that every Roland JV1080 that left the factory has been cursed with SisyGAS, so be careful.
