Vintage Synth Explorer Forums

First I want to say hello to all forum members , its my first post.

Im looking for almost ALL IN ONE hardware for some lets say , lot of synth in background, plus heavy-deep drums. Liquid dnb ,Lulu Rouge ,Squarepusher ..this kind of sound more or less. But not only that.
Im tight with money. Like ,really tight .

My friend is using a MPC 2000XL , and its brilliant, but far too expensive for me in my country prices.
I was thinking about Electribe ES 1, but it has some serious limitation, and i can get QY700 or ESX for a little bit more.

My question is , how does this kind of sequencer is actually working . * yamaha qy700

Will I have a control over my sound like in Electribe, Akai MPC series ?
Can I drop the patterns in and out in real time, or is it more arrangement tool.

I was thinking to get QY700 and later AKAI s3000xl. Sample in AKAI and sequence those samples in Yamaha.
I tought it will give me sort of like MPC series style but with more effects and options of arrangement.

Am I right ?

Im into hardware coz I hate computers, dont have a good one, and my eyes hurts from monitors quick. Thats why Im searching for some kind of Total Command Station But Not So Expensive.

Still, I want to have decent sound .
So ,the maint question is
is QY700 will give me oportuninty to
-create a full track by its memory sounds that doesnt sounds cheap (very cheap ,cheap is ok)
-trigger samples from AKAI -other rack sampler
-allows to record-sample ? or is it only a straight sequencer.
-play live ! lets say ,the kick is first and then a synth background drops in and snares ,then bass and so on.

Thats a lot of questions , but I hope you get the point.
I just want to know what can it really do .

Cheers, Felix

The QY700 has a General MIDI (GM) sound engine. The GM soundset is not suitable for what you want to do. You have minimal ability to edit the sounds. It is not a sampler. So if you get the QY700 you will really want another device (synth or sampler) to make the sounds you are after. As a sequencer it is extremely powerful and would be OK for what you want.

Overall I don't think you will be happy with the QY700.

I would look for one of the MPC models that sell for less than the 2000...the 500 and 1000, maybe a 60.

Good luck.

Thanks. That cleared up my view.
Still ,its hard to me to imagine how one sequencer can be more powerful than the other... but that's the knowledge that i have to learn by time.
And this GM article is an interesting thing to understand...

Still I do not want to end up with one gear , I do want them to cooperate via MIDI.
Im lookin for some sampler for drum and other sounds , than synth .
I want to have a specific instruments doing one job ,but doing it well
but connected to one hearth
and I tought that QY700 will be a good choice for that.I can have it for less than 200 $.

Still,the amount of manufactures and different ,lets say -ways to create music
is somehow overhelming me and confusing. I do not want to end up with lot of stuff I really do not use, Im still selling instruments from the past.

Thanks for reply.

For less than $200 the QY700 is a good deal as long as you will be able to augment it's built in sounds with outboard gear.

Some videos you can check out (some sound is not too good) to get a better idea about the limitations of the GM sounds.

These first two are more what thebox was designed for:
Some Jazzy Disco
Classical...."Jupiter" from "The Planets" by Gustav Holst
A cover of Edgar Froese (Tangerine Dream)


Here's some examples of people stretching it a bit:
Something more like what you want to do?
Here a guy is using an outboard effects processor to modify the sounds
Another mangled sounding demo...using the built in FX only


A track with some captions explaining what's going on

This is a video tutorial for the QY300, an earlier and cheaper but similar box...all Yamaha sequencers have the same basic way of working.

This "yamaha theme song" from the last one is crazy

Digging thru QY series of sounds ,videos it seems its like all 80's about the sound, its so cheesy, I love it.
George Benson style

But some of these sound actually speek to me.
Its a tough decision. Im just afraid that I woudl not use it full potential.
Thanks for your time to clear things up ,right now Ive got a clear view about that QY series.
For sure they are dope !

Hello once again !

After days and many hours of research I found that RM1X one will suit me more than QY7000.

Ive listened to almost half of YT videos, and I know that by the time I will need some sound module to give this unit better sounds and possibilities.

Still, my pocket is not growing money by itself .
So Im thinking about ( once again) some all in one rack mount "thinghy".
As far I know, and this is not too much
Kurzwiel K2000 v3 is capable of providing me synth ,drums, and sampling options ! And it seems that with good hunting it can be found in a good price.
Are there many options with units capable of sampling AND rompling in one for small money ?
I was also thinking about Roland JV 1080 coz it seem quite legendary and I can see it often in studio photos.
Im looking for something that have a good sound, filters/time streching possibilities ,sampling ?
An unit that will expand RM1X with some power.
Also I want something that I wouldnt have to sell , let say
some all time classic like MPC ,E-mu's in sampling ,but in sound module range.
Im confused with amount of options,there is just too much good sounding units.
( I hope my english is not hurting your eyes too much )